INTRODUCTION

Purpose

Nationwide statistics indicate that Alaska Natives and American Indian students are the most at risk of all minority groups for failure in school. ¹ When compared to non-Native students, they drop out of school more frequently, are less likely to graduate, and generally have lower educational attainment. For generations, various approaches have been taken to improve education outcomes. While there are some successes, statistics still show much room for improvement.

On behalf of the First Alaskans Foundation, McDowell Group, Inc. has conducted baseline research on Alaska Native attitudes and values toward education. The First Alaskans Foundation, a nonprofit organization created by the Alaska Federation of Natives, seeks to influence positive change in the lives of Alaska Native people. The Foundation sees education as a key to positive change.

The McDowell Group study for First Alaskans Foundation has four components:

• Executive interviews of educational and cultural experts regarding Alaska Native education was conducted in the spring of 2001. Results of these interviews are reported in this document.
  
• A secondary review of the national and Alaska research identified programs and techniques that could enhance Alaska Native education. This report was completed in June 2001.
  
• A random telephone survey of one-thousand Alaska Native households' opinions, attitudes, and values toward education was conducted in the spring of 2001. Completion of the survey findings report is scheduled for July 2001.
  
• Focus group discussions on issues affecting Alaska Native education will be conducted in the fall of 2001.

  The executive interview component of this study is critical for providing further insight into the improvement of education services to Alaska Natives. While these interviews are opinions of individuals, many of the comments are substantiated in the other components of this baseline research, namely the secondary literature review and the household survey. Subjects explored with those interviewed include: barriers to educational success, possible solutions, issues surrounding Alaska Native teachers and cultural education, and suggested roles for First Alaskans Foundation and its education program.

Methodology

Executive interviews, conducted using an interview protocol, took place in the spring of 2001. Experts were specifically selected to include a spectrum of experience in urban and rural Alaska schools, and for all levels of education, from pre-school to post-secondary education. Geographic and cultural representation within Alaska was considered, as was the expert's various roles in the education system, including parents, educators, superintendents, program administrators, academic researchers, and policy makers.

Key informants from Alaska and outside Alaska, as well as Native and non-Native informants, were interviewed. The appendix includes the names of experts interviewed for this study.

¹ American Indian Relief Council, http://www.airc.org/living/education.html.

Return to the Perceptions of Alaska Native Educational and Cultural Experts

Return to the McDowell Final Report

Return to Alaska Native Knowledge Network