Native American & Indigenous Students – On-Demand Training

Strategies To Improve Engagement & Support

There are thousands of sovereign nations, with distinct cultures, languages, and communities, sprawled across the United States from the biggest cities to the most rural areas…the landscape of modern Native America is vast and complex. Information about Native communities is limited and can be hard to find. Good information is even more scarce – and most institutions haven’t identified the capacity to appropriately vet resources and determine authenticity. There is a lack of representation among student bodies, staff and faculty, and Native and Indigenous students are experiencing microaggressions daily within an unwelcoming environment.

Our expert presenter – Stevie Rose Tohdacheeny Lee, the Associate Director for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Denver – explores how Native and Indigenous students, faculty and staff can work to address these issues through culturally relevant programming, creating courses specific to Native issues, and raising the level of awareness through discussion and exploration.

Acquire strategies that you can use daily to engage with others around you about issues facing our Native communities, insight into the current issues facing Native and Indigenous community members within higher education, and enhance the ways you engage with Native and Indigenous community members.

Special Note: The context for this webinar will come from a presenter who is at a historically white institution that has a history that is tied to the Sand Creek Massacre. This institution has been trying to find ways to address and wrestle with their violent past, while continuing to educate the DU community. The presenter looks forward to describing how DU is working toward reconciliation and healing.

Topics Covered

Gain crucial, actionable takeaways that will help you:

• Provide effective training on the distinct barriers Native and Indigenous students face as a critical starting point for developing culturally sensitive programming and initiatives – gain a real understanding of today's Native American and Indigenous students and their families, as well as common misconceptions, so your well-intentioned staff does not accidentally offend or misinterpret this unique population.
• Acquire strategies you can use daily to engage with others around about issues facing the Native community – enhance the ways you engage with Native and Indigenous community members so they feel valued on your campus and want to stay.
• Overcome struggles in designing an institutional Indigenous strategy – broaden the lens of indigeneity on your campus so you can develop Native-resonating messaging.
• Understand common pitfalls in new Native and Indigenous program development and how to avoid them – study examples of unique and creative initiatives so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Presenter

Stevie Rose Tohdacheeny Lee (she/her) is originally from Shiprock, New Mexico, in the Navajo (Diné) Nation. Dr. Lee is the Associate Director for the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Native American Initiatives at the University of Denver.
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