Many tribal and reservation communities are in a food desert. Where a shortage of supermarkets and grocery stores means limited access to affordable fresh and nutritious food, residents must rely on unhealthy, higher priced options at convenience stores. Often combined with gas stations, car washes, and ATMS, these stores are in easily accessible locations, open around-the-clock — and typically the only source of food for miles. Other challenges in tribal

The Marathon After School program, hosted by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) in collaboration with Marathon Petroleum, helps youth interested in STEM careers find friendship and community centered on their passions. The program, which serves high school students, focuses on college and career readiness in STEM. Designed to support the educational success of Native students in STEM fields, it offers AISES-curated programming that helps students explore different STEM fields,

AISES Commemorates the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre at the Colorado Legislature AISES representatives participated in a powerful moment of reflection and unity at the 75th General Assembly of the Colorado Legislature. On April 14 they stood with tribal leaders, lawmakers, nonprofit leaders, and community members as elected leaders paid tribute to the victims of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. Those gathered honored the memory of the hundreds of Cheyenne and

Indigenous value systems, built on relationships and collaboration, have always sustained us — in good times and challenging times. Our values guide us as individuals, communities, and organizations. While we are not all the same, there are values we hold in common; they are the connective tissue that strengthens the cultural identity of Indigenous peoples and their communities. At AISES we encourage you to reflect on the ways your values

As the 2024 Summer Olympics unfold in Paris — a city that also hosted the Summer Olympics in 1924 — it’s a perfect moment to reflect on the enduring legacy of America’s greatest Indigenous athlete, James Francis Thorpe (Jim Thorpe). Though over a century has passed since his remarkable achievements, Thorpe’s athleticism remains iconic. Jim Thorpe, a member of the Sac and Fox Nation, captured the world’s attention with his

Native Americans were the first to inhabit and cherish this land. Despite being the original inhabitants, Native Americans and Alaska Natives were the last main groups to receive national citizenship rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. June 2, 2024, marks the centenary of the Indian Citizenship Act, also known as the Snyder Act, signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge. This landmark legislation granted citizenship to American Indians and Alaska Natives

The sixth annual AISES in Canada National Gathering was held in March 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, where First Nations peoples have made their home for nearly 14,000 years. The city’s Stanley Park and the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park are two popular examples of places that reflect the enduring influence of First Nations peoples. When Winds of Change editor Karen English and AISES Managing Director of Editorial and Special Projects Montoya Whiteman visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge, they learned more about how the bridge concept and construction incorporated place-based Indigenous knowledge.

Take a step into the past with this blog, reminding us of the near extinction of the bison – our relatives – who generously provided for Plains Indian people. As the new Ken Burns series captivates audiences nationwide alongside the 2023 AISES National Conference, our efforts to empower the next generation of scientists, wildlife advocates, and conservationists are critical to bolstering bison populations in North America!

We are reminded of the struggles our ancestors endured to get us here today. This blog references three historical events that are poignant reminders of a sad past yet, illuminate the bravery and dedication to family and community.

Relationships are the cornerstone of any community. Today, we are carrying forward the moral values of relationship, responsibility, unity, and family. No matter who we are, we are all related.