Last week, Marshall McKay, chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, announced plans for what is known as the California Tribal College during a statewide Indian nations conference at the California State University, Sacramento campus. While planning for the new school has been under way since 2009, McKay confirmed that tribal college development efforts are “well on [their] way to making this dream become a reality” during a keynote speech for more than 200 representatives from California Indian nations, higher education institutions, local organizations and news organizations.
“The Yocha Dehe spearheaded an initiative to establish a California Tribal College several years ago in this great state where we have the largest populations of Native Americans and not one functioning tribal college,” McKay told conference attendees.
Next year, “we will finally see California add an accredited tribal college to the list of 37 others in this country,” he added.
