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Native America Calling
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Native America Calling: Strengthening the tribal workforce
Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Strengthening the tribal workforce: trade school and a new federal grant program
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded the Federal Pell Grant, a subsidy for undergraduate students, to cover short-term workforce training programs for the first time.

Native education advocates view the new Workforce Pell Grant program as a positive initiative that could help more low-income adults get into high-demand jobs while boosting enrollment at tribal colleges and universities. The program went into effect this month so it’s still too early to tell how tribal institutions will benefit.

Tune into Native America Calling to discuss the viability of vocational school and training and how the Workforce Pell Grant will take effect at tribal post-secondary institutions.

United Tribes Technical College: UTTC Welding Program

Guests on Native America Calling
Leander McDonald (Dakota, Arikara, Hidatsa, and Hunkpapa), president of the United Tribes Technical College in North Dakota

Nyree Kedrowski (Ho-Chunk Nation), managing partner for Five Skies

Moriah O’Brien, vice president of congressional and federal relations at the American Indian Higher Education Consortium

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