See You in Dallas!

The Fund is hosting a special event in Dallas, Texas to celebrate 40 years of tribal colleges this Thursday, May 1 at the Nasher Sculpture Center. The Fund will also honor the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma by repatriating $25,000 worth of historical artifacts it received from a private donor. Two of the Fund's board members, Steve Denson of the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and Chuck Hensley of Williams Financial Group, are co-hosting the event.

I am delighted to be celebrating how tribal colleges are transforming Indian Country through education. In addition, it is a great honor to be a part of preserving the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma culture and tradition by returning historical documents and other national artifacts, which the Fund received as a gift from one of its supporters.

All proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships for American Indian students. I hope to see you all there!

Vote for The Fund in the National Geographic Geotourism Challenge

The American Indian College Fund has entered its Journeys for the Mind and Spirit in the National Geographic Geotourism Challenge. See how we are helping to increase sustainability in Indian Country trough our tours and vote for our program online at The Geotourism Challenge--www.changemakers.net/en-us/node/7713

Twelve finalists will be chosen based on the innovation, social impact and sustainability of their programs, and will present their programs at The Geotourism Challenge Summit this fall. Three winners will be chosen by online voting and will receive $5,000 each.

Help Honor the Code Talkers!!

Language peservation is an important part of tribal college curriculum. But did you know that native languages have helped keep Amercica free?

Native American language used as code was made famous by the Navajos in WWII. Ironically, these men voluntarily served this country and used their language to help win the war six years before the Native American Citizenship Act. It is also ironic that at the same time the Choctaw language was being used to benefit the war effort, Native languages were being banned in government schools.

Help is needed to recognize the original Native American Code Talkers. The Assistant Chief of the Choctaw nation is working with members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill that will make it possible to issue medals for service as a Code Talker. Congressman Dan Boren has introduced HB 4544, which currently has 95 co-sponsors. 289 co-sponsors are needed, and many Congressional representatives need to hear from their constituents before they will agree to sign on.

The Navajos' service was recognized with medals in 2000. However, members of other Native American tribes also used their languages as unbreakable top-secret codes in WWI and WWII. Choctaws were the first to use their Native language as "code" to transmit messages on the field.

All of the Choctaw Code Talkers are now deceased. Only a few of their children remain. Recognition of these men is needed now. HB 4544 and S 2681 would allow a gold medal to be presented to each tribe, with a silver duplicate medal presented to individual Code Talkers or their families. Bronze medals will be sold by the United States Mint, and all costs will come from the revolving fund for such activities of the Treasury, with no appropriations necessary.

Please contact your representatives and ask them to support these bills as a co-sponsor.

For help with maps on who your Congressman or Senator is, go to http://nationalatlas.gov

Contact your Congressman with direct e-mail, phone numbers or addresses, which are
available at www.house.gov

Contact your state's Senators with direct e-mail, phone numbers or addresses, which are available at www.senate.gov

It is recommended that e-mail or phone calls be the contact method.

We Are the Number One Indian Education Charity in American

Last week we spent close to three days in brainstorming sessions with a direct mail team to strategize for new direct mail concepts to educate the public about our organization, our mission, and our students. As part of that session, we had the opportunity to hear the results of an extensive phone survey that we commissioned on behalf of the Fund to learn more about our constituents' perceptions of us.

We learned that in your eyes, and those of our other supporters, we are the number one Indian education charity in America. And for that, we thank you. It is because of your support and your commitment in our endeavors that we are there. You believe in the opportunity for Indian people to better their lives through education.

You believe in the transformative power of education to lift people out of poverty.

And you believe in how education has a ricochet effect, impacting others in a student's family, community, reservation, and state.

Graduation is just around the corner, and a new group of students will be leaving college to begin new careers, or to move forward professionally in their current ones. Thanks to your beliefs in the power of a tribal college education, this new group of graduates will be embracing a promising future.

Thank you for your past, present, and future support, and thank you for making us the number one Indian education charity in America today. We are humbled by your trust, and our commitment is stronger than ever to continue our mission and calling--in a good way.

Education Renews

I just returned from the AIHEC student conference in Bismarck, North Dakota, where I had the opportunity to meet with many of our students from all across Indian country. It is a busy, noisy, and fun time, as old friends meet again, new friendships are formed, and students compete in one-act play competitions, Knowledge Bowl, and traditional hand games. Students also display their scientific research, and compete in an art competition.

It is always a wonderful experience to meet with students and learn about their lives, their challenges, and their determination to improve their lives and communities through education. At the conference students continually approach the Fund staff and tell us, "I wouldn't be here without your support." I am humbled by this as I am reminded that we are doing sacred work.

It is my wish that every student in Indian country who wants an education can have this opportunity. There is nothing like seeing the excitement in a mother's face as she told us she has completed her associate's degree and has earned a 4.0, and has inspired her young adult daughter to pursue and education as well. The desire for an education in Indian country is becoming contagious--in a good way! As families see what is possible with an education, they are catching the excitement and pursuing their educations as well. And there is nothing like witnessing the glow of someone who has realized their own potential.

At the AIHEC student conference, I was reminded that like spring, education renews the spirit, and enables the passage to the full growth of human potential.

AIHEC Founder Visits Fund

Today at the Fund we had a real treat. John Emhoolah Jr. (Kiowa), one of the founding members of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC), paid a visit to the Fund to discuss the roots of the tribal college movement.

In addition to the wonderful stories Mr. Emhoolah shared, it was humbling to be in his presence and hear of the passion he still carries for our students, for Indian self-determination, and for the continuation of American Indian culture. Emhoolah was instrumental in the passage of the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act of 1978, signed by President Jimmy Carter. This legislation provides funding for AIHEC tribal colleges.

In the great spirit of the warrior, Mr. Emhoolah is both a role model to us here at the Fund, and embodies our values. We have big shoes to fill!

In Memoriam

To honor the father of Rick Williams

Joel Calvin Williams, Jr.
Born: December 30, 1930
Died: February 26, 2008