TCAPS Indigenous Education: Powwow Dance Group Practice

What: TCAPS Indigenous Education Powwow Dance Group Practice

When: Wednesdays in February

• Wednesday, February 5, 2025 (Traditional dance) (Special guest for Men's Traditional dance style)

• Wednesday, March 5, 2025 (Grass dance) (TCAPS Indigenous Ed students will help lead and mentor) (rescheduled)

• Wednesday, February 19, 2025 (Jingle dance)

• Wednesday, February 26, 2025 (Fancy dance)

Each class will focus on a different dance style, discuss the background of each style, and practice introducing ourselves as if we were performing. Please feel free to attend all, a few, or one of interest.

Time: 6 pm to 7 pm

Where: West Middle School Weight Room, #505 (signage will be outside the door)

Door access: Athletic Door #3 or Door #5

What to bring: bottled water and be ready to dance!

What to wear: moccasins/shoes to dance in and clothes students can move in

 👉🏻👉🏼👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿 Questions? Contact Summer Baldwin at (231) 933-5897 or email baldwinsu@tcaps.net

TCAPS Indigenous Education: Biboon (winter) book reviews!

• Who can submit?    TCAPS Indigenous Education Students

• What to submit?     Provide a book review. Submissions can be written, video, or audio.  (Check out the book list in this newsletter for some book ideas)

• When to submit? Winter 24/25

Multiple book reviews are welcomed and encouraged! 

An anonymous and fellow bookworm donor sponsored two $10 gift cards! 

Winners will be selected and notified on the first day of spring, March 20, 2025.

 👉🏻👉🏼👉🏽👉🏾👉🏿 For more information and to submit click here! 

Michigan State University: NSTEAM - Natives in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics

The Native American Institute in collaboration with the Office of University Outreach and Engagement and the MSU Science Festival invites 20 Native students (9-12 grade) to the campus of Michigan State University to participate in STEAM related programming  Friday, April 4th through Sunday, April 6th. 

Program Dates: April 4 - 6, 2025

Who can apply: 9th to 12th graders 

Deadline: March 7, 2025

Learn more about the program and apply.

Waub Ajijaak Press Leadership scholarship application is now open!

The Waub Ajijaak Leadership Scholarship supports students of Native American, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian descent as they pursue undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees at accredited institutions in the beautiful state of Michigan.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Learn more about the requirements and how to apply - www.waubajijaak.org/scholarship. 

American Indian College Fund -  Hosts an event for applicants to hear from Reviewers and Scholars to help strengthen applications

Hear firsthand from our past scholars and expert reviewers as they share invaluable tips and insights to boost your chances for an American Indian Fund Scholarship for the 2025-2026 season.

When: March 19, 2025 at 8 pm EST

Where: Zoom

Click here, to register.

Visit the American Indian College Fund website

Cobell Scholarship - Now Accepting Applications!

The Cobell Scholarship is now accepting applications for 2025/2026 Undergraduates. 

The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025. 

Visit their website for additional information.

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation - Scholarship Applications are Now Open!

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has over 50 unique scholarships available that support secondary education pursuits of graduating high school seniors, current college students, and vocational/trade school students from across the region. 

There are more than 40 scholarship opportunities available specifically for graduating seniors from Traverse City West, Traverse City Central, and Traverse City High School.

Invited to apply: Students from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau County and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians

Visit the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation website for more information.

Golden Apple Scholars Program  

The Golden Apple Scholars program in Michigan is a program for aspiring educators who have the determination and drive to be outstanding teachers in Michigan Pre-K-12th grade schools. They support and prepare future teachers for immediate and lasting success in the most challenging teaching environments. 

Eligibility Requirements

Entry Points

• Michigan High School Senior (Class of 2025)

• Michigan College Freshman or Sophomore

General Requirements

• US Citizen, Eligible Non-Citizen, or DACAmented student

Academic Requirements

• Strong Academic Performance

• Every application receives a holistic review meaning all pieces of the application are considered to make a decision.

Completion Requirements

• Maintain a 2.5 GPA

• Participate in Golden Apple Scholar Institutes

• Comply with Scholars Code of Conduct

• Earn a bachelor’s degree in education from a Michigan university

• Earn a Michigan teaching licenses

• Teach for five years in a Michigan school-of-need within seven years of graduation

Application Deadline: April 1, 2025. 

Visit the Golden Apple Scholars Program website for more information and to apply!

Michigan State University: Michigan Indian Leadership Program (MILP) 

The Michigan Indian Leadership Program (MILP) is a one-week indigenized summer experience co-sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) and the Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education at MSU.

Program Dates: July 13 - 18, 2025

Who can apply: 8th to 11th graders 

Deadline: April 11, 2025

Learn more about the program and find the application. 

Anishinabek Nation: Giizisoo-Mzinigan Language Series

The Anishinabek Nation organization is hosting a language series on Zoom to learn the language shared on the Anishinabek Nation Giizisoo-Mzinigan (annual calendar). The third session in March will be about hockey phrases and Ziisbaakdoke Giizis (Sugaring Moon). 

Register: bit.ly/4gMiw9i 

Date: March 6, 2025

Time: 7 pm to 8 pm EST

For more information, contact: ali.darnay@anishinabek.ca 

🗣️ Audio clips of February words found in the Anishinabek Nation Giizisoo-Mzinigan (annual calendar on SoundCloud.

March is Reading Month and Women's History Month!: This month we checked all the boxes, our book recommendations this month include female Indigenous-authored books with female protagonists.  

📚 Forever Cousins *  by Laurel Goodluck (Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation and Tsimshian tribal member) and Jonathan Nelson  (Diné)

• Reading Age: 4 - 7

• Grade Level: Preschool  - 2

📚  The Gift of the Great Buffalo * by Carole Lindstrom (Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) and illustrated by Aly McKnight (Shoshone-Bannock)

• Reading Age: 4 - 8

• Grade Level: Preschool  - 3

📚 The First Woman Cherokee Chief * by Patricia Morris Buckley (Mowhawk) and illustrated by Aphelandra Messer (Oneida)

• Reading Age: 5 - 8

• Grade Level: Kindergarten - 3

📚 She Persisted: Wilma Mankiller * by Traci Sorell (Cherokee), Chelsea Clinton, and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

• Reading Age: 6 - 9

• Grade Level: 1 - 4

📚  Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker * by Joanne Robertson (Atikameksheng Anishnawbek),  Shirley Williams (Odawa/Ojibway), and Isadore Toulouse (Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation)

• Reading Age: 8 -12 

• Grade Level: 3 - 7

📚  We Still Belong * by Christine Day (Upper Skagit)

• Reading Age: 8 -12 

• Grade Level: 3 - 7

📚  The Unfinished * by Cheryl Isaacs (Kanyen'kéha)

• Reading Age: 13 - 17

• Grade Level: 2 - 3

*: Book can be found at the Traverse Area District Library

Tribal Nations of authors are noted to showcase the diversity of Indigenous authors and for program participants that are interested in reading literature specific to a Tribal Nation.