Governor Bill Anoatubby
Chickasaw Nation has historically been an ‘education tribe’
By Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
The Chickasaw Nation has a well-earned reputation as a tribe with a focus on education.
After the end of the American Civil War, the tribe rapidly expanded its number of elementary and secondary schools. In 1867, the Chickasaw Nation dedicated 11 new schools and welcomed scores of Chickasaw and other Indian students. The tribe also invested generously in secondary institutions known at that time as “seminaries.”
Bloomfield Female Seminary, Chickasaw Male Academy, Wapanucka Institute and Lebanon Orphan School all provided what we today refer to as a high school education.
The Chickasaw Nation became known as a highl progressive, education-focused tribe that valued its educational institutions and learning.
That Chickasaw commitment to education has continued to the current day. Throughout the generations, growing numbers of Chickasaws earned their high school degrees and entered the work force prepared to succeed. The value of higher education became apparent to Chickasaw leaders and a growing group of Chickasaws began earning bachelor’s and advanced degrees.
Over time, the Chickasaw Nation continued in its resolve to educate as many Chickasaws as possible. The tribe consistently promoted the benefits of a good education to our young people.
Today, we are experiencing an explosion in the numbers of college-educated Chickasaw citizens. More Chickasaws than ever understand the huge benefit of a college degree. Year after year we are seeing greater numbers of recent Chickasaw high school graduates moving on to higher education. That translates into bright futures for our children!
These young people are our legacy. Chickasaws know the educated mind will deliver a huge return on investment, for the individual, family and tribe.
We are blessed to have so many bright, ambitious and eager young people participating in our many education programs. What a robust group it is! Across the country, these young Chickasaws have excelled in a wide array of disciplines, scholarly pursuits and extracurricular activities. They are a very precious resource.
Years ago, the tribe was strictly limited in what it could invest in our children’s educations. We relied almost exclusively on federal funding for a range of programs serving pre-kindergarten to college and university students. Today, our education funding has developed into a powerhouse.
During the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2016, the Chickasaw Nation invested more than $27.8 million in its education programs. Those funds helped students from threeyear-old Head Start kids to men and women completing dissertations. Today, if you are Chickasaw and are willing to work hard at your studies, your tribe is going to support you all the way!
What value can we place on a good education? In economic terms, college graduates earn substantially more than those with only a high school degree. In terms of satisfaction, accomplishment and pride, no dollar value can express the great amount of good Chickasaws are doing in the world.
The human mind has incredible capacity to accept information and learn. As a tribe, we must assist people so they may take full advantage of their intellectual abilities. The Chickasaw Nation makes education a top priority. That commitment pays dividends in Chickasaw people making tremendous contributions to their families, their tribe, their country and their world.