Ak-Chin chairman: It takes a village

There is a proverb said to have originated among the Nigerian Igbo culture in Africa that states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” For the Ak-Chin Indian Community this is very much the case.

It is our children who will grow to one day have their first job on the reservation, become a future council member and one day an elder, who will have great authority in the decision-making of our community.

Without proper schooling, parenting and many other factors that go into the making of a well-rounded individual, our community will be unable to develop and thrive. This is why education has become a top priority of the Ak-Chin Indian Community, as it should be within all communities.

While public and private school systems offer a variety of programs, clubs, technology and staff members to nurture a child’s development, there must also be that support and encouragement at home.