American Indian Culture and Research Journal

Tokalakiya wounspe yuha unyanpi kte. (“Into the future we must go with education.”) -From a poster by Michael Lee Willcuts for the Black Hills Special Services Cooperative Regardless of the specifics they might emphasize, commentators seem to agree that basic skills are the key to individual and community success. Basic skills, such as reading and mathematics, are the foundation for learning other skills and for effective functioning. Unfortunately, many students in the American educational system are not mastering the types of skills they and their communities need. A major aspect of this problem is school dropout, and nowhere is this a bigger issue than among Native American (American Indian) groups. Native American youth have historically had the highest elementary, secondary, and college dropout rates of any major racial group, and this continues to be true today: although these rates vary across tribes: Native females may also now be dropping out before graduating from high school at higher rates than Indian males. Although more native females than native males graduate from college, they are less likely than native males to receive training in the highest status and best paying types of skills. Clearly, improved educational success is needed to ensure the survival, the economic and social opportunity, and the success of native individuals and tribes.