American Indian College Fund

05/21/2026

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

05/05/2026

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.

05/04/2026

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.

04/30/2026

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!)

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...

04/29/2026

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/

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...

04/22/2026

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.

04/20/2026

“I never imagined I would be the first in my family to step into a college classroom.” 🎓✨

For Keshia Kills Small, being a first-generation student was about more than just earning a degree—it was about carrying the hope of her family and her community. From the lands of Little Eagle, South Dakota, to pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Keshia’s journey has been defined by resilience, grief, and a calling to heal.

Now, Keshia is working to weave Indigenous traditions into the counseling field, ensuring that culturally responsive care is the standard for Native communities.

Read Keshia’s powerful story of walking the path toward healing and leadership: https://collegefund.org/blog/walking-the-path-a-first-generation-journey-into-counseling/

04/16/2026

“Education is the one thing that can’t be taken away from you.”

Steven Smith, President of Cankdeska Cikana Community College, recently shared a powerful reflection on his lifelong journey in teaching and his commitment to Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).

From his early days in the classroom to leading a cornerstone institution in the Spirit Lake Nation, President Smith’s story is a testament to the transformative power of Indigenous-led education. His leadership reminds us why supporting TCUs is so vital. They aren’t just schools ... they are centers for cultural preservation and community strength.

Dr. Steven Smith, just outside his office, will have been president of Cankdeska Cikana Community College for two years as of August.

03/26/2026

Numbers don't lie. Or can they? Being able to tell your story, in your own way, allows others to see your truth.

When Native Nations have ownership over their data, numbers are transformed into stories and voices of people contextualized in lived experiences. And when Tribal leaders, educators, and community members have Indigenous Data Sovereignty, it strengthens education, protects culture, and helps Native students thrive.

To learn more about Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance, visit:

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