1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

As you probably know, Congress has been underfunding tribal colleges by a quarter-billion dollars each year. [1] President Trump has proposed a further near-90% cut which would force many, if not all, of these institutions to close their doors. [2] As you may or may not know, Indigenous Peoples are most marginalized group of people in the United States. They are the most impoverished, the least educated, and are imprisoned at the highest rate. [3] Ever since the Indigenous genocides began, when our European ancestors first arrived on these lands, the colonists, and then the United States Government, have continued to throw roadblocks up to prevent Native Peoples from learning their own languages, reconnecting with their heritages, and receiving education anywhere near on par with the education we colonizers have access to. These proposed cuts to tribal colleges cannot happen. To support such a move would be to support further genocide of Indigenous Peoples. Vote no on cutting tribal college funding. Sources: [1] https://www.propublica.org/article/tribal-colleges-universities-federal-funding [2] https://www.propublica.org/article/tribal-colleges-universities-trump-cuts-funding [3] https://www.california-mexicocenter.org/the-most-marginalized-and-impoverished-people-in-the-united-states-and-in-the-americas-has-always-been-and-continues-to-be-native-americans/