Executive Summary

NISN is a multi-state, Indigenous-led, community-driven education nonprofit. NISN currently serves tribal groups including Navajo, Pueblo, Ute Mountain Ute, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Lakota, and urban Indigenous students representing over 60 tribes and Indigenous Mesoamerican heritage. 80% of our students identify as Native American, 19% Hispanic, and 1% other. NISN uplifts the genius that has always existed within these communities by supporting them in setting a renewed vision for education, one that ensures schools are designed to sustain and regenerate Indigenous knowledge, and that reflects Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. As facilitators, NISN walks alongside our network of Indigenous community-based schools by providing ongoing professional development; hosting gatherings to share, continuously improve, and refine effective educational approaches; develop Indigenous-centered curriculum; and advocate for equity in education. We are majority Indigenous-led, and 100% of our staff personally embody the values and spirit of the communities we serve. NISN meaningfully contributes to the health of Indigenous communities and the preparation of Indigenous students as the leaders and stewards who will contribute to and define our collective future. We have developed a culturally-responsive approach to Indigenous education that prioritizes community involvement, land-based learning, Indigenous languages, and a holistic culture of care. Since its founding in 2015, NISN has helped to launch or re-open twelve schools, which support more than 1,000 students in New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, and South Dakota. Supporting communities to re-imagine and design forward-looking, Indigenous-centered schools for students can heal generational trauma and is an investment in our shared future.

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