Honoring Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Community College Programs

In 2019, Native communities in northern rural Wisconsin and Nicolet Area Technical College (Nicolet College) embarked on a plan to establish pathways to postsecondary education for Indigenous learners. The goal was to create a curriculum and grant credit for prior knowledge in Native culture, governance, history, and language toward a technical certificate and associate degree. The project closely adhered to Native pedagogy and ways, and curriculum was developed by Indigenous leaders and members of area tribes with the support of college faculty and staff.

This report from StrategyForward Advisors attempts to tell the story of the Indigenous Ways of Knowing (IWOK) project from the perspective of those involved.