Our Land Acknowledgment

Amber Esquivel, Outreach Counselor - Native American Initiative 

Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians

The Native American Initiative has been established to increase the number of Native American students enrolling and graduating at Fresno State.

The following are essential components of the initiative:

• Reach out to Native American students through partnerships and collaborations with Rancherias, school districts, and tribal agencies serving Native American students.
• Develop and maintain support networks within the university and the Native American community.
• Create a place that fosters a welcoming and supportive environment where students feel they have a home away from home. It is a place for studying, programming, faculty, staff, student meetings, social engagement, and student community building.
• Promote and support events that bring Native American students and community to the campus.
• Provide student academic monitoring and advisement that includes an “early warning” system.
• Connect students with mentors (faculty, staff, and alumni)

All students, regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, who are interested in the Native American Initiative are welcome.

Native American Youth Conference (NAYC)

 The Native American Youth Conference (NAYC) is hosted under the department of Outreach and Special Programs at Fresno State. The one-day conference has a target audience of 6th through 12th grade Native American students from all school districts. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for future students to explore the pathways towards higher education by participating in workshops covering application admissions information, financial aid and scholarships, A-G requirements, pathways towards higher education, student services, and resources. Along with hearing from a special keynote speaker, cultural and higher education presentations. There is no registration fee and lunch is provided for all registered youth including a free conference t-shirt. 
 
To receive the latest information about conference updates subscribe to the Outreach NAI E-Newsletter and check out the conference homepage.

Download the NAYC flyer

Neum Native American Student Association (NASA) is a student organization open to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. They sponsor activities and host events to help raise awareness for a better understanding of the Native American community by promoting mutual respect among all people. Formerly First Nations, the club started in 1969 as the Tewaquachi American Indian Club. In 1983, Tewaquachi sponsored the first annual American Indian Heritage Week and Fresno State Pow Wow. These events helped promote Fresno as a focal point in the San Joaquin Valley for Native American people to unite and work together uplifting the culture and welfare of the Native American students and community. Today, the Native American Student Association carries on the tradition of hosting the annual Fresno State Pow Wow on our campus and actively seeks to raise the social consciousness by creating an environment of awareness and understanding of all Native American people.

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