Identifying and lessening barriers for Alaska native students pursuing a postsecondary education: a guide for educators

Dannielle A. Carlson
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:03:05 PDT

This research project seeks to provide stories from Alaska Native students in regards to their postsecondary education experiences to spread awareness of the unique barriers they endure and to recommend solutions to lessen those barriers. The Indigenous research methodology of storytelling was used to collect data on the experiences of eleven Alaska Native college students. Results show students had similar barriers related to lack of support from their families, lack of guidance in college preparation, being underserved in primary and secondary education, and a general lack of belonging on college campuses. A series of recommendations are included within this document which are informed by the researcher’s lived experiences, student stories, and existing research. Such recommendations were intended for the following audiences: primary and secondary education, postsecondary institutions, Alaska Native corporations and tribes. They provide a holistic approach, recognizing that it is not one organizations’ job alone to lessen barriers for Alaska Native students in education as a means to ensure a more equitable, accessible, and safe educational experience.