American Indian College Fund Works with Native Organizations to Share Information for Celebrating Native Cultures at Graduations

United Tribes Technical College Spring Graduation on May 8, 2015

Published April 23, 2019

DENVER — Every year at graduations across the country, Native American students have been prevented from celebrating their heritage and achievements in a culturally appropriate way due to restrictive dress codes or uninformed administrators. The American Indian College Fund (the College Fund) teamed with the Native American Rights Fund to provide Native American students with legal information and communications strategies in advance of graduation to ensure they celebrate their graduations and their cultures in a traditional way.

The College Fund has published a blog titled Graduation: Celebrating Your Achievements and Culture. The blogincludes links to downloadable brochures created by the Native American Rights Fund and links to laws that provide for Native American students to be able to celebrate their cultures in meaningful ways.

Native American students and school administrators can learn more about the issue by tuning in to Native America Calling’s radio live program on Tuesday, April 23 from 1-2 p.m. Eastern. They can listen to experts speak about the issue, including the College Fund’s Dr. Matthew Makomenaw, and call in with their questions. Listeners can find a station in their area, tune in via Internet radio, or listen to a recording of the program after it has aired on the Native America Calling website.