First Peoples Native Center
Through the efforts of Native students, faculty, and administrators, the First Peoples Native Center (FPNC) was created in order to raise awareness of the contributions and continued presence of Native American and Indigenous peoples of the region. The FPNC works to serve our diverse Native and Indigenous student populations by preparing them to become lifelong learners, providing access to support services to increase retention and successful transition rates, creating traditional and culturally relevant programming, and guide students to career paths that will enable them to enrich their lives and the lives of their communities.
Click on the link below if you are interested in staying connected and keeping involved with the First Peoples Native Center community.
Would you like to donate to the First Peoples Native Center? Visit our Foundation website to learn about financial opportunities and donate to our First Peoples Native Center scholarship or donate to our Center.
The Native American Student Support & Success Program (NASSSP) Grant is a state funded grant program under the California Community College Chancellor’s Office.
Mt. SAC Land Acknowledgement
Mt. San Antonio College acknowledges and recognizes that the land in which we occupy is the unceded ancestral territory of the Gabrielino-Shoshone, Gabrielino-Tongva, and Gabrielino-Kizh nations, the Indigenous peoples of this region since time immemorial. Mt. San Antonio College is located near the Gabrielino village of Pemookangna, known today as the city of Walnut.
We recognize the Gabrielino people have suffered an immense loss of their people, culture, lands, water, and other natural resources due to the theft, murder, kidnapping, and enslavement. These injustices started with colonization, and most Indigenous people consider colonization a current and ongoing process.
Despite the atrocities and injustices committed against the original caretakers of this land, the Gabrielino remain to be a thriving community and continue to practice their traditions, heritage, sovereignty, self-determination, and spiritual relationship to their land. The nations that make up the Gabrielino community continue to work to protect their sacred ways and homelands for future generations. Their descendants are a testament to the resilience and strength of the indigenous peoples that call this land their ancestral home.
The Gabrielino view this land as a source of healing, nourishment, and protection. As students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Mt. San Antonio College, we honor the Gabrielino people by acknowledging their legacy and current lived experiences.
We recognize this land acknowledgement as an opportunity for Mt. SAC to advocate for Indigenous students through support of the First Peoples Native Center and continued learning and shared knowledge for Native American and Indigenous peoples.
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- Mt. San Antonio College First Peoples Native Center, https://www.mtsac.edu/fpnc/ | fpnc@mtsac.edu
- Jamie Rocha, Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation of Southern California | jrocha@gabrielinoshoshone.org
Updated June 2025
M-Th 8:30A.M. - 5:00P.M., Fri. Closed
Building 16E
(909) 274-4378
fpnc@mtsac.edu
www.mtsac.edu/fpnc
