What “Back to School” Means on the Reservation

Despite the lingering summer temperatures, it’s back to school time already. On many reservations, this becomes a stressful time due to lack of proper supplies and learning tools.

This long-term challenge on reservations doesn’t change with the seasons, but it’s even more apparent when children are heading back to school. The need is so great, in fact, that Partnership With Native Americans furnishes essential school supplies for more than 28,000 students on more than 25 reservations.

With only 17 percent of Native American students starting college and only 13 percent completing college, it’s vital that the importance of an education is instilled at a young age. Having the proper school supplies equips all students with the necessary confidence to succeed and embrace education. Gift-in-kind donors help make this happen by donating bulk volumes of school supplies requested by our reservation partners. Individual donors also help through monetary donations that allow PWNA to purchase more supplies and deliver them to the reservations.

PWNA Program Partner Chip Gunville was pleased when she was able to request enough school supplies to support the more than 1,000 students attending kindergarten through high school in the community of Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Once the supplies arrived, she was equally pleased with the quality of the items. PWNA provided different supplies for each grade level, ensuring each child had the specific supplies they needed on the first day of school. It was a win-win-win for school officials, the children of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and their families.

PWNA believes that education is an attainable and necessary goal for Native Americans. As a result, the organization supported 51,734 participants through scholarships, grants, emergency funding, or literacy and school supplies in 2014. Help us continue our commitment by donating to our 100 day supply drive and be part of what gives these students hope.