The SIERRA Program is here to support American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) students with resources, guidance, and a welcoming campus community. We’re dedicated to helping AI/AN succeed, stay connected to heritage, and feel empowered at Modesto Junior College. We are devoted to creating a safe space where AI/AN students can build meaningful connections and feel supported.
Our mission is to affirm and support the academic success of Native American students at Modesto Junior College by providing an inclusive, non-judgmental environment. We aim to center the Indigenous experience on campus, helping students build new connections, develop leadership skills, and feel a true sense of belonging. Our program is dedicated to creating a welcoming space where Indigenous students can thrive—academically, culturally, and personally—and to giving back to our community by building generational wealth. Through our efforts, we strive to uplift MJC students, ensuring their achievements and contributions are celebrated and upheld within our campus community.
The SIERRA Program at Modesto Junior College is located on the ancestral lands of the Yokuts and Me-Wuk people.
"As we gather at Modesto Junior College, we acknowledge that we are on the ancestral lands of the Yokuts and Me-Wuk peoples who have lived throughout the Central Valley and Foothills for generations. Let us recognize, respect, and honor the people who have called this area home from time immemorial while also acknowledging their continued presence today. As the original stewards, these indigenous communities have cared for and respected this land. Their profound connection to this area continues to sustain their cultural heritage and identity. As we at Modesto Junior College strive for knowledge and understanding within this space, may we also strive to uphold their legacy through meaningful engagement and partnership."
The Native American Student Support & Success Program (NASSSP) is dedicated to empowering Native American students throughout their educational journeys. Through a supportive community, culturally relevant resources and guidance, NASSSP helps students thrive academically and personally. With mentorship, academic advising, and culturally centered events, the program fosters a sense of belonging and connection, empowering students to achieve their educational and career goals.
A land acknowledgment is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of the land. It highlights the enduring relationship between Indigenous communities and their ancestral territories. Land acknowledgments are often shared at the beginning of events, meetings, or published on websites to honor the original inhabitants of the land where the organization operates.
Land acknowledgments are important because they demonstrate respect for Indigenous Peoples and their enduring connection to the land. They serve as a reminder of the history of colonization and the ongoing impacts on Indigenous communities. By acknowledging the land, we encourage reflection, foster awareness, and promote a culture of inclusion and reconciliation within our organization and the broader community.
The SIERRA program is a dedicated student support initiative designed to empower American Indian and Alaska Native students throughout their academic journey. It offers a range of services focused on academic success, leadership development, and personal growth, with the broader aim of nurturing future leaders within Native communities.
The Indigenous People’s Alliance Club (IPAC) is a student-led organization that collaborates closely with the SIERRA program but has a distinct focus. IPAC organizes cultural events, workshops, and educational activities that celebrate and share Native culture, traditions, and history. The club serves as a vibrant community for students to connect, strengthen cultural ties, and promote greater understanding and appreciation of Indigenous heritage across campus. While both groups work together to support Native students, SIERRA provides structured academic and leadership support, while IPAC fosters cultural engagement and community building.
We welcome support from students and community members who are interested in contributing to our work! You can get involved by filling out the appropriate volunteer interest form available on this website—there are separate forms for MJC students and for community members to ensure we match you with the best opportunities.
Volunteers assist with a variety of cultural events, educational activities, and community outreach efforts organized by both the SIERRA program and IPAC. Whether you are passionate about supporting Native students, sharing Indigenous culture, or helping strengthen our community, your involvement makes a meaningful difference. We encourage you to complete the volunteer form and join us in celebrating and supporting Native heritage and student success.
Founded in 2021, Native CORE’s Mission is to educate our community in increasing health and wellness while implementing Native American Culture and Traditions. Culture provides healing and wellness to the body, mind, and spirit, creating pathways to prevention. Native C.O.R.E. has been at the forefront of promoting harm reduction and Native American culture through cultural Workshops, Pow wows, community events, and Narcan trainings. We want to be the bridge for those reconnecting to their culture, and be a safe space for our community to heal and grow together.
The Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal TANF Program offers prevention services
for our TANF cash aid clients and Native American communities within our
Service areas. Our focus is to provide educational workshops and activities that strengthen
life skills and healthy decision-making, and to reinforce Native American culture
towards self-sufficiency and stronger family bonds.
TANF Program Goals
The American Indian Child Resource Center (AICRC) is an American Indian-led, American Indian-serving 501(c) (3) nonprofit community service organization focusing on American Indian foster care, mental health, education & cultural protective factors. AICRC was founded in 1974 and is an established, leading organization in American Indian youth services, delivering best-practice programs for positive cultural identity and belonging.
CCUIH is the statewide organization serving Urban Indian communities across California. We support health, wellness, and access to culturally centered services and programs by providing advocacy, expertise, and resources.
The Primary Mission of the MACT Health Board, Inc. is to improve the Health Status of the American Indian and Alaskan Native population. It is through a comprehensive HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, which is designed to preserve and promote the Traditional well-being and Cultural Sensitivity of the Tribal Communities we serve.
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunities, and carry out the federal responsibilities entrusted to us to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians and Alaska Natives. We accomplish this by directly empowering Tribal governments through self-governance agreements.
The Federal Health Program for American Indians and Alaska Natives
The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service.
Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is the oldest, largest, and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
NCAI, a non-profit organization, advocates for a bright future for generations to come by taking the lead to build consensus around a constructive, promising vision for Indian Country. The organization’s policy issues and initiatives are driven by the consensus of our diverse membership, which consists of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments, tribal citizens, individuals, and Native and non-Native organizations.
NCAI Mission
The vision of CILS is to ensure all Native Americans have access to services and resources to thrive, where their civil rights are protected, free from discrimination in all areas of their lives. All Tribal Nations are strong, independent governments that provide for their members, determine their own laws, and are governed by them without interference from local, state, or federal governments.
This page will help you understand the Tribal enrollment process, tribal services, and guide you to resources that can assist with tracing American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry and conducting genealogical research.
The 988 Lifeline offers immediate crisis support, with a dedicated portal for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous individuals. Services include suicide prevention, emotional support, and crisis intervention.
Phone: 988 (24/7, free, confidential)
A comprehensive health and wellness resource for Native youth. Features culturally relevant content on mental health, suicide prevention, relationships, community support, identity, and healthy lifestyles.
Provides national leadership, culturally specific training, and policy advocacy to protect Indigenous women, families, and communities. Offers resources on trauma, healing, safety, and community capacity building.
The Indian Country Child Trauma Center provides essential training, resources, and program support for trauma-informed care tailored to tribal communities. Through specialized technical assistance and program development, this center helps strengthen healing pathways for children and families in Indian Country.
Phone: 405- 271-8858
A safe, confidential, and culturally grounded helpline staffed by Native advocates. Support includes crisis counseling, safety planning, domestic violence guidance, dating violence, sexual assault services, and referrals to local Tribal programs. Text and online chat available 24/7.
Phone: 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)
Provides immediate, text-based confidential support for Native/Indigenous individuals.
Text: NATIVE to 741741
(24/7 access to trained crisis counselors)
Provides guidance, toolkits, and best practices specifically developed for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Focus areas include suicide prevention, postvention, and community-level prevention strategies.
A national nonprofit focused on the needs of aging American Indian and Alaska Native elders, linking elders to culturally competent care, educational information, federal resources, and more.
Phone: 505-292-2001
