Understanding and Supporting Indigenous Latine Students and their Families
Understanding and Supporting Indigenous Latine Students and their Families
By Luis Gonzalez-Quizhpe and Américo Mendoza-MoriEnglish PDF
This Educator Brief explains who Indigenous Latine students are and why their distinct Indigenous languages, cultures, and identities are often rendered invisible in U.S. schools, even as their population has rapidly grown nationwide. It details how misidentification as Spanish‑dominant, discrimination based on language and appearance, and structural erasure in data and curriculum undermine their belonging and success, while highlighting Indigenous Latine youths’ rich linguistic and community cultural wealth and offering concrete strategies for educators—such as affirming multilingualism, proactively addressing racism, fostering affirming school climates, and engaging families through Indigenous-language and community partnerships—to better support their academic journeys and ethnic‑racial identity development.
