Serving Native Youth for 30 Years
Support Native Clubs in providing programs, mentorship and culture, reaching over 120,000 Native youth.
Partnering with Tribal Communities
Nearly 250 Clubs across the nation honor the strengths of tribal communities and culture.
Clubs on Native Lands
Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is the largest Native youth service provider in the nation, with nearly 250 Clubs reaching over 120,000 Native youth in American Indian, Alaska Native, American Samoan, and Hawaiian tribal communities. Native Clubs prioritize the well-being of youth, families, communities and staff through culture, life-enhancing programs and mentorship that fosters resiliency for Native young people and meets the needs of the community.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we respect and honor the right of Native people to control their own futures. Our Clubs celebrate the unique strengths of Native communities and work in partnership with tribes to support young people in being resilient, healthy and successful. Our national programs are adapted and modified to integrate Native culture and further empower customization to reflect local tribal communities. In addition to programming that supports skill-building and character development, Native youth find safe places, caring staff, hope and opportunity at the Club.
Of the kids and teens who regularly attend a Native Club:
94% expect to graduate from high school.
95% say they try to help when they see someone having a problem.
96% say the adults at their Club care about them.
With programs such as Project Learn, SMART Moves, DIY STEM and MyFuture, Native Clubs work to instill valuable lessons and skills to help achieve Great Futures.
Donate to the Native American Sustainability Fund
This fund operates as a subsidiary, so there are no overhead costs and every single dollar contributed is used to meet the needs of Native Clubs. With the three primary purposes to:
- Increase Native Club sustainability
- Foster organizational growth
- Provide technical support for all Native Clubs, including program and training resources.
Your tax-deductible donation will help preserve Boys & Girls Clubs on Native Lands while ensuring Native American youth have opportunities to create Great Futures. Visit naclubs.org to learn more about the Movement within Native Clubs.
News & Stories
Young people with Native American heritage are more vocal than ever about advocating for their communities. Carla Knapp, VP of Native Services, shares what today’s Native youth are most passionate about.
Born from the need for community during the pandemic, Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation has become a lively center of cultural awakening for Native youth in New York.
Is Columbus Day still called Indigenous Peoples’ Day? Why is Indigenous Peoples’ Day important? Get the answers to these questions and more with our tips for talking about Indigenous Peoples’ Day with kids and families.
NATIVE HONOREES
Meet our distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame honorees with Native heritage. Each of these outstanding inductees first got their start at their hometown Boys & Girls Club on Native Lands.
Artist and Teacher
Inducted: 2002
Native American artist and teacher George Rivera first taught art at the Santa Fe Boys & Girls Club, which he joined at age 12, becoming the Club’s Boy of the Year in 1981. He served as lieutenant governor of New Mexico’s Pojoaque Pueblo since 1992 before being elected as governor. He has long pursued community and economic development through art and education, founding and designing the Poeh Cultural Center and Museum — an arts and education facility that promotes public understanding of Pueblo history and culture. Rivera works to ensure a bright future for local youth as chairman of the board for the Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club, which he helped establish.
Native American Leader and Activist
Inducted: 2012
At age 15, Ernie Stevens drove a car, worked full-time and considered himself a grown man. But his mentors at the Oneida Boys Club gave him the freedom to enjoy being a kid as well. Club staff provided Ernie with male role models. They also gave him the opportunity to compete in sports, helped him develop self-discipline, and assisted him with staying on track in school. Ernie has served as councilman for the Oneida Nation and a leader for the National Congress of American Indians. He’s also chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association and a respected Native American civil rights advocate who supports Boys & Girls Clubs on Native lands.
Government Official
Inducted: 2022
PaaWee Rivera is a native of the Pueblo of Pojoaque, a Native American Tribe located north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Rivera helps shape the way Tribal communities are respected and empowered through his work with the president and the White House. He helped launch the inaugural White House Tribal Nation Summit in 2021. He also led critical conversations on Native American policy at the Democratic National Committee and served as director and advisor to Senator Elizabeth Warren. PaaWee and his father, George Rivera, are the first father and son to be inducted into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame.
