Plans for Tuition Come to Fruition
On April 26, the University of California (UC) system announced that all tuition for Native American individuals of federally recognized tribes will be waived starting in the fall 2022 semester. Many people have supported the plan with hopes that it will increase the percentage of Native Americans that can access post-secondary education, as currently, Native Americans make up only 0.5% of the UC student population. However, many others have criticized the proposal saying that all tribes, not just federally recognized ones, should be included within the act.
Native American rights within the U.S. have largely been limited throughout most of the country’s history. Ever since Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas, Native Americans have been persecuted and discriminated against (United to End Genocide). One specific atrocity in history was the Trail of Tears. From 1830-1840, the U.S. government drove five tribes, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole, out of their homelands in the South to government designated Indian Territory beyond the Mississippi River. Tens of thousands died as they were not given any food or water and were dragged in chains (History). This incident, along with other forced removals of Native Americans by the U.S. government, are why many believe reparations are needed. Junior Sarah Stacy, a member of the Creek tribe, is closely connected to this event and feels that the UCs giving free tuition is the beginning of reparations.
“I come from a family that is personally connected to the Trail of Tears, so I have heard a lot of stories [about] how the government stripped everything away from my family,” Stacy said. “Hearing [about] the UC [free] tuition was actually very exciting. I think [it is] 100% a step in the right direction [because] there is a lot to make up for.”
Even though many support this initiative, there are critics saying that only granting federally recognized tribes free tuition is not inclusive of all Native American individuals. Historically, tribes beyond those federally recognized have gone through the same trauma and discrimination, but are not given reparations and access to education (The Guardian). Despite there being 574 tribes that are recognized by the federal government, more than 200 tribes are not, which leaves thousands of members without free tuition (National Public Radio). This lack of access to higher education can have detrimental effects on Native American representation in politics and the workforce as many careers now require a college degree. As a result, Native Americans continue to rank near the bottom of all Americans in terms of health, education, and employment, according to a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights census. Junior Alyna Han thinks this exclusion shows that there is still more to be done in reparations for Native Americans.
“There are a lot of unfair issues that need to be resolved,” Han said. “I think it is important for everyone as a collective [whole] to make sure they right the wrongs [done to Native Americans in] the past. There is always more people can be doing.”
However, even with these criticisms, the initiative has received more positive reactions than negative (National Public Radio). The UC system will fund the plan using existing and new financial aid funds with the hope that more Native Americans will apply and attend if the financial burden is not exceedingly heavy. According to the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), one specific tribe that has already seen an impact is the Tule River Indian Tribe. The tribe sponsors high school students to attend college with a fund set aside for education. Over the pandemic, the only kindergarten educational center on the reservation closed because there were no available educated teachers to keep it open. Now with the free tuition, the tribe can reallocate educational funds to restaff the kindergarten center (ABC). Many Native American tribes are grateful there will be an increase in Native American students within the UC system. Senior Riley Coogan, a member of the Cherokee tribe, hopes to help fund his education at UC Santa Barbara through this new plan.
“[The free tuition act] makes [paying] for college a lot easier because it takes a good chunk [of money] off the total cost for college,” Coogan said. “I think it is nice that [the UC system] is giving [more aid] to people who are Native American, and I will be taking advantage of it.”
