haskell-foundation-142024

Haskell Foundation Interview with KSHB 41 News

kflynt@haskellfoundation.org (Kasey Flynt) — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:34:27 GMT

Board President, Bo Schneider, give a heartfelt interview about the current situation at Haskell University and how you can help

From KSHB 41 News

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/nonprofit-raises-over-70k-for-those-impacted-by-federal-layoffs-at-haskell-indian-nations-university

Nonprofit raises over $70k for those impacted by federal layoffs at Haskell Indian Nations University

by Lily O’Shea Becker

The Haskell Foundation, a nonprofit located on Haskell Indian Nations University's (HINU) campus, but independent from the university, has raised over $71,000 as of Thursday for those impacted by the recent layoffs at university.

HINU, located in Lawrence, Kansas, operates under the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Education . Nearly 23% of Haskell's staff — 35 probationary employees — was laid off on Feb. 14 following an executive order from President Trump , according to Haskell Board of Regents Interim President Dalton Henry.

It's part of President Trump's efforts to downsize the federal workforce. Probationary federal employees across the country have been impacted by recent layoffs.

The foundation created an emergency relief fund earlier this week, with 100% of donations going toward combating the impacts of the layoffs.

“We’ve set a goal of $350,000; $235,000 of that is specifically for hiring on contract employees or extending contracts of employees," President of the Haskell Foundation's Board of Trustees Bo Schneider, Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, said. “Unfortunately, the foundation, we’re not able to, nor do these funds go toward hiring back federal employees that were let go."

The fund looks to extend temporary contracts — for three months — of discharged employees, including three to four coaches, a bus driver, general athletic staff, custodial staff, dining positions, and potentially tutors for students.

Adam Strom, Haskell women's basketball coach, was among the 35 employees let go. It was his fourth year with the program, but because he recently took on teaching responsibilities at the university in order to receive benefits as a federal employee, he fell under probationary status.

“I was in denial, I was in shock," Strom said.

His termination came roughly two weeks before the playoffs.

Strom decided to coach the remainder of the season without pay.

Playoffs began Thursday.

“They could remove the coaching title, but they’re not going to remove me from the sidelines," Strom said. "So, I’m going to stay on board and we’re going to go into post-season together and we’re going to finish business.”

Schneider played for Haskell's men's basketball team from 2010 to 2014.

“I think you really learn a lot through sport, and it’s a way to learn how to deal with and face adversity," Schneider said.

As the Haskell community feels the impacts of the layoffs, it's standing together.

“As students, as faculty, we will fight for what is right and we will not be silenced again like we were in the past," Freshman student Sara Vincent, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, said outside the Kansas State Capitol on Feb. 24 during a protest led by students.

Over 900 students from federally recognized tribes attend the university each semester, according to Haskell's website . Schneider said more than 140 tribes are represented at the university, making it a culturally diverse campus community.

Students say they want their teachers back. The National Haskell Board of Regents submitted a formal waiver that requests exemption from the executive order. The board said Haskell employees deliver legally mandated educational services to Tribal Nations.

"This is where Indian Country gets their education is at Haskell, and it's so important to keep our education going," Allison Levering, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, said at the protest.

The Haskell Foundation provides students with resources, like semester-based scholarships.

"Our main purpose is really to support Haskell Indian Nations University as a center of Indian education," Schneider said.

The emergency relief fund's goals include helping existing programs remain available for students, providing "limited emergency assistance" to discharged employees and students affected by the layoffs, and "ensuring long-standing cultural events remain funded and can continue where possible," according to the fund's page.

"We have yet to see what unfolds in the future," Schneider said. "A lot has happened in the last few weeks alone."

Schneider said the response to the emergency relief fund shows the community wants to see Haskell succeed.

"We’re facing a lot of different hardships, a lot of different cuts to is to staffing, and there’s a lot of uncertainty here in the future, but we’re still going to stick it out and say, ‘Hey we’re here, and we’re going to prove you wrong. We’re resilient,'” Schneider said.

You can find the emergency relief fund by clicking here .

PRESS RELEASE: Haskell Foundation Launches Emergency Fundraiser to Address Urgent Needs at Haskell Indian Nations University

kflynt@haskellfoundation.org (Kasey Flynt) — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 22:06:21 GMT

Haskell Foundation Launches Emergency Fundraiser to Address Urgent Needs at Haskell Indian Nations University

Contact: Bo Schneider, Haskell Foundation Board President
Email: bschneider@haskellfoundation.org

Haskell Foundation Launches Emergency Fundraiser to Address Urgent Needs at Haskell Indian Nations University

LAWRENCE, KS — The Haskell Foundation has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to raise $350,000 in support of the Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) community. Due to recent Executive Branch actions and personnel cuts, critical university services and student support programs are at risk. We have raised over $60,000 (18%) of our goal, but immediate action is needed to bridge the gap and protect essential services for students, faculty, and staff.

Haskell Indian Nations University is a cornerstone of Indigenous higher education, serving Native students nationwide. Recent Executive Branch actions have resulted in staff reductions and operational challenges, jeopardizing classroom instruction, student academic support services, athletics, dining services, custodial staff, and emergency assistance for students affected by DOGE personnel cuts directly to HINU.

How the Funds Will Be Used

The Haskell Foundation is working closely with HINU leadership and our partners to ensure funds are allocated to mitigate the immediate impact of these disruptions.

Donations will support:

Temporary contract extensions for part-time coaches, bus drivers, custodial staff, dining services, and general staff to maintain essential campus functions for at least three months.
Emergency assistance for students affected by financial aid delays and unexpected hardships.
Limited relief for displaced employees facing financial instability.
Funding for long-standing cultural events to ensure the continuity of vital community traditions.
Support the remaining Haskell staff, which are overwhelmed by the recent personnel reductions.
A reserve fund to address unexpected university funding cuts, with assistance provided at the request of the HINU President or their appointee.

