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Native American Educational Services College

Chicago Twin Cities Menominee Fort Peck Leech Lake Northern Cheyenne Santo Domingo

Opening its doors in 1974 in Chicago, Native American Educational Services (NAES) College was the first urban American Indian institution of its kind, a college run by and serving a Native population in a major US city.

Over the years, NAES College expanded to satellite campuses in urban areas and reservations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, and New Mexico. NAES College served hundreds of students of diverse tribal affiliations, ages, and backgrounds, providing a community-based education grounded in public policy, tribal knowledge, community development and leadership, and more.

While the college stopped offering courses in 2005, NAES College is still alive—still here—its learning and legacy living on across generations, territories, and communities. Through this website we hope to begin sharing the stories and shaping the futures of NAES College.

Read the powerful mission and philosophy of NAES College, originally published in 1983

Find out more about the classes, student projects, and educational events at NAES College

Discover the students, faculty, administrators, staff, and others who were involved with NAES College

Explore the books, archives, and Native-centered classification system of the NAES College library

Want to share your story?

Do you have a story about NAES College? Would you like to be included on the “People” page? Please click the button to send us an email—thanks!

NAES College
Resources | Contact

American Indian Association of Illinois
1650 W Foster Ave Chicago, IL 60640
Website | Email | (773) 338-8320