Today, there’s an alarming shortage of Native Americans engaged in post-high school education. For example, a scant 74 of 24,000 students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln identify themselves as Natives only. There are more than five times as many students from India at UNL as there are American Indians.

A new scholarship fund for Native American students has been established to correct that imbalance and narrow the gap. Nebraska author Joe Starita is using the proceeds from the sale of his book, I Am A Man: Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice, to fund an endowed scholarship program for persons of Native American heritage living in the state of Nebraska. The biography was the 2012 selection for the One Book-One Nebraska program.

The Chief Standing Bear Journey for Justice Scholarship honors a Ponca chief who walked 600 miles through snow and cold to bury his only son. His landmark civil rights victory ...

The Native American Family and Cultural Night event will take place every first Friday of the month at Indian Center, Inc. This event is organized by the Southeast Native American Coalition (SENNAC) hosted by Region V Systems. The events are geared for Native American families and youth to bring family engagement and provide prevention activities to the community.

The evening will begin with a dinner at 6:30pm on Friday, March 1, 2013 and then from 7:00pm to 8:00pm there will be cultural workshops that are on various different topics that include: storytelling, puppet show, traditional arts/crafts, Lakota language (March-August 2013), Omaha language (September 2013-Feb. 2014), and a presentation about bringing culture into the workplace.  During dinner the Family & Youth Investment: A Division of Region V Systems will do a presentation about their wraparound program serving families who have a child with an emotional, behavioral, or mental health disorder. &nb ...

The Youth Education and Supportive Services (YESS) staff from One Stop Employment Solutions will NOT be on site at the Indian Center on Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at 4:30pm. Due to bad weather this outreach meeting will be not be taking place. We are working with the staff to reschedule another date and time.

The YESS staff will be available for anyone to contact during their office hours at 402-441-7111. The YESS program is for young adults ages 16-21 years old. Their program helps eligible individuals with obtaining their GED's, college degrees, trainings, and work experience. The GED instructor will also be present to meet and greet community to inform the people about new rules that are in effect as of Jan 2013.

These WIA Title 1 financially assisted programs and activities are equal opportunity employer/programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

For ...

The Office of Special Trustee (OST) for American Indians invites the community to an outreach meeting taking place on Wed. Feb. 27, 2013 at 5:00pm here at the Indian Center (1100 Military Road, Lincoln, NE). This outreach meeting will give community members the opportunity to ask specific questions about Individual Indian Money Accounts, and about how your Indian trust assets, including Indian Trust Land, are managed by the Office of Special Trustee and BIA.

For additional information please contact: The Office of Special Trustee, Winnebago Agency at 402-878-2411.