Editor’s Note: Sharen Kickingwoman is a proud member of the A’aaniih and Blackfeet nations. Born and raised in Montana, she believes in enhancing tribal nations’ inherent sovereignty and that the best work for Native people is by Native people. Sharen earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University, and has worked in higher education, government, and advocacy spaces. Sharen has worked with the ACLU of Montana for the past seven years, and currently serves as the advocacy, policy, and organizing director.

As my daughter and I walked to school on her first day in kindergarten this fall, my boots about knocked off — my old school that never taught me a lick of Indian education had a tipi out front.

Like a lot of parents, I’ve been thinking about what her years in school will look like: the teachers she’ll remember, the friends she’ll make, the things she’ll discover about the world, and about herself.…