Who Are Urban Indians?

Urban Indians
are Tribal
citizens or individuals of American Indian ancestry.

Who reside in cities and urban areas.

They are an
inter-tribal population from numerous tribes.

Yet connected by cultural experience, identity, heritage, and joined together by location.

California has one of the largest populations of American Indians in the United States and is home to 723,225 American Indians of sole and mixed race (2010 U.S. Census).

There are 109 federally recognized tribes in California, with an additional 75 petitioning for federal recognition.

1 in 7 American Indians in the United States lives in California and 1 in 9 American Indians in the United States lives in a California city!

Unlike American Indian populations in other states,American Indians in California are not linked by a dominant tribal affiliation, nor are they concentrated on reservations. In fact, nearly 90% of the American Indian population in California resides in urban areas (2010 U.S. Census).

The migration of American Indians into cities is due in large part to the federal relocation policies that began in the 1950s.

American Indians migrated, by force or by choice, into California cities seeking education, employment and housing opportunities.

This has resulted in the vast majority of Urban Indians being unable to access their tribes for health services.

Urban Indian Health Organizations, substance abuse treatment facilities, and social service agencies are a key lifeline for the population.