WHEREAS, The Native American Student Support & Success Program (NASSSP), established through AB 1623 (2022, Ramos) and codified in Education Code §79520, exists to support the academic and cultural needs of Native American and Indigenous students; yet services and environments vary by campus and often exclude Traditional Healers, Indigenous Wellness Practitioners, and sacred or culturally safe spaces, despite research showing that culturally grounded wellness and respectful academic environments are essential for equity in student persistence, mental health, and academic success [1][7];
WHEREAS, California’s CalAIM Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver recognizes Traditional Healers as legitimate Medi-Cal providers for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) beneficiaries, creating a statewide framework for traditional healing; however, many self-identified Native American and Indigenous students, including those who are not eligible for Indian Health Service (IHS) benefits, such as students from federally unrecognized tribes, lack equitable access to these supports, even though AB 1623 (2022, Ramos) and NASSSP affirm the need to serve Native students broadly, underscoring the importance of inclusive campus partnerships [2][3][5];
WHEREAS, Research demonstrates that culturally grounded environments, including sacred spaces for ceremony and wellness, as well as learning spaces that promote calm, attentiveness, and productive energy, are essential for student belonging, engagement, trauma recovery, and academic success; and Native American and Indigenous students in the California Community College (CCC) system often lack access to such environments, highlighting the need to advocate for classrooms, study areas, and testing centers designed to minimize unnecessary disruptions and support focus and flow [4][6]; and
WHEREAS, Native American and Indigenous students disproportionately experience housing insecurity, and according to the Western Center on Law & Poverty, “ending homelessness within the Indigenous community will ultimately require the allocation of land or physical space for those experiencing homelessness,” which underscores the need for inclusive and equitable campus housing policies that provide culturally safe environments, spaces that respect identity, privacy, and traditions, to support displaced Native American and Indigenous students [8][9]; Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocate to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and the Chancellor’s Office for expanding campus Health & Wellness Centers to integrate Traditional Healers and Indigenous Wellness Practitioners in order to increase equity in health and wellness services through inclusive campus partnerships for Native American and Indigenous students, and advocate for CCC campuses to establish Care Coordination Agreements (CCAs) with Tribal health programs, Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) to enable Traditional Healers to provide Medi-Cal reimbursable services for IHS-eligible students;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges urge the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office to establish a dedicated “Native & Indigenous Wellness Track” within campus Health & Wellness Centers, in collaboration with Native American Student Support and Success Programs (NASSSP), to provide culturally grounded services, including traditional healing practices, traditional medicine, cultural workshops, educational programs, and group wellness sessions, for all Native and Indigenous students, inclusive of those who are federally unrecognized or IHS-ineligible, thereby prioritizing equitable access to holistic care regardless of federal status;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocate to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and the Chancellor’s Office to develop and implement comprehensive strategies for the integration of multiple Traditional Healers and Indigenous Wellness Practitioners within campus Health & Wellness Centers and Native American Student Support and Success Programs (NASSSP), not only to provide traditional healing but also to serve in advisory and cultural coordination roles, such as faculty and staff development, culturally aligned wellness practices, design and maintenance of sacred and communal spaces, including residential areas, ceremony support, traditional knowledge sessions, sacred-space coordination, and other non-clinical cultural healing practices accessible to all self-identified Native American and Indigenous students; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate of California Community Colleges advocate future legislation which will aim for culturally responsive campus housing and shared facilities policies that respect Indigenous traditions, such as smudging, drumming, ceremony, and related cultural practices, while upholding safety standards, and supporting opportunities for all Native and Indigenous students to practice their cultural identity without punitive barriers within campus housing or communal environments.
Citations:
[1] California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, “Native American Student Support and Success Program,” Educational Services and Support Division
[2] California Department of Health Care Services, “Traditional Health Care Practices,” DHCS
[5] Center for Health Care Strategies, CMS-Approved Waivers Break New Ground for Medicaid Coverage of American Indian and Alaska Native Traditional Health Care Practices
[6] American Indian Higher Education Consortium, “Pathway to Postsecondary Success for Native Students: Literature Review, (2022)
[7] California Legislature, Assembly Bill 1623 (2022), “Native American Student Support and Success Program,” California Education Code §79520
[8] Western Center on Law & Poverty, “Addressing Disparities in Housing: Indigenous Population Solutions
[9] CalMatters, “How California is working to elevate Native American students