Addressing the historical inequities faced by people who identify as Native Americans or Alaskan Natives requires institutional change, but there are still ways in which non-Native individuals can get educated—enough to become vocal allies and to directly support initiatives that improve the lives of Indigenous peoples today. Here are five ways you can put your money—and your time—into Native and Indigenous communities this year. Tune in to Wes Studi’s educational video series with the Partnership for Native Americans. Read Native American news sources, such as Indian Country Today and Native American Times. Educational podcasts and book lists are good resources too. And don’t forget the stories of mixed-race people who are both Native and white, Black, or Latinx, as well as those who write in Indigenous languages. And if you’d like to support Native writers and creatives, gift their titles to friends and family, and donate to the publications committed to telling their stories. Most are located in the midwest and west, but accept students from all over the country—both Native and non-Native. Reports say that most college grads who identify as Native or Indigenous completed their education at a TCU. You can support them by donating today or establishing a legacy plan with the American Indian College Fund. Otherwise, there are ample opportunities to also fund scholarships that directly benefit Indigenous students—including Hawaiian and Alaskan Native students—studying outside of the TCU system.
