Four Corners: Connecting CS to Culture and Language through Collaboration

Supporting Indigenous communities’ access to computer science (CS) education supports students with knowledge and skills to maintain tribal strength and resilience while nurturing self-sustaining and self-fulfilling careers in the growing economy of CS. It is time to recognize tribal students’ potential in computer science, to address their own community needs and thus their own intrinsic values, building a sustainable ecosystem for generations to come. This report documents the ongoing, collaborative efforts of philanthropy, state departments of education, non-profits, tribal members, educator organizations and higher education to co-construct and implement Indigenous-centered approaches to launch and sustain an Indigenous CS teacher community of practice in the Four Corners that includes a regional CS conference for educators, Indigenous CS teachers affinity group, and sustainable model of collaboration for future convenings.