Tribal Member Resources

These pages gather practical help in one place: work, housing, energy and utility bills, scholarships, ways to serve the community, and plain-language information about the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

They are written for Muwekma Ohlone tribal members and families, for Ohlone people across the Bay Area, for members of other California tribes that are not federally recognized, and for the wider California Indian community.

A note on federal recognition

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area is not currently federally recognized. That matters, because many Native programs are open only to enrolled members of federally recognized tribes.

On every page we say plainly who each program serves:

  • Federal recognition required means the program states that it serves only members of federally recognized tribes (or the tribes themselves).
  • Native-serving means the program serves American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian people and does not state a federal-recognition requirement on its public pages. Ask the program to confirm.
  • Open to all eligible residents means the program is not limited to Native people. Eligibility is usually based on income, where you live, or other factors.

To learn more about the Tribe's work to restore its federal status, see Federal Recognition.

Explore the resources

  • Jobs and Careers: Native workforce programs, public job boards, federal Indian Preference, and outdoor and conservation work.
  • Community Service: Volunteer with Bay Area Native organizations, food banks, parks, and native-plant groups.
  • Housing Resources: Affordable housing portals, rental help, tenant rights, homebuying, and Native housing programs, with clear eligibility notes.
  • Energy and Bill Help: LIHEAP, CARE and FERA discounts, PG&E assistance programs, and phone discounts.
  • Scholarships: Native scholarships and which ones accept descendants or members of tribes that are not federally recognized, plus California aid and local options.
  • ICWA and Your Family: What the Indian Child Welfare Act does, how California law treats tribes that are not federally recognized, and where families can find help.

Records that can help with eligibility

Some programs ask for proof of Native ancestry. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Pacific Regional Office's Division of Tribal Operations says it handles individual requests such as Certificates of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), verification of people on the California Judgment Rolls, and verification of California Indian ancestry. The National Archives explains the California Judgment Rolls and applications. Each program decides for itself which documents it accepts, so ask before you apply.

Need help today?

Dial 211 to reach a local information and referral line for food, housing, utility, and other help. In the Bay Area you can also search the 211 Bay Area directory. In an emergency, call 911.

Please read

These pages are a starting point, not a guarantee of eligibility. Programs, rules, funding, and deadlines change often. Please confirm the details with each program before you apply. Nothing here is legal advice.

Listings were checked on November 10, 2026. If you find a broken link, or know a resource we should add, please contact us.