Welcome to the Native American Cultural Center!

Founded in 1993, the Native American Cultural Center (NACC) serves as a space for fostering greater understanding of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations, and other Indigenous cultures and knowledge systems. The NACC is dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of Indigenous communities, histories, and contributions, while providing opportunities for all students and community members to engage with and learn from these rich traditions and perspectives.

Through a variety of programs, including speakers, artist talks, cultural installations, and dialogues with leading Indigenous scholars, the NACC works to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities at Yale. Our events are designed not only to elevate Indigenous visibility on campus but also to deepen the Yale community’s understanding of Indigenous worldviews, knowledge systems, and ongoing contributions to global discourse.

The NACC is a welcoming and inclusive space for all students, regardless of background. We invite you to come and engage with the center’s resources, whether that be studying in our library, connecting with peers in our lounges, or exploring the diverse programs we offer. The NACC encourages all members of the Yale community to use the space to deepen their knowledge of Indigenous cultures and engage in meaningful cross-cultural dialogue.

To stay connected with NACC’s events and initiatives, we send out weekly updates via email. You can subscribe here! We also invite you to join the conversation on Instagram.

NACC Mission

The Native American Cultural Center seeks to nuture an enduring and vibrant Indigenous presence at Yale, serving as a hub for learning, engagement, and community-building. Our mission is to create a space where Indigenous knowledge is honored and shared, fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous peoples’ contributions, struggles, and aspirations. We aim to equip students with the tools and knowledge to engage critically with Indigenous cultures, ideas, and histories.

NACC Core Values

1. Nurturing individual and Community Wholeness: We value collaboration, kinship, and spirituality as essential elements of both personal and collective growth.
2. Sustaining Cultural Preservation and Knowledge Sharing: We are committed to preserving and sharing Indigenous knowlesge, honoring its historical signifigance, and recognizing the responsibility to sustain these traditions for future generations. 
3. Promoting Respect and Mutual Recognition: We strive to create an environment that celebrates and respects all people, fostering a culture of understanding and appreciation across all communities.
4. Fostering Leadership through Accountability and Intergrity: We encourage leadershop that is grounded in transparency, honesty, and a strong commitment to ethical practices, aiming to inspire the next generation of leaders.

We invite all members of the Yale community to engage with the NACC and participate in programming.