Gikinawaajitoon- Why do we need to be known?
Across Native Land (everywhere on turtle island) students prepare for the culmination of years of hard work, survival, late nights, and get to stand out as the pride of their family. For many of these students this experience is mixed with the complexity of being a Native person within institutions that do not value or see them. Every year it seems there is a school district taking away Native scholars feathers, telling students they can't wear beaded caps, or excluding our culture from the school. Almost without fail we are forced to advocate on behalf of our community about why we need to be known and seen. We see some institutions doing the work to build in curriculum, staff, and...