Huffman: $1.5M for tribal students
The U.S. Department of Education is awarding over $1.5 million in federal funding to the Yurok Tribe and the Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation to evaluate and expand school services for Native children, U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) announced Wednesday.
The Yurok Tribe’s Native Educational Choices and Empowerment Project will receive $1,038,353 and the Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation’s California/Oregon Indian Student Services Program will receive $655,193.
“Adequate funding is critical in ensuring the success of all students, especially Native American students who are often more likely to attend schools in rural and underserved districts,” Huffman said. “This funding will increase collaboration between local tribes and schools, improve enrollment and retention of Native students, and expand programs and services such as apprenticeships, classes on native language and culture, online courses, and books and supplies.”
He added it’s a nice change of pace for the government.
“The federal government has a long history of turning its back on Native communities, and I’m glad to see them support critical education programs in our local Native communities,” Huffman said.
Around 2,000 children from the Yurok Tribe and 1,000 children from the Tolowa Dee-Ni’ Nation will be helped by the grant money.
“The Yurok Tribe is using these much-needed funds to create a customizable support system for tribal students. In an effort to close the achievement gap, we are creating a digital platform that parents and students can use to select a series of standard and cultural relevant services, ranging from college counseling to traditional knowledge development,” Yurok Chairman Joseph L. James said. “This specially tailored tool will ensure that our students receive the targeted assistance they need to complete high school and continue their education, whether it’s at a university or a vocational academy.”