Self Determination Through Education: The Early History of the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal College

Abstract

The Tribal College Movement began in 1968 as a way of bringing culturally based higher education to reservations. This grassroots movement faced great adversity to accomplish its goals. This paper looks to highlight the evolution of the Tribal College Movement, using the LCO Community College as a means to analyze the impact of the movement. Despite being severely underfunded, this grass roots movement built entire higher learning institutions from the ground up.