AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE STUDENTS AS NATIVE NATION BUILDERS: TRIBAL FINANCIAL AID AS A LENS FOR UNDERSTANDING COLLEGE-GOING PARADOXES By Christine A. Nelson _____________________________ Copyright © Christine A. Nelson 2015 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL POLICY STUDIES AND PRACTICE In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY WITH A MAJOR IN HIGHER EDUCATION In the Graduate College THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 2015