Better Together: Partnerships in Education Across NDN Country

This is one of a 3-part event series exploring positive partnerships across NDN Country by sharing stories of collaboration with Native nations, urban Native communities, Native-led organizations, and more.

As a follow-up to our 2024 event Partnering with Native Nations in a Good Way and its corresponding guide, we invite folks to learn more and expand upon this important topic; we will be hosting sessions focused on health, higher education, and government-to-government relations.

Attendees will learn best practices from a variety of Indigenous leaders and receive tips for taking action.

Better Together: Partnerships in Education Across NDN Country

In the first session of our event series focused on positive partnerships across Native nations and communities, we’ll explore the relationship between higher education and the Native students, staff, and communities they serve.

Many campuses offer land acknowledgement statements and some offer Native tuition benefits, but meaningful partnership goes beyond statements and minimal support. Native students and staff are often the ones pushing for and leading change at their campuses. While Native voices should be included, how can we shift this responsibility in higher education to campus leadership?

Join us for a conversation with Native changemakers who have experience working as advocates in higher education. We’ll examine how colleges and universities can center Indigeneity without overburdening their Native students and staff, shift away from optical allyship, and avoid tokenization so they can build authentic relationships with Native nations and communities.

This session will offer actionable ideas for campus leaders, staff, and faculty committed to moving from performative to transformative partnerships.