A Complex Path to Haudenosaunee Degree Completion.

Abstract

This qualitative study describes how 12 Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy) college graduates constructed pathways to degree completion. The participants related their experiences on this path through open-ended interviews. The pathways were found to be complex owing to their unique cultural grounding and dedication to family. The participants managed a college education while maintaining their cultural integrity even though it meant more work and effort. Their greatest support during college was their family. Participants embarked on a double curriculum: that of their academic program and another constituted by participating in structured native langue classes or involvement in their traditions. Participants were academically engaged but resembled adult returning students even when they were traditionally aged and living on campus. The male students reported richer, more intense experiences than the women due to the mentoring they received.