..read more

The importance of STEM education in middle school is tough to overstate. Our nation’s top leaders and researchers have repeatedly emphasized that if America wishes to remain competitive in the global economy it must produce more professionals with college degrees in STEM. We are woefully behind China and India in the amount of STEM students we currently have, and the reason for that is partially to do with poor STEM education in middle school. STEM Education In Middle School Is Key AIS has been looking to thwart this potential economic disaster by establishing the AIS PREP program, our STEM su ..read more

American Indian Services welcomes long-time educator Kevin Sekaquaptewa to the team as the new AIS PREP Director. Meet Kevin Sekaquaptewa Kevin Sekaquaptewa (Hopi) was born and raised in Orem, Utah. An American Indian Services scholarship recipient himself, he attended Utah Valley University and graduated with a bachelor of arts in History, with a Native American Studies Minor. In 2014, Kevin began teaching 6th grade at Tse’bii’nidzisgai Elementary, in Monument Valley, Utah on the Navajo Nation. During his time teaching, he decided to return to school. He attended Southern Utah University and ..read more

“I will tell you something about stories…They aren’t just entertainment. Don’t be fooled. They are all we have, you see, all we have to fight off illness and death.” - Leslie Marmon Silko, Ceremony The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. It is a day when the Northern Hemisphere has the fewest hours of sunlight and the Southern Hemisphere has the most. This remarkable event marks the point at which the sunlight begins to increase and warmth begins to reach the Earth. This change is celebrated with ceremony and storytelling because it represents a time of hope, renewal, and rebirth ..read more

Looking for the perfect gift this holiday? Here are 12 Indigenous-owned businesses to shop this giving season. JEWELRY Kotah Bear kotahbear.com Native-owned and operated since 2013. Kotah and Missy are both enrolled members of the Diné (Navajo Nation) tribe. They work with Navajo and Pueblo artisans across the Southwest to provide jewelry, blankets, and other odds & ends. Copper Canoe Woman coppercanoewoman.com Vina Brown is the owner and operator of Copper Canoe Woman Creations. Inspired by her culture and family, she creates modern Indigenous statement pieces with a deep connection to ..read more

American Indian Services welcomes Tishna Campbell to the team as the new Administrative Assistant. Meet Tishna Campbell Tishna Campbell was born in upstate New York near the Cattaraugus reservation until she was twelve years old. Her family of eight then made a new home in the heart of the Utah, where she lives today. In 2001, Tishna's parents formed a multicultural group called "Remembering our Culture" that she says she has been blessed to participate in since she was eighteen. Through this group she has had the opportunity to explore her roots through music, building on her talent for singi ..read more

This #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth we are featuring indigenous language advocate Candice Tallsalt, the creator of the Navajo Children's Coloring and Activity Book series. Her books focus on teaching Diné Bazaad (Navajo language) in parallel with English; an effort in preserving the Navajo language by teaching the children who will carry the traditions forward. You can purchase the Navajo Children's Color and Activity Books on amazon. Tell us a little about yourself. “My name is Candice Tallsalt. I was born and raised in Tuba City, Arizona located on the Navajo Reservation. My clans are Naakáí d ..read more

This #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth we would like to feature renowned Native American culinary artist and caterer, Chef Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart (Oglala Lakota Sioux). She shares some of her favorite heritage recipes with us in hopes that this year you may gather together to create a feast that celebrates the flavors of a traditional Indigenous diet. You can learn more about Chef Brave Heart by visiting www.chefbraveheart.com or @chefbraveheart on Instagram. Tell us a little about yourself. “I am Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart, enrolled citizen of Oglala Sioux Tribe. I am a 6th generation entrep ..read more

Whether you seek to learn about the lives of those who came before, share memories with those who are still here, or add your own stories for future generations—take some time to connect to your family this month. Below you'll find a collection of activities that we hope will inspire you. 1. Save a memory that could be lost. A memory can be lost when a family member passes away before the memory has been shared or recorded. Take the time to ask meaningful questions to an older family member about their life. You can record the conversations or have them write it down in their own words. 2. Int ..read more

October 20, 2021—One of the nation's longest-running scholarship non-profit organizations, American Indian Services, is pleased to announce it has selected Chauma Kee-Jansen as its new Executive Director. Meet Chauma Kee-Jansen Chauma is Navajo and an enrolled member of the Assiniboine-Sioux Tribe of Fort Peck Montana. She was raised in Kamas, Utah, located at the base of the Uintah Mountain Range. As an AIS alumni scholarship recipient herself, she was able to receive her Associates of Science from Utah Valley University; a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and a Masters of Public Administrat ..read more