Tribal College Journal Wins Publishing Awards

Mancos, CO — Tribal College Journal (TCJ), a national quarterly magazine focusing on higher education issues affecting Native Americans, won the Gold award for best column and the Silver award for cover photo illustration from the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP). Additionally, TCJ won 2nd place for General Excellence in the magazine category from the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA).

The award-winning guest column, titled “Real Genius: We could become the best educated people in America,” was contributed by Richard “Rick” B. Williams, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and president of the American Indian College Fund. Williams’ article appeared in the Summer 2006 edition of TCJ.

The winning cover photo illustration, titled “Crow Fair Composite,” was created by Walt Pourier, Oglala Lakota, creative director and co-owner of Nakota Designs, Inc. The photos for the cover design were contributed by Ken Blackbird, a freelance photographer and Assiniboine member of the Ft. Belknap Indian Community of Montana. The photo illustration appeared on the cover of the Winter 2006 edition of TCJ.

SNAP, a non-profit professional society serving association publishers, received over 1,000 entries for its publishing contest and gave out 76 awards at its 27th annual Excel Awards Gala in Washington, DC on June 14th. NAJA honored more than 40 journalists during its 23rd annual convention in Denver, CO, on June 9th. NAJA is a non-profit organization that serves Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures.

TCJ is a culture-based journal published by the American Indian Higher Education Consortium on behalf of its 35 member tribal colleges and universities. For more information and to view TCJ’s winning entries, visit www.tribalcollegejournal.org.