Indigenous Student Organizations
Indigenous Student Organizations in Illinois:
- DePaul Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Illinois State University (ISU) Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Northwestern University Native American and Indigenous Student Alliance (NAISA)
- Northwestern University Colloquium on Indigeneity and Native American Studies (CINAS)
- Northwestern University Center for Native American and Indigenous Research
- Northwestern University Native American Law Student Association (NALSA)
- University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) - Native American and Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO)
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) - Native American and Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO)
- UIUC Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
Financial Aid and College Programs for Indigenous Students:
Please note: For a student to be eligible for many Native American scholarships the student should be an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe, otherwise funding will most likely be denied. A Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB) card or document is generally accepted proof of membership in a federally recognized tribe.
Another good source of financial aid is the student’s tribe. Some tribes have scholarships for their members, although the awards are usually for very small amounts. Very often if a student does not qualify for a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)/OIEP grant, the tribe will award a “tribal” scholarship. Each tribe handles its own funding differently, with different award amounts and deadlines, so it is best to contact the tribe directly.
- American Indian Services
- American Indian College Fund
- Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) American Indian Scholarships
- Indian Health Services (IHS) Scholarship Program - Since its creation in 1977, the IHS Scholarship Program has supported thousands of American Indian and Alaska Native students in their quest for a health professions degree leading to a career in Indian health. Today, this support continues as IHS seeks the next generation of leaders committed to improving the health of Indian communities.
- Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
- Office of Elementary and Secondary Education - Grants
- Sloan Indigenous Graduate Program - Less than 5% of indigenous people have graduate degrees compared to 13.4% of their White peers, according to a 2018 report by The Education Trust. In the sciences, only 48 research doctorates were given to Native American and Alaska Native students, out of the 11,764 doctorates awarded to U.S. residents in 2012.
- Report Urges Increased College Support for "Invisible" Native Students
Chicago-area Academic News for Indigenous Students:
Counseling Services
Susan Siokos, EdD, LCPC, BC-TMHTM, Personal Counselor
Chicago Campus: Office 6s31
Oak Brook Campus: Office 1314
Email: Susan.Siokos@oakpoint.edu
Number: (630) 537-9853
In-Person and TeleMental Health Counseling (via video or audio)
Counseling Resources
Self-Care for Indigenous Students
"...one of the significant findings that has come from the existing research is that self-determination and capacity may be among the most important determinants contributing to good health in Aboriginal peoples" (Barwin, L., "Teachings around Self-care and Medicine Gathering in Manitoulin Island, Ontario: Rebuilding Capacity Begins with Youth," 2014).
From "8 Self Care Tips for Aboriginal Women":
1. Sleep: We all know how important sleep is, and getting enough sleep is the investment we need to be effective tomorrow. Don’t let the demands of each day keep you from going to bed at a decent hour. If you have more to do, put it away and leave it til tomorrow.
2. Be still time: We live in such a rushed, over-stimulated, over-gadget-ized society. Often we are going at such a fast pace, that taking time to be quiet feels unproductive, but its so important to connect to ourselves, the land and our thoughts.
3. Exercise: Regular exercise can transform your life, it gives you more energy! Exercise can be great for you physically and mentally. It provides a stress release and keeps your body healthy. It also helps your body release endorphins, which increase your feelings of overall well-being.
4. Food: Healthy food is fuel for your active body. Wake up and eat breakfast and try to avoid packaged foods. A poor diet can actually make you more vulnerable to stress.
5. Medical care: Schedule those doctors appointments that you’ve been avoiding (like the pap screen or your mammogram) while it sounds routine, these are the things that get pushed off our calendars so easily.
6. Fun: What do you love to do? What is FUN for you? Basketball? Walking at your favorite park with your dog? Swimming with your kids? Calling a cousin to catch-up. Do something fun and just for you every week.
7. Unplug: Create sacred spaces in your days or weeks where you unplug from everything. No emails, internet, phone, nothing. Seize back control. Unplug regularly or you’ll burn out your emotional hardware.
8. Social Support: Social support and your mob can keep you healthier and happier, creating a buffer against stress. On days that trigger you, or when you feel marginalized/oppressed, surround yourself with people who understand how you feel, attend a rally or maybe go to a community event. Friends and family can pick you up when you’re sad, burnt out and tired of racism and negativity.
Native American Nursing Students
Nancy Skenandore: First Native American To Train As A Nurse
- Working Nurse - Nancy Skenandore, Native American Role Model"The best way to describe what Nancy Skenandore did is to say she was the first Native American to train as a nurse. She was able to achieve this distinction at a time when most still lived on reservations and received very little formal education, much less professional preparation. It was a time of boarding schools for tribal children — education mixed with intense efforts to assimilate the children into the larger society..."