MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

WELCOME to the National Institute for Native Leadership in Higher Education (NINLHE).

NINLHE exists to transform higher education in the United States and Canada, in ways that improve the experiences and educational outcomes of Native students, which includes Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Aboriginal peoples.

I believe that education is essential for Native peoples' survival; but education has also been utilized as a weapon to destroy our cultures. Therefore, we must create an educational system that provides Native peoples with the tools necessary for our communities to thrive in today's world while maintaining our traditional community values. To this end, NINLHE works with higher education professionals, Native and non-native, to create opportunities, and an atmosphere on college and university campuses nationwide and in Canada, that will encourage Native students, staff, and faculty to thrive in their cultural and academic pursuits.

We know that the higher education professionals responsible for improving Native student recruitment, retention and graduation rates are essential for Native student success, and by strengthening their capacity and promoting culturally appropriate practices NINLHE improves the educational experience of Native students as well as the professional environment for staff and faculty across the United States and Canada. NINLHE seeks nothing less than to change institutions of higher learning into places that are supportive of Native peoples' needs, values, cultures, and dreams. As a peer among other professional associations, NINLHE uses our collective expertise and influence to provide leadership to the national higher education community.

I invite you to join NINLHE colleagues in our personal, friendly organization, where all people work together through our Annual National Institute to help one another succeed. We are continuously soliciting for new sponsors and/or institutional members who can help us make a difference in this exciting new era of Native American Higher Education.

Thank you,

Michael Hanitchak, Governing Council Chair