TEDNA

Here, from Fox 25 in Oklahoma. An excerpt:

Some Native American students in our area are getting help to move on to college or careers after graduation. The White House announced winners of $5.3 million in federal grants Thursday.

Six tribes in Oklahoma will received some money in the program, including the Cheyenne Arapaho Tribe which will work with El Reno Public Schools to help their students.

“This is one of those areas that we can use all the help we can get. We want our kids to graduate from here with the goal in mind,” El Reno schools superintendent Craig McVay said.

Of the students in the district, 12 percent are Native American, most belonging to the Cheyenne Arapaho tribe, McVay said.

Through the grant, those students will have their progress tracked from the 6th through 9th grades to make sure they’re getting the resources they need to move up after graduation and develop their abilities to do it.

The district will continue to work with them after that to see them through to college, vocational schools or careers.

The grants are part of an initiative by President Obama called “Generation Indigenous,” a project to help American Indian youth.

“These grants are an unprecedented investment in our native youth, and a recognition that tribal communities are best positioned to drive solutions and lead change,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement.

Tribes in nine states were awarded money. In Oklahoma the Absentee Shawnee tribe, Otoe-Missouri Tribe and the Creek, Cherokee, and Osage nations were also awarded grant money.