Native Americans Lacking Information Resources (rpt)

[coyotez]

Hi Phil,
I remember this program from several years ago. Apparently it is still in
existance.
David Lewis (Kalapuya, Conf. Tribes of Grand Ronde)

http://www.washington.edu/newsroom/news/1998archive/09-98archive/k092198a.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: Bob Roseth
206-543-2580
roseth at u.washington.edu
DATE: Sept. 21, 1998

Microsoft's gift to tribal colleges will increase technological access
In an effort to narrow the digital divide that separates many American Indians
from the technological resources available to the rest of the population, the
University of Washington announced Microsoft has donated $75,000 cash plus
more than $500,000 in software and training to The American Indian Science
Technology Education Consortium (AISTEC) to increase technological access at
three tribal colleges.


AISTEC brings the U.S. government and higher education institutions together
to enhance the mathematics and science education opportunities for Native
Americans by partnering tribal colleges with larger universities to pool
know-how and resources. The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA)
created AISTEC in 1994 with an eye on increasing the numbers of American
Indian students who pursue and complete university degrees in math and
science. George Reese, NASA's Associate Administer for Equal Opportunity
Programs, categorized the relationship with Microsoft as "a prime example of
the private sector investments NASA hopes to encourage by providing base
funding for programs such as AISTEC."


The three tribal colleges funded by the Microsoft grant are teamed with the
University of Washington. Tom Colonnese, assistant vice president for minority
affairs at the University of Washington and project director for this grant,
will implement funding for site hardware, software and technical training at
Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence, Kan.; Northwest Indian College,
Bellingham, Wash.; and Salish-Kootenai Tribal College, Pablo, Mont.


"This connection between business, higher education and the government brings
us the resources to begin this important project," says Tom Colonnese, project
director at the University of Washington. "We are confident this program,
which is a first for this community, will help connect American Indian higher
education to the computer age."


American Indian people are widely considered the ethnic group least prepared
to join the computer age in the United States. Besides being the poorest of
the U.S.'s minorities, many Indians are also geographically isolated. A 1997
Carnegie Foundation Report on Native American Colleges: Progress and Prospects
reports that tribal colleges are not only essential providers of higher
education for members of the Indian population, but they serve as an important
community resource. The Carnegie Foundation report recommends increased use of
distance learning technology to meet the unique demands of this community.
This plan builds innovative uses of distance learning technology into the
program.


The Microsoft and AISTEC Project has three areas of focus:
1) Local area network development
2) Support for distance learning
3) Tribal college infrastructure, program and curriculum enhancement

"Creating access to technology, especially in disadvantaged communities, is
very important to Microsoft," says Barbara Dingfield, director of community
affairs at Microsoft Corp. "This is a terrific program that will add greatly
to both the educational environment and the tribal community-at large. We look
forward to seeing all the results."


###
The Office of Minority Affairs at the University of Washington ensures access
of underrepresented students of color and economically/educationally
disadvantaged students to the University by providing successful academic and
personal experiences for students, including preparation for graduate and
professional programs. This office also enhances cultural diversity within the
University of Washington student body.

David Lewis
Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
Department Of Anthropology
University of Oregon