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Welcome to the Office of Tribal Relations

Vision

CSUDH will be a trusted partner to local Tribal Nations and a destination campus for Native students across Southern California—advancing social and educational justice through relationships grounded in sovereignty, reciprocity, and cultural care. We honor that CSUDH sits on Tongva Gabrielino homelands and commit to sustained collaboration with the Tongva Gabrielino and neighboring Tribal communities.

Purpose

The Office of Tribal Affairs exists to:

• Uplift Local Tribal Nations. Engage in ongoing, government-to-government consultation with local Tribes (including Tongva/Gabrielino, Tataviam, Chumash, Kizh, Acjachemen, Luiseño, Serrano, and others whose lands and waters encompass Los Angeles County), ensuring Tribal sovereignty, protocols, and cultural stewardship shape campus policies and practices. 
• Serve the Broader Native Community. Los Angeles County is home to the largest number of American Indian/Alaska Native residents of any U.S. county, reflecting one of the nation’s largest urban Native communities. CSUDH will collaborate with regional Native organizations to meet urban Native needs. 
• Advance Student Success & Belonging. Expand culturally sustaining programming, mentorship, and student services in partnership with the Native American Indian Student Organization (NAISO) and the American Indian Center (AIC); build pipelines from K–12 and community colleges; and strengthen advising, scholarships, emergency aid, and career development tailored to Native students.
• Lead with Accountability. Coordinate NAGPRA and related federal/state compliance; develop ethical research and data practices with Tribal oversight; and report annually on progress and learning.
• Transform Teaching & Scholarship. Support curriculum infusion of Native histories, languages, and contemporary issues; expand faculty and staff development on Tribal relations; and encourage community-led, land- and place-based learning tied to the Tongva homelands. 
• Cultivate Regional Presence. Host flagship Indigenous-centered events (including the Native Gathering), community roundtables, and leadership forums to make CSUDH regionally known as a campus in service to Native Nations and urban Native communities alike.
• Build Strategic Partnerships. Formalize collaborations with Southern California Native-serving organizations to integrate health, wellness, cultural, and educational supports for students and families. 

Why this matters here

• Place: CSUDH occupies Tongva homelands and neighbors other Tribal communities; our responsibilities begin with place-based respect and care.
• People: California has the largest Native population of any state, and L.A. County—home to one of the country’s largest urban Native communities—makes CSUDH a critical hub for access and impact.