Stolen Indigenous Land and the Legacy of Climate Change in the University System
The land-grant university system was founded on stolen Indigenous land. The Pulitzer Center, the Data-Driven Reporting Project, and the Bay & Paul Foundation supported this project. The article by Eliseu Cavalcante was published on Feb 07, 2024.
Alina Sierra’s Struggle
Alina Sierra, a 19-year-old Tohono O’odham student, needed $6,405 to attend her dream school, the University of Arizona. Despite being accepted, she faced financial challenges that made it difficult for her to afford housing and meals. She turned to the campus food pantry for basic necessities. Her struggles impacted her academic performance, and she found herself on academic probation.
Sierra reflects on the encouragement she received from her family and the promise she made to her godfather before he passed away. Despite the challenges at the University of Arizona, she decided to enroll in Tohono O’odham Community College and is thankful for the financial support they provide.
University’s Support for Indigenous Students
UArizona launched a program to cover tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduates from all 22 Indigenous nations in the state. President Robert C. Robbins described the new Arizona Native Scholars Grant as a step toward fulfilling the school’s land-grant mission. Despite this support, Sierra found herself having to take out a loan to cover the remaining thousands of dollars in costs.
University Funding from State Trust Lands
UArizona’s reliance on state trust land contradicts its commitment to recognize past injustices regarding stolen Indigenous lands and threatens its climate commitments. The land was taken from Indigenous nations and is managed by the Arizona State Land Department, ultimately funding the institution.
Relationship between Colonialism, Higher Education, and Climate Change
The data reveals how state trust lands continue to transfer wealth from Indigenous nations to land-grant universities more than a century after the original Morrill Act, providing insights into the relationship between colonialism, higher education, and climate change in the Western United States.
Impacts of Trust Lands
Nearly 25 percent of land-grant university trust lands are designated for fossil fuel production or mineral mining, with grazing permitted on about a third of the land. These activities impact the legacy of climate change in the region.
