Cankdeska Cikana Community College facts for kids

Cankdeska Cikana Community College is a special kind of school. It is a public community college located in Fort Totten, North Dakota. This college is on the Spirit Lake Reservation. It is also a tribal and land-grant college. This means it serves the local Native American community and gets support to teach about farming and science.

The college is officially recognized by the Higher Learning Commission. This shows it meets high standards for education. The school is named after Paul "Little Hoop" Yankton. He was a Dakota man who bravely fought in World War II. His Dakota name was Cankdeska Cikana.

College History

How the College Started

Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC) began in a small way. In 1965, another college, Lake Region State College, offered a class in Fort Totten. This was the start of higher education in the area.

Over time, the local tribe took more control of the program. They wanted to create their own college. So, in the 1970s, the Spirit Lake Tribe officially started Cankdeska Cikana Community College.

Why CCCC Was Created

The main goal of CCCC was to give people on the Spirit Lake Reservation a chance to go to college. It also aimed to help preserve the Dakota culture and language. Students could take classes to learn about their heritage.

The Spirit Lake Dakota Nation officially approved CCCC in 1974. The first group of students graduated in 1977. There were 5 students in that first class. By 2009, the graduating class had grown to 42 students. In 1994, CCCC became a land-grant college. This was a big step, joining 31 other tribal colleges with this special status.

Sports at CCCC

Basketball Team

Cankdeska Cikana Community College has a basketball team. They play in the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. This conference includes other colleges in the region.

More Information

Official Website

You can find more details about the college on its official website:

• www.littlehoop.edu