Education is a crucial factor in addressing long-term challenges on the reservations that Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) serves. PWNA’s American Indian Education Fund (AIEF) program offers a School Supply service for students from pre-kindergarten to high school to start their academic year off with backpacks full of paper, pencils and more.

Our Program Partner Connie organized a recent AIEF School Supply distribution for elementary students in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Sisters Colbie and Dylan attended with their grandparents Nadine, who works as a patient advocate for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Tom, who harvests crops to use as medicine. Nadine raised six kids of her own and now cares for Colbie and Dylan since they lost their mom.

Nadine said the distribution means that families don’t have to go without supplies. She shared, “It really helps us in times of need. With inflation, things like this are valuable. The resources and connections are vital because we don’t have the ability to ask for help. When we were going to school, we didn’t have this help. It was really stressful growing up.”

Nadine mentioned that her electric bill reaches $700 in July, but she thankfully receives assistance for the bill from the tribe. The money she saved by not having to buy school supplies will help put more food on the table for her family.

Colbie is in third grade and dreams of being an art teacher. “I want to teach kids,” she exclaimed. Nadine told us that since Colbie is the oldest, the Lakota way is for other kids to look to her as an example. Colbie loves to be social, play games, and run. Her favorite school supply was index cards.

Dylan is in second grade and loves inventing things and learning from experiments at home. She wants to be a scientist when she grows up so that she can help people. Dylan is also interested in artistic activities like molding clay and drawing anime. She likes the idea of combining art and science together. Both girls have their hearts set on traveling the world.

Native students in South Dakota have the lowest on-time graduation rate of 53%, compared with 84% of all students. By addressing both immediate and long-term educational needs, PWNA helps our Program Partners motivate students.

Donate to AIEF today to inspire more Native students like Colbie and Dylan.