MADISON, Wisconsin – Timothy Fish was one of just five recipients to receive the distinguished Cobell Graduate Summer Research Fellowship in May. Fish is a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin and a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Civil Society and Community Research.
Fish was selected from a pool of over 100 graduate applicants. The Fellowship awards $25,000 to five fellows, each receiving $5,000 for their research projects. This is the sixth year the Fellowship has been awarded.
In addition to the $5,000 stipend, fellowship recipients will receive support from the Director of Research and Student Success at Indigenous Education Inc. This provides opportunities for fellowship recipients to network with other fellows worldwide.
Fish’s research is titled: “Case Study on the Reflections and Lessons Learned from Community-Led Initiatives Leading to the Construct of the Yungtun Language Proficiency Test using Narrative Inquiry.” The research aims to see how Yup’ik educators and stakeholders developed the Yungtun language proficiency test.
This research will look at the collaborative efforts of the Yup’ik tribal community to see how they pooled resources, experience, and knowledge to convert and develop language proficiency instruments into the Yup’ik worldview using epistemology and language.
Although Fish does not descend from Yup’ik heritage, his research recognizes the cultural importance of preserving the language. Studies on the Yup’ik language and culture can be applied to other Native American tribes.
The purpose of the Cobell Fellowship Scholarship is to support high-achieving student researchers who otherwise might not have access to research funds during the summer months.
Melvin Monette-Barajas is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cobell Scholarship Program Administered by Indegenious Education, Inc. He is proud of the Indigenous academic research conducted through the program.
“We are excited to continue supporting Native scholars representing a variety of tribes and working to indigenize higher education in their respective academic fields,” Monette-Barajas said.
Fish joins fellow Muscogee (Creek) Citizen Rochelle Werito as a Cobell Scholarship Recipient. Werito became a recipient while pursuing her Master’s Degree in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership at Oklahoma State University in 2020.
Indigenous Education Inc. has supported over 4,000 students with more than $30 million in scholarships.
If you would like to learn more about IEI and the Cobell Scholarship, visit: http://cobellscholar.org/.
To view prior Mvskoke Media coverage of the Cobell Scholarship, visit: https://www.mvskokemedia.com/muscogee-creek-citizen-receives-cobell-scholarship/.
