Tribal College President to Speak at Democratic National Convention Today

United Tribes Technical College President Dr. David M. Gipp has been invited to address the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Gipp will speak to convention delegates assembled in the 20,000 seat Pepsi Center today between 3 and 3:30 p.m. MDT. His will be one in a series of talks by so-called ‘real people’ who have been asked to offer ideas on the theme of “Renewing America’s Promise.”

Dr. Gipp will focus on renewing the country’s promise for American Indians, who are largely invisible in the national consciousness.

“I consider it an honor to be selected,” said Gipp. “It’s uncommon to have access to this kind of audience for expressing a tribal viewpoint. It says something about change in America.”

Dr. Gipp is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Tribe. He has been the leader of United Tribes Technical College since 1977.

Part of his talk will focus on the role of tribal higher education in the process of rebuilding tribal nations.

Dr. Gipp’s invitation to speak came at the recommendation of Senator Barack Obama. He was notified in a letter from Howard Dean of the Democratic National Convention Committee.

We are honored to have Dr. Gipp speak at this presitgious event about the important issue of tribal college education!

Follow Your Heart

It may seem like the tried and true thing to write about as we approach Valentine's Day, but the advice is as true today as it is any other time of the year: when it comes to the future, we must follow our hearts.

Many American Indian students' hearts are at home, where their families are, where their history is, and where they envision their future. Often in my travels on behalf of the American Indian College Fund, non-Natives ask me why our people want to stay on the rez. They believe "assimilating" is the most productive way to be part of society.

But the reality is that Indian country is home for many of our students. It is difficult to leave home, and indeed, not just financially. Our connection to the past is at home, and our connection to our people, and our connection to our future.

The beauty of attending a tribal college is that students don't have to leave their culture or their homes to get a first-rate education. They can attend a tribal college on or near the reservation, while attending to the needs of their families, and remaining home. And best of all, tribal college graduates can remain home putting their education to use, and making a difference in the future of their families, their communities, and their people. Without educated future leaders, staying home on the rez will be difficult. Thanks to the education that a tribal college education can provide us in Indian country, our homes are our futures.

Tribal colleges are proving that not only home, but our future, is where the heart is.