Across California, tribal youth navigate child welfare and justice systems that were not designed with their cultures, histories, or communities in mind. The state is home to more than 660,000 Native American residents—the most of any state in the nation—and includes 110 federally recognized tribes, with 81 more seeking recognition. Like all tribes across the U.S., California’s Native communities carry a legacy of forced removal, family separation, and cultural erasure. 

“You can see it in our elders—some are still scared to teach because they’ve been conditioned not to,” says Shaylynne Masten, a mental health clinician from Two Feathers Native American Family Services. “Two generations ago, our grandparents were killed for trying to pass things down.” 

For generations, tribes have worked to heal these harms and reclaim what was taken, with ongoing efforts to restore cultures, languages, and community bonds. The federal Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), for example, has sought to protect Native youth in the foster care system by requiring courts to notify tribes and prioritize placements that keep children rooted in their families, cultures, and communities. 

Kimberly Cluff, Legal Director at the California Tribal Families Coalition (CTFC), explains: “In 1978 it was routine for children taken from their family of origin to be shipped far away. Now, in part because of the success of ICWA, we look at kin care for all children—because we saw the benefits of keeping kids in community. But it doesn’t mean the problems are fixed.” 

In fact, many of ICWA’s protections do not extend to the youth justice system. Under state law, probation departments must inquire whether a young person may be Native when a petition is filed—or may be filed—under Welfare and Institutions Code sections 601 or 602. However, beyond this “initial inquiry,” there is no requirement to notify or involve tribes when Native youth come into contact with the courts or probation solely through delinquency. As a result, many Native youth in California move through the justice system unrecognized and without access to the cultural grounding and tribal community care that could support their healing and accountability—even when initial inquiry has identified them as Native. 

Today, OYCR partners with Native-led CTFC and community-based organizations across the state strive to ensure Tribal youth have the support they need to thrive, as defined by tribal communities themselves. 

Building Pathways Through Listening and Partnership 

From representing tribes in court to consulting on legislation and educating state and county leaders, CTFC works relationally with each stakeholder to center and safeguard the rights and well-being of tribal children and families.  

“We are never fans of going in and saying, ‘We’re here to help, and we know the problem, and we know how to fix it.’ You only need to look at the history of tribes,” Kimberly says of the CTFC. “It’s a deep ethos—we are respectful of an area that we’re stepping into. We do a lot of listening.” 

In 2024, OYCR and CTFC hosted California’s first statewide tribal listening sessions on youth justice, surveying probation officers to better understand their engagement with Native youth and identify opportunities for tribal connection during incarceration. Responses were encouraging: many officers expressed a desire to strengthen these connections but noted they often lack the tools, training, or guidance to do so effectively. Others observed that while tribes may have the capacity to support youth, expectations and processes are not always clear.  

Some counties have already taken meaningful steps: Inyo County added tribal affiliation questions to intake forms, and San Diego routinely inquires in court. 

“I was speaking with a judge,” Kimberly shares, “and she asked, ‘Why am I having youth go paint someone’s fence instead of doing work for their tribe [as community service]?’ We talked it through and agreed that she would reach out to the chief of juvenile probation.” 

What Supporting Native Youth Can Look Like 

Every tribe is unique. Some have thousands of members, others just a handful. Each has its own systems of governance, cultural practices, and community structures. These differences shape what meaningful support looks like and why one-size-fits-all approaches from state or federal systems often fall short. Too often, Native youth don’t receive the culturally grounded interventions that could help prevent involvement in the youth justice system or support healing within it. 

Support can take many forms: a beading class, summer employment alongside elders, or programs that connect youth to their land and traditions. In Humboldt County, the Yurok Tribe’s summer youth program links young people with traditional knowledge and land stewardship. At Two Feathers, combining basketball practice with therapy has proven a powerful way to build trust and create safe spaces for healing. 

Two Feathers, a grantee of OYCR and partner of CTFC, serves Native youth and families from a variety of tribal backgrounds, including Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa Valley, and Wiyot Tribes. Its programs honor this diversity while centering cultural connection, offering youth from any tribal identity a sense of belonging and a community of support. 

“My favorite program was the ACORN program,” says Natalia, now a college student, reflecting on three years of involvement with Two Feathers as a youth ambassador, senior youth ambassador, and outreach intern. “It brought everyone together to learn about different tribes’ cultures and also build connections.” 

She adds, “My mental health definitely improved [thanks to Two Feathers]. I don’t really know how to explain it, but it was like medicine. Two Feathers gave me a greater sense of purpose… I wasn’t even planning to go to college.” 

Natalia explained that she felt uncertain about continuing her education, unsure how well she would do or how she’d cope emotionally. School had never been a place she enjoyed, and with a lot happening at home, it felt especially challenging—yet necessary. After graduating from high school, she began therapy and, with extra encouragement from her support system at Two Feathers, decided to give college a try. She’s now starting her second semester. 

The Difference That Thoughtful Action Makes 

This work isn’t just about improving systems but also returning power to the people who know what their children need. For CTFC, Two Feathers, OYCR, and their partners, supporting Native youth who are justice-involved is not a checklist item but an ongoing commitment to respect, relationships, and approaches that respond to each child’s unique circumstances, principles that apply to all youth. 

“I hope tribes are utilizing CTFC to the extent that they can,” says Shaylynne. “All these resources are being shared, and it’s important to understand who is using them and to what extent. As a community, we can move mountains, and tribal advocacy will lead the way.” 

The impact of tailored support is clear in the stories of youth themselves. For Natalia, engagement with Two Feathers gave her a sense of direction she hadn’t anticipated. Kimberly recalls another young person who participated in a tribal summer employment program: “So many or all tribal youth experience intergenerational trauma, impacting their attitude and engagement in services. I recently got to see him in tribal court for a positive thing, and you could just see that he was a changed kid. I firmly believe that the connectedness with community and family has made a difference. The data will tell you that, and seeing the smile on his face will tell you that as well.” 

This year, CTFC and OYCR are deepening their collaboration through training materials and a formal report based on their work with counties and tribal partners. The goal is simple but urgent: to help systems recognize, honor, and partner with tribes in supporting Native youth. 

When communities, organizations, and systems work together with respect, understanding, and genuine partnership, meaningful change is possible. Listening, collaborating, and centering the knowledge of those closest to youth isn’t just the right approach—it’s the most effective way to help young people, especially those facing justice involvement, build the skills, relationships, and opportunities they need to thrive.