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Godwins connect with tribal heritage
By Leigh Anne Butler
For young people in Alabama with Native American, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian descent, there are several programs to assist with college funding through scholarships or provide benefits through continuing education and work experience.
The Alabama Indian Affairs Commission (AIAC) represents 38,000 American Indian families who are residents of Alabama. The AIAC provides scholarships to graduating seniors and existing college students to American Indian students.
The Inter-Tribal Council of Alabama’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federally funded program through the Department of Labor which aids native heritage people of high school age with continuing education and work experience.
Nela Godwin, a Tallassee resident, serves on the governing body of the Echota Cherokees as the recording clerk and parliamentarian. Godwin’s son, Gavin, was a recent recipient of one of the AIAC scholarships.
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Nela and citizens of Wolf Clan with items collected for veterans in North and Central Alabama
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“Gavin is a student in aircraft mechanics at Southern Union,” Godwin explains. “It is a new program and he was one of the first students to enter it. He has already completed his welding training at Southern Union so we’re really glad to have someone we know is going to have a good vocation either way. He also works in Auburn at an import car repair shop. He does both school and work, which is great for young people.”
Gavin was awarded a $1,500 scholarship to help with his education expenses. The AIAC distributed $130,000 this year in scholarship funds for tribal students.
Godwin serves on the Inter-Tribal Council of Alabama (ITCA), which is a separate entity from the AIAC. The ITCA represents one federally recognized group, the Poarch Creeks, and eight state-recognized groups, the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, the Echota Cherokee tribe of Alabama, Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokees, Ma-Chis, Mowa, Piqua Shawnee, Southeastern Mvskoke, and United Cherokee tribes.
“With the WIOA program, we can help young people of high school age, usually ages 15 to 17, to be able to go ahead and start vocational work with local businesses or local industries.
For more information regarding continuing education or work experience, or to request an application, you can contact the ITCA office at 334-262-4105 or visit www.intertribalcouncilofalabama.com.
For more information about the AIAC scholarship program, visit www.aiac.alabama.gov. |
