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Cross Cultural and Gender Center

American Indian Programs and Services

   

The American Indian Programs and Services is a central location for students, staff, faculty, and community members to engage with the American Indian (AI) history, experience, and culture. The program also partners and collaborates with campus departments, student organizations, and community partners to organize and facilitate events that directly support and address the needs of the AI community.

Programming

These programs are open and available to all who are interested in participating, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.

Native American Heritage Month Celebrations

Native American Heritage Month celebrates the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Native American communities. Through events, performances, and workshops, it offers students, staff, and faculty the chance to engage with Native perspectives, traditions, and current issues. The programming highlights Indigenous resilience, cultural preservation, and sovereignty while showcasing diverse artistic expressions and contemporary voices.
 

Native Holidays, Celebrations, and Remembrances

These are significant dates observed by Native American communities and the rest of the United States, such as Honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Children, California Native American Day, and Orange Shirt Day. Through presentations, discussions, and cultural sharing, these dates aim to foster understanding of how these communities honor their heritage and advocate for their rights.
 

 

Virtual Campus Learning Programs

Our Virtual Learning Series offers online educational programs that explore important social, cultural, and historical topics connected to the Fresno State community. Each program is designed as an interactive online learning experience that encourages reflection, dialogue, and critical engagement with campus history and community narratives.

These are not physical campus tours. All programs are delivered online, and availability varies by program.

Current and Upcoming Programs:

  • Art and Mural Virtual Program (offered once per year)
    An online exploration of public art at California State University, Fresno, highlighting murals and artworks that reflect land themes, identity, and diverse community perspectives.
  • Social Justice Virtual Exhibit (available online)
    A digital program focused on student activism, advocacy, and the ongoing work of students in advancing equity and social change on campus. The online program is located here: https://linktr.ee/ccgc.
  • Decolonization Virtual Program (in development)
    A future virtual offering that will examine the impact of colonization on our region and campus community. This program is currently in development and not yet available.
 

Exploring our Roots

Exploring Our Roots is a series of hands-on workshops that help participants connect with their cultural identities. Activities include the Identity Poetry Workshop, where participants can share personal stories through verse, and the Beading Workshop, where participants learn traditional techniques and create meaningful pieces. These are one of the many workshops offered as a supportive space for self-discovery and celebrating our diverse community heritage.
 

Resources

The American Indian Room is located in Thomas Building. The affinity rooms were designed to represent the culture of various ethnic groups that represent the diverse cultures that make up Fresno State. 

The American Indian Room is decorated with Native American artwork that is advocating for water/ land conservation and broken treaties. There is a collection of books available to check out about or by Native Americans.

The American Indian Room is one of six affinity rooms available for students to study and also available to book for meetings. 

On-Campus Resources

American Indian Studies is an interdisciplinary program that offers students opportunities to study the governments, nations, cultures, and social structures of American Indian societies and American Indian societies within the context of the United States.

https://socialsciences.fresnostate.edu/ais/index.html

The mission of the University Advising Center is to empower undergraduate students by helping them take responsibility for achieving their academic and personal goals, with a particular focus on the undeclared /undecided student, and to support the university advising community.”

https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/advising/advisors/majorcenters/index.html

The Native American Initiative will partner with tribes and tribal organizations to provide Native American students access to higher education through advocacy, outreach, assistance, and advising.

https://studentaffairs.fresnostate.edu/outreach/nai/index.html

One is able to learn the traditional dances associated with the Aztec culture. During the entirety of the practices/meetings one will be able to learn the cultural aspect of our ancestors by following the traditional dances step by step and also by learning  meaning and significance of each step. Some basic language will be learned through time as well as other various instruments that have a role in the entire cultural ceremony.

https://engage.fresnostate.edu/organization/aztec-dance-club

NEUM Native American Student Association is a cultural club open to all students. We host and attend cultural and community events to help raise awareness of the Native American community on and off-campus.

https://engage.fresnostate.edu/organization/neum-native-american-student-association

The Fresno State Native American Alumni Club became an official club of the Fresno State Alumni Association effective July 1st, 2014. The club’s primary purpose is to raise monies to establish and maintain an on-going scholarship endowment available for prospective Fresno State students of Native American origin.  The club also provides on-going support and mentorship for current students, as well as advocates within Fresno State to ensure that Native American students have access to the resources necessary to successfully graduate from Fresno State. Current Native American students at Fresno State are encouraged to come to an alumni club meeting to share your ideas and network with Native American graduates currently working within a variety of industries and leadership roles. 

https://www.facebook.com/fresnostatenativealumni

The American Indian Faculty and Staff Association at Fresno State is an organization for Indigenous employees at the University.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/College---University/Fresno-State-American-Indian-Faculty-and-Staff-Association-1604801599757413/

Off-Campus Resources

Central Valley Indian Health provides comprehensive care for American Indian people: General Medicine, Health Education, Podiatry, also perinatal/WIC Services

http://cvih.org

We embrace and empower people from all tribal nations. We provide culturally-based health and wellness services supporting the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of our community.

https://www.faihp.org/

Service Type(s): Medical, Dental 

(559) 822-378 

DRC is a nonprofit agency. We are the largest disability rights group in the nation. Federal law established us to protect and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. Last year we helped almost 25,000 people. Hundreds of thousands more were helped because of our litigation, policy work, trainings and publications. We are the protection and advocacy agency for California.

http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/

OVCDC  is a Tribal organization providing career education, family literacy, language and temporary assistance services in the seven California Counties of Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings Tulare, Ventura and Mono. A dedicated American Indian organization operating under a consortium of Sovereign Nations. Providing the opportunity for improvement in the quality of life by focusing on education and self-sufficiency while protecting, preserving and promoting our cultures.

http://www.ovcdc.com/blog

The American Indian College Fund was founded in 1989. For 30 years, the College Fund has been the nation’s largest charity supporting Native student access to higher education. We provide scholarships, programming to improve Native American student access to higher education, and the support and tools for them to succeed once they are there.

https://collegefund.org/about-us/

The Association on American Indian Affairs administers the Adolph Van Pelt Special Fund for Indians. This fund provides scholarships and grants to Native Americans who can demonstrate the requisite level of financial need. Awards range from $500 to $1500 per semester

https://www.indian-affairs.org/scholarships.html

Land Acknowledgement Information

"The Fresno State campus sits in the midst of the San Joaquin Valley, a valley rich in the traditions and representation of Native American peoples and cultures. We are grateful to be in the traditional homelands of the Yokuts and Mono peoples, whose diverse tribal communities share stewardship over this land."
A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Native peoples as traditional stewards of lands. The statement highlights the enduring relationship between Native peoples and their traditional territories.
To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honoring the Native people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.