Washington Community and Technical Colleges American Indian Indigenous Studies Advisory Board (WCAAB)

Purpose

The primary responsibility of the Washington Community and Technical Colleges American Indian Indigenous Studies Advisory Board (WCAAB) is to develop a statewide community and technical colleges strategic plan. Through sustainable Government to Government (G2G) relations and tribal consultation, this plan will expand space for Indigenous knowledges throughout the following educational pathways:

• Academic transfer
• Basic adult education
• Career and technical education
• Workforce development

To address American Indian disparities in higher education, our primary aim is to expand pathways for Tribal students, adults, and workforce development within Washington's higher education opportunities. This includes building institutional capacity to increase American Indian knowledge through curriculum development and the recruitment of American Indian faculty and staff. We work to create space for Tribal Community Scholars and Wisdom Keepers in traditional western academy so that all faculty, staff, students, and communities will learn local history, governance, and culture. To realize place-based knowledge is to learn the historical context from local Tribes and their connections to the land where we work, live, and play.

Recruitment Goal

In one year, we recruited 26 community educators from Washington's community and technical colleges, universities, Indigenous faculty, higher education advisory professionals, American Indian K-12 education organizations, Tribal business and health sectors, and Tribal leaders.

COLLECTIVELY, WCAAB has adopted advisory board bylaws and created a statewide comprehensive strategic plan. We look forward to reducing racial inequities, promoting social justice initiatives, and facilitating productive relationships between Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges and 29 Federally Recognized Tribes.