Native American speaker advises, "explore their strengths."
HOUGHTON -- If universities want to increase their retention rate, they should help the student explore their strengths, not focus on what they lack.
Those were the words of Iris Pretty Paint, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe in Browning, Montana, who spoke at Michigan Tech Thursday.
Pretty Paint, who has a doctorate in social work, travels the country advocating for Native American culture. She says understanding that a sense of of place, family and sovereignty are all important to Native American students can help with Native American student retention.
"All of those things create a very different approach than you might have to that non-traditional population," said Pretty Paint.
Pretty Paint is also speaking at the Native American's Speaker's Forum at Michigan Tech on Oct. 24.
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