A free guide to help Native students seeking a higher education is now available from the American Indian College Fund. Native Pathways: A College-Going Guidebook, available for download on the College Fund website, offers everything from considerations for choosing a college, an in-depth breakdown of financial aid, how to identify and create a support system, a glossary of terms, and encouragement from elders, faculty, and American Indian College Fund president and CEO, Cheryl Crazy Bull.

Many American Indian and Alaska Native scholars are non-traditional students who received their high school equivalency or are returning to secondary education after working or raising a family. This resource helps all students pursue their higher education goals at any stage of life. It also illustrates how students with different needs can identify programs to help them advocate for themselves on campus. One of the most important suggestions the guide offers to Native students is maintaining connections to their culture and community to help them through their academic journey.

The guidebook includes the stories of current and former College Fund scholars who share their experiences to illustrate all of these considerations. For example, Jerald Redbuffalo (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), a master’s student at Capella University studying clinical mental health counseling, said, “I needed a college setting that would allow me to balance my education with my family, spiritual practices, and cultural traditions. Staying close to home meant I could pursue my degree without sacrificing the things that are most important to me.”

Elder, Lark Real Bird (Apsaalooke Nation), offered words of wisdom and well wishes to future students using the guidebook. “I would like to express the excitement I have for each one of you as you embark on this wonderful journey. The new knowledge that you will gain from your classes and your peers will be lifelong. With this knowledge you will have a seat at many tables to address issues and concerns for your Tribes, your communities, and your families.”

American Indian College Fund president and CEO Cheryl Crazy Bull, said, “Many Native students, may not have had their high schools introduce them to college. Maybe we didn’t have someone in our family who went to college who could help us figure out how to go. Some of us might not have finished high school so we thought we didn’t have a path to college. This guidebook will help introduce college-going opportunities to you, can take the place of that family member or friend who could have advised you, and will show you a path to college that overcomes obstacles. We all want the best for each of you.”