By Greg Knight, News of the North
Dr. Rosita Ḵaaháni Worl, the President and CEO of Sealaska Heritage Institute, testified before the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee this week in Washington D.C. on the topic of Native American and Native Alaskan education.
She said Native student scores continue to trail behind reported averages for all students, especially after kindergarten, demonstrating that the need persists for continued Native educational funding.
Worl told the committee that Sealaska Heritage Institute is asking for an increase in the federal Alaska Native Education Program budget.
“Because of a significant impact in Alaska, SHI has recommended an increase in the 2026 ANEP appropriation to $70 million,” Worl said.
Worl added that increased funding will see increased results in the classroom and beyond.
“With adequate funding, students and educators can have access to quality education and tools that reflect their heritage, while equipping equipping them with the skills necessary for future success,” she said.
The late Senator Ted Stevens originally authored the act in the 1990s to create equity in education for Alaska Natives after the Bureau of Indian Affairs schools closed in the state.
