{"id":42,"date":"2020-09-02T17:35:13","date_gmt":"2020-09-02T17:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.wp.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2026-09-24T18:23:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T18:23:20","slug":"indigenous-student-success-abroad","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/indigenous-student-success-abroad\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigenous Student Success Abroad"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 style=\"text-align: left;\">Indigenous student success abroad<\/h1>\n<h2>NAU supports student diversity<\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;\"><hr role=\"separator\" class=\"hr--transparent hr--transparent-30px not-in-view\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ct6z2tM25VE\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Northern Arizona University occupies, and is surrounded by, the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Hopi, Navajo, Paiute, Havasupai, Hualapai, Pueblos, Western Apache, Yavapai, Zuni, and several other tribal nations.<\/p>\n<p>Did you know that less than 1% of students who study abroad are Indigenous (Native American or Alaska Native) in the U.S. (Institute of International Education, 2019)? NAU Education Abroad believes that all students deserve to study abroad and see their world, and we want to help you go abroad.<\/p>\n<p>Why should Indigenous students study abroad?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gain a new perspective on your own country, culture, and identity.<\/li>\n<li>Increase your employability with the gained international experience, cross-cultural skills and cultural adaptability.<\/li>\n<li>Learn about other Indigenous issues and cultures, as well as and impacts of colonialism around the world.<\/li>\n<li>Bring new comparative perspectives to Indigenous issues back home.<\/li>\n<li>Educating the international community about modern Indigenous peoples\u2019 culture and values.<\/li>\n<li>Help build your own nation through sharing the skills, experiences, and connections gained abroad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Exploring the world as an Indigenous student<\/h3>\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Race & ethnicity abroad_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-1-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-1-panel\">\n            Race & ethnicity abroad\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-1-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-1-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>While you may have grown up being classified by your race or ethnicity, when abroad you may be classified first by your country\u2014as an American. Locals you meet will most likely have an opinion about the USA before they meet you and want to discuss U.S. culture, politics, and current events with you, both positive and negative.<\/p>\n<p>Others may also make assumptions based on your physical appearance, resulting in staring at you or wanting to touch your hair or skin. They may openly ask you questions about your cultural heritage, where you\u2019re from, or the way you look. They may have beliefs of Native Americans based on movies, television, or history books that are inaccurate and stereotypical. Sometimes these curious questions may come across as insensitive. However, different cultural norms abroad may result in different styles of politeness.<\/p>\n<p>If someone says or does something that is offensive to you, try to determine if this person is simply curious about you or has bad intentions. In uncomfortable situations, remember to always put your own safety first.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Intersecting identities_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-2-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-2-panel\">\n            Intersecting identities\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-2-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-2-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>You may identify with your tribal nation or demonstrate your Indigenous values in different situations, providing an opportunity to share your tribal culture abroad with others who may have never met a Native American before or know how diverse tribal nations are across the U.S. You and your family may wish to hold a protective ceremony before you go abroad, or there may be some parts of a study abroad program that you cannot participate in due to spiritual, dietary, or other personal considerations. It\u2019s important to communicate these needs with your Education Abroad advisor, so we can work with our partners abroad to ensure they are prepared with accommodations and you can have a positive experience.<\/p>\n<p>You also may have other personal identities, such as multi-racial, LGBTQIA, a student with a disability, First-Gen, low-income, and\/or non-traditional student. These intersecting identities make you unique. As a result, your experience abroad will also be uniquely yours. We are here to help you navigate your personal journey.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Money matters_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-3-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-3-panel\">\n            Money matters\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-3-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-3-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>Finances for study abroad are a consideration for nearly all students regardless of race\/ethnicity. NAU and other organizations offer special scholarships for study abroad, financial aid (grants, loans) can be applied to almost all programs, and merit-based NAU scholarships (Lumberjack, Blue, Gold, Transfer) can be applied to exchange programs. Some rules\/restrictions apply based on the type of scholarship and program, and your Education Abroad advisor can help explain what scholarships are best for you to apply for. View our <a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/scholarships\/\">scholarships page<\/a> for more details!<\/p>\n<p>Past Indigenous students who have studied abroad have been able to apply external scholarships from their tribe or other organizations with additional paperwork\/permissions granted from the tribe towards their study abroad program. This can add additional time to the application process, so if you are interested in this, tell your Education Abroad advisor early in the planning process. Additionally, many scholarships focus on diversity and sending underrepresented students abroad, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/fundforeducationabroad.org\/scholarships\/\">Fund for Education Abroad<\/a>, the Gilman Scholarship, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.udall.gov\/ourprograms\/scholarship\/scholarship.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Udall Undergraduate Scholarship<\/a>, and Mobility Abroad Scholarship. As the least represented ethnic group, Indigenous students are encouraged to attend our scholarship workshop and apply.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Program options_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-4-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-4-panel\">\n            Program options\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-4-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-4-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>For some Indigenous students, attending a mainstream university like NAU is already challenging, and it can be intimidating to imagine going abroad to a completely new culture. However, you have already demonstrated your skill in cultural adaptability by becoming a Lumberjack and joining us here at NAU.