California

is home to almost 200 Native tribes and 12% of the Native peoples of North America with thousand-year-old cultures, languages, traditions and homelands.

Today, education

is vital for Native people to sustain their language and culture, strengthen sovereign governments and build thriving businesses.

Despite the need

Native Americans are among the least represented in higher education in California and more than half drop out after their first year.

The gap

starts even earlier, as they also experience low high school graduation rates; and when they do, meeting basic college requirements can be challenging.