Previous literature on ally identity development for higher education professionals has been focused mostly on White identity development, with little to no suggestions for those working with American Indian student populations (Broido, 2000; Edwards, 2006; Evans & Wall, 1991; Reason, Millar, A, & Scales, 2005). A conceptual model written by Keith E. Edwards (2006) focused on three stages of aspiring ally identity development with each identity attached to frequently experienced behaviors and viewpoints. This relatable model created a way to offer autoethnographical examples of an aspiring ally’s development to suggest adaptations for non-Native student affairs professionals working with Native student populations. With added investigator triangulation of a Native student affairs professional’s interpretation, the considerations for aspiring allies working with Native populations include: thorough self-education focused on historical oppression perpetuated through contemporary incidents; cultural understanding of self-determination, future generations, and communication styles; the unique political status of tribal groups with the U.S. government as sovereign nations. Suggestions from Native higher education professionals and application are discussed, concluding with limitations and resources for further reading.
","abstract_html":"<p>Previous literature on ally identity development for higher education professionals has been focused mostly on White identity development, with little to no suggestions for those working with American Indian student populations (Broido, 2000; Edwards, 2006; Evans & Wall, 1991; Reason, Millar, A, & Scales, 2005). A conceptual model written by Keith E. Edwards (2006) focused on three stages of aspiring ally identity development with each identity attached to frequently experienced behaviors and viewpoints. This relatable model created a way to offer autoethnographical examples of an aspiring ally’s development to suggest adaptations for non-Native student affairs professionals working with Native student populations. With added investigator triangulation of a Native student affairs professional’s interpretation, the considerations for aspiring allies working with Native populations include: thorough self-education focused on historical oppression perpetuated through contemporary incidents; cultural understanding of self-determination, future generations, and communication styles; the unique political status of tribal groups with the U.S. government as sovereign nations. Suggestions from Native higher education professionals and application are discussed, concluding with limitations and resources for further reading.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Nelson, Corynna B."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Counseling and Human Development","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ruth Harper"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:28:36Z","subjects":["aspiring ally identity development","higher education","Native student populations","Higher Education Administration","Indigenous Studies"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1112","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ruth Harper"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Nelson, Corynna B."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2016-12-09T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Counseling and Human Development"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["aspiring ally identity development","higher education","Native student populations","Higher Education Administration","Indigenous Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1112"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Previous literature on ally identity development for higher education professionals has been focused mostly on White identity development, with little to no suggestions for those working with American Indian student populations (Broido, 2000; Edwards, 2006; Evans & Wall, 1991; Reason, Millar, A, & Scales, 2005). A conceptual model written by Keith E. Edwards (2006) focused on three stages of aspiring ally identity development with each identity attached to frequently experienced behaviors and viewpoints. This relatable model created a way to offer autoethnographical examples of an aspiring ally’s development to suggest adaptations for non-Native student affairs professionals working with Native student populations. With added investigator triangulation of a Native student affairs professional’s interpretation, the considerations for aspiring allies working with Native populations include: thorough self-education focused on historical oppression perpetuated through contemporary incidents; cultural understanding of self-determination, future generations, and communication styles; the unique political status of tribal groups with the U.S. government as sovereign nations. Suggestions from Native higher education professionals and application are discussed, concluding with limitations and resources for further reading.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Ally Development: Preparing Student Affairs Professionals to Work with American Indian Students"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ruth Harper"],"dc:creator":["Nelson, Corynna B."],"dc:date.available":["2016-12-09T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Previous literature on ally identity development for higher education professionals has been focused mostly on White identity development, with little to no suggestions for those working with American Indian student populations (Broido, 2000; Edwards, 2006; Evans & Wall, 1991; Reason, Millar, A, & Scales, 2005). A conceptual model written by Keith E. Edwards (2006) focused on three stages of aspiring ally identity development with each identity attached to frequently experienced behaviors and viewpoints. This relatable model created a way to offer autoethnographical examples of an aspiring ally’s development to suggest adaptations for non-Native student affairs professionals working with Native student populations. With added investigator triangulation of a Native student affairs professional’s interpretation, the considerations for aspiring allies working with Native populations include: thorough self-education focused on historical oppression perpetuated through contemporary incidents; cultural understanding of self-determination, future generations, and communication styles; the unique political status of tribal groups with the U.S. government as sovereign nations. Suggestions from Native higher education professionals and application are discussed, concluding with limitations and resources for further reading.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1112"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["aspiring ally identity development","higher education","Native student populations","Higher Education Administration","Indigenous Studies"],"dc:title":["Ally Development: Preparing Student Affairs Professionals to Work with American Indian Students"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Counseling and Human Development"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:28:36Z"}