Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** new beginnings for wabanaki…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** new beginnings for wabanaki students seeks to increase wabanaki student participation and success in fanh and education fields through proven, culturally appropriate pedagogies and mentoring activities.with a focus on linking wabanaki students to educational resources and knowledge in the wabanaki communities and at the wabanaki center at the university of maine (ORONO) and the university of maine-presque isle, professional staff will facilitate wabanaki student participation in recruitment and retention activities that emphasize the ongoing application of wabanaki knowledge traditions.ten (10) kinep fanh and education ambassadors per year over three years will form the core of retention and success efforts across all wabanaki students at the university of maine and the university of maine-presque isle.an indigenous wabanaki educational and non-profit, the land peace foundation, will serve as collaborator on the overall grant activities, and will provide a full-time staff person for the program as part of this grant.another native american education non-profit, the wabanaki youth in science (WAYS) program, will coordinate and support community-based education programs to assist the kinep ambassadors and overall recruitment and retention efforts. Our methodology for achieving greater native american student success is two-fold, is based on our own and other scholarship, and reflects an innovative approach: 1) a mentorship program that connects native students to both community and university support systems and, 2) inclusion of wabanaki indigenous science (is) within a university of maine-presque isle science education class.