Native American and Alaska Native Cultures

Welcome to Wonoti

Wonoti (wa^naw^tee) | Maidu (verb): “to foster growth”

The Wonoti Program is Sierra College’s Native American and Alaska Native student success program and is part of the college’s CommUnity programs. Rooted in the Southern Maidu concept of fostering growth, Wonoti provides a welcoming community where students can strengthen their academic journey while honoring their cultures, identities, traditions, and lived experiences.

Wonoti is dedicated to creating a sense of belonging through academic support, cultural engagement, leadership development, mentorship, and meaningful community connections. Whether you are beginning your college journey, working toward transfer, or preparing for a career, Wonoti is here to support your personal, academic, and professional success.

All students who are interested in Wonoti courses are eligible to enroll and participate.

Our Mission

Our mission is to support and advocate for Native American and Alaska Native students by fostering academic success through community building, traditional practices, outreach, resources, leadership development, and educational opportunities.

By creating meaningful relationships and strengthening our network of Native mentors, we honor the wisdom and resilience of our ancestors while empowering future generations to achieve success, lead with purpose, and uplift their communities.

What Wonoti Offers

Academic Success

Individualized academic counseling and educational planning
Peer mentoring and tutoring
Academic success workshops
Transfer planning and university preparation
Scholarship and financial resource assistance
Career exploration and educational planning

Community and Culture

A welcoming community of Native students, faculty, staff, and allies
Cultural workshops and traditional learning opportunities
Community-building events and gatherings
Native language and cultural presentations
Connections with Tribal communities and Native organizations
Support from the Tribal Liaison and Native mentors

Leadership and Exploration

Leadership development opportunities
University visits and educational field trips
Participation in cultural conferences, Powwows and Big Times
Community service and civic engagement opportunities
Student leadership and peer mentor opportunities

Why Participate in Wonoti?

Wonoti provides more than academic support—it offers a community where students are encouraged to grow academically, culturally, personally, and professionally.

Students who participate in Wonoti can:

Build meaningful relationships with Native students, faculty, staff, Tribal leaders and community members.
Develop leadership skills while giving back to their communities.
Celebrate and strengthen their cultural identities.
Connect with resources that support educational success.
Explore transfer and career opportunities through university visits and educational experiences.
Become part of a supportive network that celebrates Indigenous knowledge, traditions and community.

Wonoti Courses

Consider registering for one or more of these class offerings at Sierra College to learn more about your Native American roots, including the people, history tribal nations, languages, and cultural, artistic and social practices.

Department	Course	Title
Anthropology	ANTH 4	Native Peoples of North America
Anthropology	ANTH 7	Native Peoples of California
History	HIST 25	Native American History
Ethnic Studies	ETHN 53	Introduction to Native American Studies
Ethnic Studies	ETHN 11	Introduction to Ethnic Studies
Ethnic Studies	ETHN 45	Federal Indian Law and Policy
Ethnic Studies	ETHN 50	Ethnic Images in Film

Community Partnerships

Wonoti works closely with tribal governments, educational organizations, and community partners to strengthen educational opportunities for Native students.

Our partnerships include organizations such as:

American Indian Education Centers
Local K–12 school districts and educational partners
Sierra Native Alliance
United Auburn Indian Community
Wilton Rancheria
Sierra Native Alliance
Tribal TANF Programs
American Indian Education Centers
Local K–12 school districts and educational partners

Cultural Engagement

Throughout the year, Wonoti offers opportunities for students to celebrate Native cultures while building community and leadership. Programs and activities may include:

Welcome events
Cultural celebrations
Native language workshops
Guest speakers and educational presentations
Student leadership panels
Powwows and Big Times
California Native American Day activities
University visits
Educational field trips
Community service opportunities
Cultural excursions throughout California

These experiences encourage students to deepen their cultural connections while representing Sierra College throughout Native communities across the state.

Celebrate Student Achievement

At Wonoti, we celebrate every milestone along a student’s educational journey. Each year, we recognize our graduating students during the Native Graduation Celebration, a culturally meaningful ceremony that honors the accomplishments, resilience, and leadership of our Native American and Alaska Native graduates. Family members, Tribal leaders, faculty, staff, and community partners come together to celebrate students as they prepare for the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys.

Students are also recognized for their academic achievements, leadership, community involvement and commitment to uplifting Native communities.

Campus Collaboration

Wonoti believes student success is strengthened through collaboration. The program partners with many areas across Sierra College and throughout the region, including:

CommUnity
Umoja
Puente
Pride
Cross Cultural Center
Counseling
Student Services
Instructional faculty
Tribal and community organizations

Together, these partnerships help create an inclusive campus where Native students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Native American Student Support and Success Program (NASSSP)

Supporting Wonoti Through State Funding

NASSSP is a grant funded by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. At Sierra College, NASSSP provides the funding that supports the Wonoti Program and the services offered to Native American and Alaska Native students.

The goals of the NASSSP grant are to:

Strengthen educational pathways from K–12 through community college and transfer to four-year universities.
Increase the educational success of Native American students.
Develop Native student leaders.
Expand Native mentorship opportunities and empower future generations.

Simply put:

Wonoti is Sierra College’s Native American and Alaska Native student success program.
NASSSP is the California Community Colleges grant that funds and supports the Wonoti program.

Where Are We: Our Land Acknowledgments

Rocklin Campus

With respect, we acknowledge the Rocklin Campus of Sierra College as the traditional and unceded land of the Nisenan and Miwok peoples. The Secret Ravine, known in Nisenan as Hoyok, is home to an ancestral village site protected for generations by local tribal nations and their members. Sierra College commits to an ongoing relationship with the United Auburn Indian Community and other local tribes, and to respect the legacy of the first peoples of this land and their future generations who are an integral part of the Sierra College community.

Nevada County Campus

With respect, we acknowledge the Nevada County Campus of Sierra College as the traditional and unceded homelands of the Nisenan peoples. For countless generations, the Nisenan have carried out their responsibility as stewards of this place originally known as Daspah. Sierra College commits to an ongoing relationship with the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe and their future generations who are an integral part of the Sierra College community.

Tahoe-Truckee Campus

With respect, we acknowledge the Tahoe-Truckee Campus of Sierra College as the traditional and unceded land of the Wasiiw peoples. Before there was a town of Truckee the Wasiiw called the place “k′ubüna detdéyi” and the river is called “Awaku wata.” The tribe is still connected to place and maintains active involvement with the Town of Truckee and the surrounding landscapes. Sierra College commits to an ongoing relationship with the Washoe Tribe of Nevada California and other local tribes, and to respect the legacy of the first peoples of this land and their future generations who are an integral part of the Sierra College community.

Native American Gabe Castro Tubatulabal — Head man grass dancer Tokala Halsey (Pomo, Lakota) at the Sierra College Powwow. *Photography by Tyler Notah (Navajo)*

Community Collaboration

The Wonoti Program honors this commitment by working collaboratively with the United Auburn Indian Community and neighboring tribal nations to support Native students while respecting the cultural traditions, histories and stewardship of these ancestral lands.

“In the past, Nisenan lived in towns made up of extended family groups of different sizes and led by a Huk (Headman) or Mayan (Headwoman). Like many other Tribes throughout the United States, the Nisenan have been misidentified and mislabeled. The Nisenan have been lumped together under inaccurate labels such as “Maidu”, “digger” and “southern Maidu”. However, the Nisenan are a separate Tribe with their own Cultural lifeways, their own leaders and holy people, a distinct geographic territory and their own ancient and unique language.” (huswej.org/)