NATIVE AMERICAN INITIATIVES
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is creating pathways to enhance access to higher education for Native American/Indigenous students. Working to be the nation’s leading university serving Indigenous Peoples, NAU is developing culturally responsive educational opportunities and programming as a strategic priority to help students thrive by:
- Partnering with Native American/Indigenous communities;
- Collaborating with Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU);
- Contributing to a culture of support for Native American/Indigenous students; and
- Building bridges to and from Indigenous-serving institutions across the globe.
NAU is home to over 2,000 Native American/Indigenous students representing 110 Tribal Nations.
When you give to this university priority, you are advancing culturally responsive programming and promoting Indigenous engagement, positioning NAU as the leading university serving Indigenous Peoples. You can make a real difference by donating to one of these funds:
- Indigenous Student Success – Emergency Fund – This fund supports students with books, supplies, food, transportation, gasoline purchases, clothes, health, or other areas as determined by the Director of Office of Indigenous Student Success.
- Native American Cultural Center Fund (NACC) – NACC strives to support students and to educate the larger community on the histories, cultures, and issues facing Native American/Alaskan Native/ Native Hawaiian and Indigenous communities. It is a “home away from home” for many in the NAU Community. This fund also supports students experiencing food insecurity.
- Indigenous Student Success (ISS) – General Assistance – This fund provides individualized support in a caring and professional environment that respects and values our Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and all people who identify as Indigenous students. In partnership with NACC, program staff assist students with the transition from home to the university community through peer mentoring, connections to campus and off-campus resources, and cultural events and activities.
- Virgil Masayesva Education Fund – ITEP – Established in honor of the co-founder of the Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP), this fund supports Native American students pursuing environmental careers and those committed to careers associated with environmental protection of Indian Country.
- Institute for Native-serving Educators (INE) – This fund supports INE programming, a collaborative initiative to strengthen schools across Indian Country through partnerships with Native Nations, Indigenous-serving schools, and public-school districts on and bordering reservation communities. Developed by pre-K12 educators in schools serving Indigenous youth, this professional development program is designed to strengthen curriculum that reflects the goals of the community and based on research and best practices in culturally responsive schooling.
- Tribal Leadership Initiative – This fund provides training, support for current and future tribal leaders through graduate curricula, executive education, youth leadership programs, fellowships and more.
You can make a gift to any Native American Initiatives Fund on NAU Giving Day– To support another Native American Initiatives fund not listed here, simply click on “Make a Gift” then scroll down to see more options.
Giving Day challenge opportunity to multiply your impact:
In a spirit of shared commitment to the empowerment and advancement of Native American communities, Amy Peterson will donate $75,000 to The Barbara Madden Peterson Endowment, Lynn Pinto will donate $37,000 to various ONAI initiatives, Bill Auberle will donate $2,500 to the Virgil Masayesva Education Fund - ITEP, and Penny Emerson will donate $16,667 also to various ONAI initiatives, including the Empower program and student success while serving Native communities with the NAU Office of Native American Initiatives (ONAI)! Your donation, along with those from Amy Peterson, Lynn Pinto, Bill Auberle, Penny Emerson, and others, to any ONAI fund directly supports initiatives enhancing program quality, student outcomes, and fostering stronger connections with Native communities. With 75 gifts, we unlock a total of $131,167 in crucial resources to drive these impactful endeavors, advancing NAU's goal to become the leading university serving Native Americans. WE Are Lumberjacks!
