Stanford University, Native American Cultural Center, Records

he mission of the Native American Cultural Center is to improve the quality of life for American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Indigenous Pacific Islanders. The Center reaches out to new students and their families to help them adjust to life at Stanford - to help them realize goals and prepare for the future.
The Native American Community at Stanford dates back earlier than the institution itself. Built on land originally inhabited by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, Stanford University opened its doors in 1891. Three years later, John Milton Oskison was the first Native American to graduate from Stanford. Fueled by the spirit of social and political change during the 1960's, a group of Native students worked with the university administration to increase educational opportunities for Natives at Stanford. Since then, Native American numbers have increased, and students have continued to take an active role in increasing opportunities for our community at Stanford. Today, there are more than 325 undergraduate and graduate students representing more than 50 tribes studying at Stanford.