Seminar: Indian Country School Counselors Institute Professional Development Program
Program: ICSCI
Subject Area: Counseling
Grade Level: High school
Year of Publication: 2025
Abstract
This counseling practice guide will focus on developing a culturally grounded approach to career exploration for middle school (grades 6–8) and high school (grades 9–12) students at
Dishchii’bikoh Community School, located within the White Mountain Apache community. The
school is a tribally controlled school serving approximately 280 students in grades 6–12 in the
White Mountain Apache community of Cibecue, Arizona. It is located on the Fort Apache Indian
Reservation and is operated by the tribe in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Students at Dishchii’bikoh grow up deeply rooted in Apache language, culture, and traditions, and many maintain close ties to extended family and the land. The community is rich in intergenerational knowledge, and education is seen not just as individual success but as collective
contribution.