“Sowing seeds: alumnus advocates for better access to higher education for Native Americans.”

 The same barriers for Native Americans entering intro Higher Education continue, financial aid and affordability. Native American alumni recognize the barriers and have experienced the difficulties of attending college.  Native American Alan Kriesel '84, an alumnus of Watson College, has taken initiative and made it his goal to help Native Americans access higher education. Baique has helped launch scholarships for students looking to attend Watson College. He has reached out to many underrepresented tribes to help reach students and connect them to the college. He believes that outreach is important and will continue to make connections. 

"An Indigenous Student's Perspective: History, Culture, and Language"

  Equity in Education, providing the resources and opportunities for Native American students so they can succeed in their education. Our history tells the story of our ancestors and what they fought through. They preserved through boarding schools, so that Today, we could have a school where we are able to gain our education and practice our culture. Our language and culture is essential for quality education. The teacher and student relationship is important in gaining an education. No matter the trials and errors one faces, it is important to preserve. Preserve to the finish line, no matter how long it takes. It is important to retain our identity while getting an education.

“Supporting Success: Aboriginal Students in Higher Education”

This article focuses on the Aboriginal students in Canada and the barrier they face in trying to gain post secondary education. A barrier they continue to face is assimilation. The idea of “assimilation” was so they would be “successful” and having to adapt to the “mainstream values.” As well as those behaviors in the post-secondary institutions. Higher education is important for the aboriginal people so they can gain capacity building. Their ultimate goal is to give back and assist their communities to achieve self determination and self governance. This research was done at a Canadian post secondary institution. The goal for this research was to show those barriers and break them by creating supportive beneficial relationships with the aboriginal students. Especially within their peers and the instructors they have. Another importance is keeping your cultural integrity as it is essential to the aboriginal people. The aboriginal people face marginalization more than any non aboriginal people. With this they are given challenges in navigating college systems and universities. 

“Students voice and agency for Indigenous Māori students in higher education transitions” 

Indigenous Māori students continue to struggle with the transition into higher education. Research through this article focuses on the higher education transition for Māori students compared to non-Māori students. Many barriers have established the result of this with the income equality and poverty that they face. It begins with the high rates of child poverty and inequity. The education inequity is another factor of the transition of those going into higher education. Equity and diversity is needed for the Māori students. Another struggle is with the limited options and opportunities for Māori students. The social arrangements established those difficulties. “However, the relationship between higher education and social class structure does not easily allow for voices of marginalized populations such as Indigenous Māori students to be heard.” The understanding of these barriers for Māori students is important. Retaining their identity and tradition is important in transitioning to those higher education institutions. 

“Breaking barriers to girls’ education in Turkana” 

Sarah Eliokonoh is from the Nataba village in Kenya. Many girls including Sarah in Kenya face barriers in gaining an education. They often have to choose between their cultural identity or the significance of education. The Turkana girls high school often face difficulties because their culture contradicts the significance of education and from earning a higher education. “According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Turkana county has the least education population in Kenya.” Statistics show that those living in Turkana are seven times less likely to access secondary education than an average Kenyan. Another statistic is that more than 80% of the population has never gotten an education. The KIVA loan is helping Turkana girls study at Strathmore University and be able to earn their higher education. Sarah Eliokonoh wants to strive and create a better future for herself. After gaining her education she hopes to work for the people of Kenya and make a difference for all those girls in Kenya.