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Who and What is ESIL?

esil emblem logo The mission of the ESIL program is to broaden participation of Indigenous students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through education and community partnerships that promote healing and stewardship of Native land.

ESIL supports its mission by providing a safe space for Indigenous students and a coordinated certificate program of workshops, internships, and professional development that prepares graduates to represent Native/Indigenous communities by being liaisons between tribal and non-tribal organizations working on environmental issues. ESIL comprises representatives from tribes, government agencies, and academic departments at the University of Colorado Denver. ESIL provides scholarships up to $10,000 per year for degree-seeking students majoring in a STEM field and who are enrolled at least half time. Depending on financial need, scholarships may cover all or some of CU Denver’s tuition, fees, and other educational and living expenses. Scholarships are being provided by the National Science Foundation. ESIL is proud to be a founding member of the Native Food, Energy, and Water Systems (FEWS) Alliance.

The ESIL certificate provides a unique training opportunity for students to combine a passion for protecting natural resources with a desire to communicate across diverse cultures and schools of thought. We hope you will join us in this exciting educational opportunity!

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The ESIL program acknowledges that the land on which our campus was built has a history of cultural displacement:

“We honor and acknowledge that we are on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute nations. The area on which this campus resides was an epicenter for trade, information sharing, planning for the future, community, family and ally building, as well as conducting healing ceremonies for over 45 Indigenous Nations, including the Lakota, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Shoshone, Paiute, Zuni, Hopi among others."

“We must recognize Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants and stewards of this land. As these words of acknowledgment are spoken and heard, remember the ties these nations still have to their traditional homelands. Let us acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory and pay our respect to the diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land. We give thanks to all Tribal Nations and the ancestors of this place.” -Grace RedShirt Tyon

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