Native Americans in Higher Education: An Ecological Systems Perspective

Abstract

As a result of the U.S. government's involvement in Native American education, the current experiences of Native American college students are characterized by educational disparities.Higher education professionals are in an ideal position to meet the needs and interests of Native American students; however, most of the literature concerning this population takes a deficit approach. The present paper offers a reconceptualization of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems model as an alternative framework for the experiences of Native American college students. In privileging historical and cultural factors, this reconceptualization demonstrates how transforming educational institutions could influence the experiences of Native American college students.

Cultural Psychology, Diversity, and Representation in Open Science

“…This model converges with the "universal unless demonstrated otherwise" perspective previously described. In contrast, we adopt an infused perspective, or to extend the metaphor, "diversity as chapter 1" (see Fish & Syed, 2018;Goodnow, 2011;Juang et al, 2012;Rogoff, 2003). Rather than diversity being a separate principle that one can choose whether or not to align with, this perspective takes the position that diversity issues are relevant and inextricably linked with all other principles.…”

“Justice for Native People, Justice for Native Me”: Using Digital Storytelling Methodologies to Change the Master Narrative of Native American Peoples

“…Stories are transmitted within and between cultures, and across generations, from one historical cohort and context to the next. Stories that accomplish this cultural and historical transmission of ways of knowing (i.e., epistemologies) and being (i.e., ontologies; Wilson, 2001) serve as the foundation of individuals' identities (Chandler & Lalonde, 1998;Fish & Syed, 2018;Hilton & Liu, 2017; see also Manago, Santer, Barsigian, & Walsh, this volume; Rogers, Moffitt, & Jones, this volume; Weststrate, this volume). Thus, stories can be thought of as a cultural and historical repository individuals engage with throughout identity development.…”

“…While literal (i.e., genocide of Native American and Indigenous peoples in the Americas), it is also a metaphor for the broader colonial project and efforts to eliminate Native peoples through means such as assimilation. Efforts to assimilate -or civilize and Christianize -Native peoples were often carried out through boarding schools, which as Carlisle Indian School founder, Captain Richard H. Pratt notes, were intended to "Kill the Indian, save the man" (Churchill, 2004;Fish & Syed, 2018;Glenn, 2015). Blair alludes to this process when describing himself in terms of the legacy of generations of his family -including his father, grandmother, and great-grandmother -whom he refers to as "puritannical, boarding school Christians.…”

“…Psychological research has demonstrated selfrelevant representations and alternative narratives that underscore the complexities of Native identities (cf., local, national, and global configurations of Native identities; Markstrom, 2011) can counteract the effects of master narratives . The literature also suggests Native peoples are best positioned to explore what it means to be Native through spaces and places that privilege Native ways of knowing and being (Fish & Syed, 2018), such as within Native communities (Lysne & Levy, 1997). Thus, we aimed to provide Native peoples with a Native-centered space through OrigiNatives workshops, where we used DST methodologies to give voice to stories that have been long oppressed in and by Western societies.…”

“…Other examples include using DST to capture stories of resilience in the context of historical trauma (Beltrán & Begun, 2014), of wellbeing in communities with high rates of cancer (Cueva et al, 2016), and of fortitude and strength in the face of suicide (Wexler et al, 2013). Digital stories such as these invite alternative notions of Nativeness into identity development, shedding light on the successes, resilience, and strength of Native peoples, rather than deficits alone (Fish & Syed, 2018). As Blair suggests with the Sherman Alexie excerpt, master narratives of Native peoples are often deficit focused, highlighting tragedy or trauma (Benish-Weisman, 2009), which grounds stories in the tragic flaws of Native peoples, or characterizes them as victims who are helpless and hopeless.…”