Gifted Native American Students—Overlooked and Underserved: A Long-Overdue Call for Research and Action

• In Event: National Trends and Research and Policy Issues in the United States and Canada

Abstract

This SIG has as a major initiative to develop a national research agenda focused on gifted/creative/talented Native American students, as this population is one of the least researched, most overlooked and underserved in the field. To launch the initiative, assumptions were drawn from a comprehensive review of the literature on gifted/talented/creative Native Americans. Because the literature is limited and dated, assumptions were reviewed and revised in May 2011 at the second annual leadership summit on identifying and serving gifted Native American Students in Ganado, AZ. The process resulted in more accurate and current assumptions for Navajo students, as well as a replicable procedure for use with other Native populations. An initial research agenda was generated in collaboration with summit participants.

Authors

• Marcia L. Gentry, Purdue University

• Matthew Fugate, Purdue University

• Jiaxi Wu, Purdue University