<\/p>\n<p>Some students have responsibilities in their families or communities that prevent them from being away from home for an extended period of time. We offer hundreds of programs, including short-term programs lasting only a few weeks to accommodate different life situations. Other students who have more flexibility for a longer program can go abroad for a semester or academic-year for an immersive experience. You can focus on courses for your degree plan or our special topic courses.<\/p>\n<p>As you participate more in the host culture lifestyle, you will stand out less but your physical appearance may still attract attention. You may be classified by others incorrectly. It may be the case that you also don\u2019t experience racism or discrimination as you expected when you go abroad. Be prepared but open-minded.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Pre-departure preparations_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-5-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-5-panel\">\n            Pre-departure preparations\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-5-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-5-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p>To prepare, learn more about other diverse students\u2019 experiences both at NAU and abroad through the Office of Inclusion and our network of study abroad alumni. Ask your Education Abroad advisor for more details.<\/p>\n<p>Some questions to consider and research before you go abroad:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How is my ethnicity\/race perceived in my host country? What kind of stereotypes are there?<\/li>\n<li>What kind of groups or organizations exist in my host city or program for my ethnic\/racial group? What resources are available to me there?<\/li>\n<li>How should I react if I find something to be offensive? Is the person curious or do they have bad intentions?<\/li>\n<li>If staying with a host family, have they housed minority students before? If not, will this be an issue for them?<\/li>\n<li>Am I used to being part of the majority at home but will be a minority abroad? Or vice versa?<\/li>\n<li>Will there be other minority students in my program?<\/li>\n<li>Who should I contact if I do face racial or discriminatory incidents?<\/li>\n<li>Does my program have support staff that will understand and help me through any racial or discriminatory incident I may face?<\/li>\n<li>How can I use my presence abroad to represent U.S. diversity and share my culture and values in a positive way?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"Indigenous-focused programs_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-6-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-6-panel\">\n            Indigenous-focused programs\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-6-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-6-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<ul>\n<li>Academia Latinoamerica \u2013 Internship with Indigenous Peoples<\/li>\n<li>Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia (fall\/spring exchange)<\/li>\n<li>Curtin University, Perth, Australia (fall\/spring exchange)<\/li>\n<li>Montana State University (fall\/spring National Student Exchange)<\/li>\n<li>Murdoch University, Perth, Australia (fall\/spring exchange)<\/li>\n<li>NAU in Australia and New Zealand: Indigenous Heritage and Education in Aboriginal Australia \u2013 Summer 2021<\/li>\n<li>NAU in New Zealand: Sustainable Communities &amp; Environmental Studies \u2013 Summer 2021<\/li>\n<li>NAU in Tanzania: Health, Culture, and Community Development<\/li>\n<li>Navajo Language Summer Immersion Camp \u2013 Summer 2021<\/li>\n<li>Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Colombia, Canada (fall\/spring exchange)<\/li>\n<li>Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito, Ecuador (fall\/spring exchange)<\/li>\n<li>University of Alaska Southeast (fall\/spring National Student Exchange)<\/li>\n<li>University of Hawai\u2019i Hilo (fall\/spring National Student Exchange)<\/li>\n<li>University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia (fall\/spring exchange)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- shortcode-accordion -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-accordion shortcode-accordion--closed\" style=\"position: relative;\" >\n        <h4 class=\"shortcode-accordion__header\">\n        <button type=\"button\" class=\"shortcode-accordion__trigger\" data-header=\"References and resources_0\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-7-trigger\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"shortcode-accordion-7-panel\">\n            References and resources\n            <span class=\"shortcode-accordion__header__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n        <\/button>\n    <\/h4>\n    <div class=\"shortcode-accordion__body\" id=\"shortcode-accordion-7-panel\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"shortcode-accordion-7-trigger\" inert>\n        <html><body>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/allabroad.us\/\">AllAbroad.us<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diversityabroad.com\/\">DiversityAbroad.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/iss\/\">NAU Office of Indigenous Student Success<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/native-american-cultural-center\">NAU Native American Cultural Center<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/legacy.nau.edu\/ais\/\">NAU Applied Indigenous Studies<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/inclusion\/\">NAU Office of Inclusion: Multicultural &amp; LGBTQIA Student Services<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Institute of International Education. (2019). \u201cProfile of U.S. Study Abroad Students, 2000\/-1-2017\/18.\u201d Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. Retrieved from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.opendoorsdata.org\/\">http:\/\/www.opendoorsdata.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/81Xw4tjZavA\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Want to discuss studying abroad as an Indigenous student with an Education Abroad Advisor? You can make an appointment by your regional interest or join a general information session.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to connect with the NAU Office of Indigenous Student Success and Native American Cultural Center for resources and support for Indigenous students.<\/p>\n<div class='shortcode-column-container'><!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<\/div>\n<!-- shortcode-column -->\n<div class=\"shortcode-column shortcode-column--count-2\">\n    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h0zVeeAzT0M\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Indigenous student success abroad NAU supports student diversity \ufeff Northern Arizona University occupies, and is surrounded by, the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Hopi, Navajo, Paiute, Havasupai, Hualapai, Pueblos, Western Apache, Yavapai, Zuni, and several other tribal nations. Did you know that less than 1% of students who study abroad are Indigenous (Native [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ring_central_script_selection":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-42","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3374,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions\/3374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/education-abroad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}