We the Resilient

We the Resilient challenges the narrative that California is the most progressive state in its pursuit of equity.

We the Resilient

This report highlights the strengths and challenges experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIANs) in California, with an important focus on our existence being an act of resilience.

Fighting Erasure

Despite California being home to the largest population of AIANs in the United States, reports often do not provide adequate data for AIANs. When AIANs are not accurately represented in data, we are institutionally erased.

Contributing Perspectives

While gaps in information remain, We the Resilient provides a discussion point for many socio-economic factors that impact the health and wellness of AIANs in California.

More than Just Data

Quantitative data is only one aspect of understanding AIANs in California; another critical piece is understanding AIAN communities themselves, how we define power and what is most important for us to build strong futures. This report carefully weaves together quantitative and qualitative data to create a more robust snapshot of AIANs in California.

What We The Resilient Examines

Outcomes were analyzed across eight societal domains, assessing performance of American Indians & Alaska Natives compared to the ‘best’ performing ethnic group for the following indicators.

AIAN Population Distribution

The distribution of AIAN communities generally follows the population density patterns of California, with most AIAN people living near big cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Sacramento. Majority (or high-percentage) AIAN communities are in Northern and Eastern California, like the Woodfords Community in Alpine County, Furnace Creek in Inyo County, Yurok Reservation in Del Norte County and the Willow-Creek Hoopa Valley in Humboldt County.

Philanthropic Recommendations

Over the past two decades, U.S. foundation support explicitly targeting Native Americans has been dismal, hovering between .03% to .05% of foundation giving. As a result, Native communities are chronically underfunded, and worse are invisibilized.

Slide 1

Commit

...to the long-term process of decolonization, racial justice and healing

Slide 7

Adopt

…cultural humility when working with Native peoples. There are close to 1,000 federally recognized and non-recognized tribes in the United States. Each tribe has its own history, traditions and culture. Rather than trying to achieve cultural competency in the face of such diversity, it is better to adopt an attitude of cultural humility—a process of careful and ongoing self-reflection, self-awareness and critical consciousness about one’s own embedded beliefs, values and worldview.

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We the Resilient Report