176 Haskell Graduates Celebrate Heritage and Hope

At a packed graduation ceremony in Lawrence, Kansas, 176 students from Haskell Indian Nations University walked across the stage to claim diplomas that represent far more than academic achievement. They represent a powerful reversal of history.

The ceremony at Coffin Sports Complex brought together families, friends, and tribal leaders to celebrate graduates who are stepping into their futures with both college degrees and cultural pride. Interim President Alex Red Corn told the crowd that Haskell graduations remain "the best" despite attending countless ceremonies throughout his higher education career.

The location carries profound historical weight. When Haskell opened in 1884, it operated as a federally run boarding school designed to strip Native children of their cultural identities. Billy Kirkland, assistant secretary for Indian Affairs and the ceremony's keynote speaker, acknowledged this painful past before celebrating the transformation.

"It was a place where young Natives were told to disappear," Kirkland said. Today, the university serves as an "economic engine" for Native communities while honoring student heritage instead of erasing it.

Kirkland, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, challenged graduates to carry their stories forward whether they settle in cities or return to rural tribal communities. "Don't let anyone diminish your identity," he said. "You are the future of your communities and of the United States."

Victoria Kitcheyan, a Haskell alumna and tribal council member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, delivered the commencement speech with a message of perseverance. She shared how her tribal council fought for 50 years to reclaim land illegally seized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, finally succeeding this year.

The Ripple Effect

Kitcheyan's words painted a picture of graduates who will shape the future through countless victories, both large and small. She told students they would restore languages, win legal battles, and reclaim stolen lands just as her generation had done.

"You are divine hope, and an answered prayer," Kitcheyan said, describing students as the embodiment of their ancestors' dreams. She urged them to use their "big voice" to advocate for their communities with boldness and recognition of their heritage.

The ceremony became deeply personal when a graduate held a child during the proceedings, a touching symbol of how education and cultural preservation will pass to the next generation. As graduates walked out to cheering families, they carried not just diplomas but the weight of hope for entire communities.

Kitcheyan reminded students they descend from "resilient people, warrior people, medicine people and prayerful people." Their success honors past sacrifices while building futures their ancestors could only pray for.