The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) has revealed its official logo design; this is the first logo for the American organisation since it became a bureau back in 2006.

The initial logo design was created by Kayla Jackson, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe who is also a graduate of the Bureau’s Haskell Indian Nations University located in Lawrence, Kansas.

“The Bureau of Indian Education is working to lay the foundation for the next generation of Native children to succeed,” comments assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, Bryan Newland. “I’m proud the BIE will have an official logo as it carries out its mission moving forward, and I’m even more proud that it was designed by a BIE student – Kayla Jackson.”

“Over the past few years, the Bureau of Indian Education has instituted new strategies to more independently serve the unique needs of our students,” adds BIE director, Tony L. Dearman. “As we build our capacity, we are creating our own identity as a world class education provider. This logo perfectly captures the spirit of our mission. Every detail honours our Indigenous heritage and our commitment to the education of our students. It encapsulates intellect and determination, which is exactly what we strive to instil in every student.”

Jackson submitted her design proposal as part of a BIE-wide competition that invited students to come up with ideas for new logo.

“This design captures culture, knowledge, and leadership,” Kayla Jackson says. “The open book represents lifelong learning. The Indigenous student is wearing a fancy shawl regalia including moccasins, ribbon skirt, shawl, yoke, beaded headband, and eagle feather with hair long and braids. The student embodies the spirit of their ancestors by dancing with honour and carrying out prayers with every step. The eagles that are emblazoned on the shawl represent acknowledgement, strength, and determination. Finally, in the background there is the sun which gives us growth, abundance and hope.”

At the centre of the logo is an Indigenous student who is placed above an open book “indicating the power of knowledge and lifelong learning”. Additionally, four lines on the book’s pages symbolise “the four directions, the four seasons, the four stages of life, and four sacred plants”.

The logo will be used on all official correspondence as well as publications, website, social media, and communication materials.

The bureau, which supports 183 elementary and secondary schools located on 64 reservations in 23 states that serve nearly 50,000 Indian students, was originally established on August 29, 2006. Before that time, all Bureau of Indian Education programs had been within the Office of Indian Education Programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Both the Bureau of Indian Education and Bureau of Indian Affairs are under the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Source: Bureau of Indian Education