David Risling, a member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe of California who was considered the father of Indian education, died on Sunday. He was 83.

Risling was a longtime professor at the University of California Davis. He helped develop the Native studies program and was as a senior lecturer for 21 years until he retired in 1991.

Risling also co-founded the California Indian Legal Services, the Native American Rights Fund and D-Q University, the only tribal college in California.

Get the Story:
David Risling Jr., 83; Helped Found UC Davis Native American Studies Program, College for Indians (The Los Angeles Times 3/16)
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Father of Indian education dies at 83 (The Native American Times 3/15)
'Father of Indian education' dies at 83 (AP 3/15)
David Risling, Father of Indian Education, Dies (UC Davis 3/15)