From their inception, tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) have played a special cultural as well as educational role in Native communities. These dual roles are integral to the preservation of American Indian language and traditions, as they open the door for future generations to acquire and perpetuate cultural knowledge. The American Indian College Fund and the National Endowment for the Humanities fund myriads of cultural activities such as stick game tournaments, princess/ambassador pageants, community feasts, and storytelling events. It has bolstered language preservation through educational workshops, conferences, and speech contests. The endowment has offered American Indian studies programming support, has helped establish cultural learning centers and museums, and has sustained archival and documentation initiatives.