American Indian College Fund

Today, we commemorate Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States and honors the resilience, achievements, and enduring contributions of Black Americans.

Juneteenth is both a celebration of freedom and a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of equity, opportunity, and justice. We recognize the generations of Black leaders, educators, students, families, and communities whose courage and perseverance have helped shape our nation.

As we reflect on this important day, we encourage learning, dialogue, and action that advances understanding and strengthens our communities. The American Indian College Fund stands in solidarity with Black communities as we honor the significance of Juneteenth and celebrate the power of education, opportunity, and community to create a brighter future for all.

It’s not uncommon for 2SLGBTQ+ Natives, like Eunice, to carry the extra weight of having to navigate systems and spaces that have been instilled with bigotry, stereotypes, and ignorance. With more inclusive representation, 2SLGBTQ+ people can see themselves and their identities reflected in ways that are empowering rather than isolating and burdensome.

Read more about Eunice and their story of representation that we all deserve to see: one that uplifts the diverseness in our identities and holds space for us to be the best, most true version of ourselves.

Holding the Sacredness of Diverse Identities | American Indian College Fund American Indian College Fund scholar Eunice (Cheyenne River Sioux) from Oglala Lakota College reflects on their experience as a 2SLGBTQ+ Native leader. High ...

There is still a deep lack of awareness and knowledge around the “+” in the widely used LGBTQ+ acronym.

One of these identities is “two-spirit,” a unifying term coined in the 1990s to encompass a multitude of identities and expressions that are unique to Native Americans who are LGBTQ+.

Meet some Native scholars who are the culture-bearers, knowledge-keepers, and leaders who are helping guide us toward a future that embraces the full spectrum of identity and expression.

Read: https://collegefund.org/blog/seeing-honoring-and-celebrating-our-two-spirit-relatives/

Today is Native Nonprofit Day!

Native nonprofits across the country are working to uplift Native communities and you can help Native students stay in school and build brighter futures. Through the end of May, every gift to the American Indian College Fund will be matched dollar for dollar.

Double your impact today: https://www.collegefund.org/nativenonprofitday

Because of limited data, there is no reliable nationwide count of how many Native persons go missing or are murdered each year.

May 5th is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Relatives (MMIWG/MMIWR). While Native students deal with the same end of semester pressures and stress as other students, they’re more likely to also be living in a state of fear or mourning for a relative who may never make it home. But our students, communities, and tribal colleges won’t stop raising awareness and working for justice until our relatives are brought home and kept safe.

And neither will we.

Let’s continue to support Native students as they become the future Native lawyers, judges, justices, and legislators who will work to safeguard Native communities.

We’re still celebrating a successful NY EATSS event last week. Our hearts are full of memories and conversations with those who attended and our bellies are still full from the delicious food made by the chefs. More photos - and details about Denver and Twin Cities EATSS this fall - to come!

We could not have done this event without the support of our sponsors including our friends at Amergent, Synergy, Vladimir Jones and Veradata. Your continued partnership inspires us every day.

We’re less than 24 hours away from NY EATSS!

One of our featured chefs at the event will be Nathan Davis. He’s already busy preparing his dish of rubaboo (rabbit stew) with bison meatballs and dandelion greens.

Doesn’t that sound delicious??

Listen in on a recent conversation with Chef Nathan on the Speaking of Travel podcast with host Marilyn Ball - https://speakingoftravel.buzzsprout.com/18461/episodes/19070902-indigenous-food-modern-impact-a-conversation-with-chef-nathan-davis

Purchase tickets to NY EATSS - https://standwith.collegefund.org/new-york-eatss-2026/

(Not in the NYC area? Stay tuned for exciting news about future EATSS events in the Twin Cities and Denver this fall!)

Indigenous Food, Modern Impact: A Conversation with Chef Nathan Davis - Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we move beyond destinations and into something deeply human... food as a living expression of memory, identity, and belonging. Chef Nathan Davis shares his story shaped by the land, where hunting, fishing, an...

We are so grateful to 1883 Magazine for spotlighting NY EATSS 2026!

The American Indian College Fund created this event to celebrate Indigenous food traditions and support Native students, and having this kind of coverage means the world to us.

Come join the celebration in New York on April 30, 2026 at 6 PM.

Read the article - https://1883magazine.com/the-chef-who-feeds-nations/

Buy tickets to EATSS - https://standwith.collegefund.org/new-york-eatss-2026/

The Chef Who Feeds Nations - 1883 Magazine Ben Jacobs of Tocabe is rewriting what Indigenous cuisine means to America. On April 30, New York gets a taste. Ben Jacobs grew up clearing tables. As a boy in Denver, he would hang out in his parents’ restaurant, Grayhorse: An American Indian Eatery, the small but quietly trailblazing spot his fa...

Every day is Earth Day.

For many Native American communities, caring for the Earth isn’t a once-a-year reminder—it’s a way of life rooted in respect, balance, and responsibility. The land isn’t just a resource; it’s a relative, a teacher, and something to be protected for future generations.

This Earth Day, take a moment to reflect on what it means to live in relationship with the world around us. Gratitude over consumption. Stewardship over ownership. Listening instead of taking.

The planet doesn’t need one day of attention—it needs a lifetime of care.