Message from the President
In becoming an adult and having some sense of ourselves and the world we live in, hopefully we make good choices. Life is about choices. Higher education and going to college is a choice. A fundamental question I pose continually to Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) employees is "Why would someone choose to come to CCCC?" I know it is a good place, a safe and inviting place wherein our students can question, dream, hope and aspire to become whatever it is they want to become. Hopefully that aspiration is rooted in who they are –their cultural identity in being Dakota. Our theme is Think Dakota, Live Dakota and we hopefully not only teach Dakota language and culture, but we practice the values imbedded within that theme.
To make good choices, we must understand that choice is related to making change. Change is sometimes difficult for us as people and possibly even more so for organizations. Institutional change is often met with great resistance because we get comfortable and secure in doing things the way 'they've always been done.' But if we just stopped a moment to ponder the word or topic of 'change', it is an everyday, every moment life event that occurs whether we want it to or not.
Physically, human beings, (cells, etc) are constantly evolving – we age. Life's cycles of infancy/toddler, youth/childhood, adulthood, and elder status are compared to the four directions, the four seasons of Mother Earth for indigenous people. Always changing, growing, renewing and hopefully in a good way with life experiences serving as the education lessons to becoming wise and patient grandparents.
As President of Cankdeska Cikana Community College, I believe the college has undergone significant and meaningful change. We do our best to document and provide information to the Spirit Lake government and community about the work we do and the changes that are occurring at the College. The focus is always on student outcomes, student success.
Thank you to the faculty, staff, Board of Regents, Spirit Lake Tribal Council, and the Spirit Lake community for believing in our tribal college and supporting our efforts to be the best tribal, community college we can be!
You really can 'Start Here, Go Anywhere' at Cankdeska Cikana Community College, the tribal college for the Mni Wakan Oyate (Spirit Lake People).
Mitakuye Oyasin ...All my relations.
Cynthia Lindquist, PhD, President, CCCCTa'sunka Wicahpi Win ...Star Horse WomanSpirit Lake Dakota