The Future of Native Education

When we talk about Native education, we're talking about far more than classrooms.

In this episode of All My Relations, guest host Dallas Goldtooth welcomes longtime friend Sedelta Oosahwee (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara and Cherokee), Senior Program & Policy Analyst at the National Education Association, for a timely conversation about the future of Native students, tribal sovereignty, and public education.

Together they unpack what Native education actually looks like today, why more than 90% of Native students attend public schools, and what proposed changes to the U.S. Department of Education could mean for tribal nations. They also discuss school choice, the importance of culturally relevant curriculum, supporting Native students and teachers, and why tribal sovereignty is fundamentally different from DEI initiatives.

Along the way, Dallas and Sedelta share hilarious stories from their early 1491s days, reflect on the mentors who changed their lives, and celebrate the Native educators, artists, and storytellers creating a better future for the next generation.

This episode is a reminder that education isn't just about schools—it's about relationships, responsibility, and believing in what's possible.

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Produced by Matika Wilbur

Hosted by Dallas Goldtooth

AV Production & Editing by Pancho Francisco Sánchez

Score by Mato Wayuhi

Artwork & Social Media Management by Mandy Yeahpau