Strengthening Relationships with Tribal Nations

A WTCS DEI Committee workgroup focused on the following mission and priorities.

Mission Statement:

Centering active relationship-building between indigenous communities and WTCS colleges through authentic engagement and partnership

Strategic Priorities:

Understanding:

• Engage with tribal nations to learn their priorities, interests, and needs
• Engage with native students, staff, and faculty to learn their priorities, interests, and needs
• Commit to an ongoing cycle of understanding, action, feedback, and improvement with Tribal Nations, communities, and native students, staff, and faculty.

Partnership:

• Build trust through meaningful action as defined by individual Tribal communities
• Enter any interaction to offer (rather than seek) value
• Advocate for authentic, accountable partnerships with Tribal Nations and communities above performative action

Education:

• Spread awareness and knowledge of foundational information across the WTCS related to indigenous communities
• Communicate mutually beneficial and reciprocal nature of college-Tribal community relationships with those in circles of influence.

Circles of Influence:

• Tribal Nations and Communities
• Native students, staff, and faculty
• WTCS Presidents
• WTCS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Resources

• WTCS Interactive Map – Check out the American Indian Nations of WI filter to see Tribal Nation seat and where they are located in relation to your college.

Student Voices

Contact

Contact group co-chair, Tom Barbano (tom.barbano@northwoodtech.edu) for more information about the work of this group.