Inupiat self-determination through higher education
"The North Slope Inupiat (Eskimo) have a unique history among indigenous people. They inhabit the northernmost region of Alaska and their land is home to the largest discovery of crude oil in the United States. The North Slope Inupiat are also known for their self-determination efforts. They started the first and largest indigenous controlled, municipal home-rule government in the country and they established the first and only Native controlled, accredited, tribal college in Alaska-Ilisagvik College. Because a complete and detailed history of Ilisagvik College and its predecessors is lacking, this study aims to provide a comprehensive history of higher education on the North Slope. The research question for this study is to understand why the Inupiat leaders of the North Slope decided to create a locally controlled college in Barrow, Alaska. Based on the oral history interviews, document research and literature review; the results of this study demonstrate that the primary motivation for establishing higher education on the North Slope was a quest for Inupiat survival and self-determination. Thirty years later, this mission remains a priority as made evident by the interviews with the leaders"--Leaf iii
Thesis, Dissertation, English, 2008
2008