Indian Country

Better Way Foundation and the Rauenhorst family have a long history of partnering with Indian Country. They were first introduced to the Lakota people and culture while volunteering on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the 1970s. The first large Indigenous Education grant was made in 2003, and we have since continued to support language and culture revitalization programs in schools throughout Indian Country.

It is our vision that all Indigenous children are given the opportunity to experience high-quality, culturally rooted early learning and development. In 2016, following a thorough review and needs assessment, we made the decision to make a significant commitment to Indian Country in our overall funding strategy, targeting 65% of annual grantmaking to Indigenous education programs.

Holistic and culturally grounded Indigenous Early Childhood Development programs provide a promising avenue for addressing social, educational and health disparities. They offer quality learning experiences that aid in the development of literacy and numeracy skills, healthy attitudes towards learning, identity formation, self-esteem and self-worth, as well as a child’s physical, cognitive, emotional and social development.

Throughout our efforts in Indian country, we have learned:

• • Language and culture are critically important.
  • Building trusting, mutually accountable partnerships is essential.
  • Native Nations, as self-determined sovereign entities, are essential partners in supporting the well-being of Indigenous families and children.
  • Engagement with elders, parents, and other community members is an integral part of successful Indigenous ECD programs.