ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how Native American students develop and experience a sense of belonging during their college experiences at a public college in California known for its Native American presence. It employs Brayboy's tribal critical race theory (TribalCrit) and its tenets to provide the lens through which the concepts analyzed such as cultural representations, relationships on campus, and psychological resources. Brayboy developed TribalCrit to focus on Native Americans’ identities and complex relationships with the federal government. The goal of the study was to provide information that could help lead institutions to provide more culturally affirming and appropriate support for Native American students. Scattering Native American communities throughout the country made it difficult for tribes to function as self-governing communities. The widespread locations and erasure of Native American tribes reflects the consequences of dispersing the targeted population throughout the United States. Sense of belonging based on space focused on how specific locations influenced the students’ feelings of connection to the campus.
