Indian Education for ALL

Abstract

Native American and Alaska Native youth experience persistent health and educational inequities rooted in historical and ongoing systems of cultural erasure, assimilation, and underinvestment. Education functions as a critical social determinant of health, shaping identity, belonging, and long-term wellbeing—particularly during adolescence. This policy memo argues for the expansion and full enforcement of Indian Education for All (IEFA) beyond Montana to all states with federally recognized tribes. Grounded in tribal sovereignty and Indigenous-defined wellness frameworks, IEFA ensures that Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary realities are meaningfully integrated into K–12 curricula for both Native and non-Native students. By reframing culturally grounded education as a preventative public health strategy, this memo positions IEFA as a tool for strengthening protective factors among Indigenous youth, including cultural identity, community connection, and self-determination. Expanding IEFA offers states an opportunity to address educational inequities while simultaneously advancing health equity, honoring tribal authority, and supporting holistic wellbeing for Indigenous adolescents.

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