GNAA Programs
Guilford Native American Association, Inc. - Governance Since 1975

     A Brief History...In the early 1970's, the Indian people of Guilford County, North Carolina were known as "the invisible community" and had very little opportunity to improve their social, economic, educational, and cultural status.

     As late as May 1975, only one student from a total Indian population of 1,000 graduated from the county's three public school systems. Armed with an abundance of determination, commitment, understanding, and the moral support of each other, a small group of Indian parents gave birth to the Guilford Native American Association (GNAA). With the support of a few members of local Lutheran churches, this group of parents incorporated GNAA as a nonprofit agency in September of 1975.

     In these early years, GNAA was supported by Indian and non-Indian community volunteers; the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs; Guilford County; local, state, and national Lutheran organizations; and in 1977, the first major funds came from the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

     From that humble beginning, GNAA has continued to expand its programs, services, and activities to serve the growing Indian population of Guilford and surrounding counties. From a single focus program of education and advocacy, the various programs and resources detailed in this web page have emerged.

     This multipurpose urban Indian center is governed by a ten (10) member Board of Directors elected by the Indian community at their annual meeting and serves more than 5,000 Indian people in Guilford and surrounding counties. The agency's primary goals are to assist Indian people in achieving social and economic self-sufficiency.