How You Can Help

This is not just about donations—it’s about action. We need community members, alumni, and advocates to make their voices heard. 100% of all proceeds go directly to this cause.

DONATE TODAY – Every dollar makes a difference. Visit HaskellFoundation.org to contribute.
CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES – Demand accountability and action to protect Haskell students and staff. Find your elected officials here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/
CONTACT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR – Urge federal leadership to support Haskell’s mission and ensure sustainable funding. Contact info: https://www.doi.gov/contact-us

Important Note

We are not raising funds to rehire federal employees who have been discharged. While we stand in solidarity with those affected, Haskell employees are federal workers, and their employment status must be addressed through the appropriate federal processes. The Haskell University Board of Regents and our partners are actively working to petition these terminations, but currently, our focus is on protecting and sustaining the programs, students, and staff who remain at HINU.

Mailing Donations

If you prefer to donate by check, please send it to:

Haskell Foundation
ATTN: Development Department
155 Indian Avenue, #5019
Lawrence, KS 66046

Stand with Haskell – Take Action Now

The strength of Haskell lies in its people—students, faculty, alumni, and the broader Indigenous community. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that Haskell Indian Nations University continues to thrive in the face of adversity.

For media inquiries, please contact Bo Schneider at bschneider@haskellfoundation.org

For donation inquiries, please contact Dr. Kasey Flynt at kflynt@haskellfoundation.org

Sweatlodge Teachings & Building Event @ HINU

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 23:24:00 GMT

The Haskell Foundation is proud to sponsor "Sweatlodge Teachings & Building," a unique cultural event at Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday, September 14, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. This event is open to everyone, including community members and non-Natives, offering an opportunity to learn about and participate in a sacred Native American tradition.

The sweat lodge is a significant spiritual and cultural practice among many Native American Nations. It is a ceremonial structure used for purification, prayer, and healing, symbolizing a rebirth of body, mind, and spirit. Participants gather inside a small, dome-shaped lodge where heated stones are placed in a central pit. Water is poured over the stones, creating steam to cleanse and purify the spirit.

The sweat lodge ceremony plays a crucial role in Native American culture by providing a sacred space for connecting with the Creator, ancestors, and the natural world. It is a place of introspection, renewal, and communal unity, guided by spiritual leaders or elders who perform rituals, prayers, songs, and offerings specific to their tribal traditions.

Spiritual Leader, Mr. Gerald Cournoyer, Sr. (Oglala Lakota), will lead the event, beginning with cultural awareness and sweatlodge teachings from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Curtis Hall Rose Room. Following the teachings, participants will gather at the Wetlands from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM to build a sweat lodge that will be used for the 2024-2025 school year.

Event Schedule:

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Cultural Awareness and Sweatlodge Teachings with Gerald Cournoyer, Sr. @ Curtis Hall Rose Room

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Sweatlodge Building @ Wetlands

No registration is required to attend, but it is appreciated. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/ymds4w34 or on Facebook @HaskellFoundation.

Additionally, a closed sweat and blessing will be held on Sunday, September 15th, starting at noon, exclusively for Haskell students and staff. Registration is limited and required for this private event.

This event is an extraordinary opportunity for all who wish to engage with Native American culture, learn about the significance of the sweat lodge, and participate in a time-honored tradition that fosters community, healing, and spiritual growth.

For more information, please contact the Haskell Foundation at kflynt@haskellfoundation.org

About the Haskell Foundation

The Haskell Foundation supports Haskell Indian Nations University by providing resources that enhance educational opportunities and preserve Native American culture. The Foundation is committed to promoting the well-being and success of Haskell students and the broader Native American community.

###

Press Contact:

Dr. Kasey Flynt

Haskell Foundation

kflynt@haskellfoundation.org

Celebrating Kristina Heath’s Accomplishment: A Milestone for the Haskell Foundation

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:24:00 GMT

We are thrilled to celebrate a significant achievement by one of our own, Kristina Heath, Post Award Specialist at the Haskell Foundation. Kristina recently participated in the prestigious Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities (LPIBSC) program at Harvard Business School (HBS), a collaboration among HBS Executive Education, NAFOA, and AFOA Canada. This program is designed to inspire and empower Native finance professionals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to drive sustainable development in their communities.

Kristina’s journey to Harvard is a testament to her dedication and passion for advancing the Haskell Foundation’s mission. Her participation in the LPIBSC program aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting Haskell Indian Nations University and fostering leadership that will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Indigenous communities.

During her time at Harvard, Kristina delved into a variety of subjects crucial to community investment, including entrepreneurial finance, investment governance, and change management. These topics are particularly important as we work to secure the future of Haskell Indian Nations University and support the broader Native American community through strategic investments and sustainable growth initiatives.

One of the highlights of Kristina’s experience was the opportunity to engage directly with the professors who authored the case studies she had admired during her graduate studies. Her encounter with these academic leaders, coupled with real-world insights from tribal leaders and finance professionals from across the globe, provided Kristina with a unique and enriching learning experience that will have lasting impacts on her work at the Haskell Foundation.

Kristina’s participation in the LPIBSC program underscores our commitment to continuous learning and professional development. It also highlights the importance of equipping our team with the tools necessary to lead in today’s complex financial and governance landscapes. As Kristina applies the knowledge and skills gained from this program, we are confident that her contributions will further strengthen our efforts to support Haskell Indian Nations University and the broader Native American community.

Please join us in congratulating Kristina Heath on this remarkable achievement. Her dedication and commitment to professional growth are an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of her experience on the work of the Haskell Foundation.