Less than 1% of the roughly 280,000 students at the University of California identify as American Indian or Native American. While it’s unclear how many Californians are currently affiliated with non-federally recognized tribes, Sarris said a “significant” number of students would be eligible for funding. Because federally recognized tribes are sovereign nations, the new program Drake announced last week, called the UC Native American Opportunity Plan, is similar to scholarships designed for international students.īut there at least 55 tribes in the state that aren’t federally recognized, according to a 2016 state report from the Native American Heritage Commission. It also allows the UC system to bypass Proposition 209, which forbids state institutions from considering race, sex, or ethnicity in public education. That designation gives tribes access to a number of protections and federal benefits, as well as the power to self-govern as a domestic dependent nation. Graton Racheria is one of 110 federally recognized tribes in California, comprised of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians with lands in Sonoma County. Planning for the scholarship fund started a few months ago, Sarris said, after Drake initiated conversations with the tribe about how to provide free tuition to all California Native American students. “The University of California is committed to recognizing and acknowledging historical wrongs endured by Native Americans,” read Drake’s letter.
