Phoenix Indian Center, Inc.: History and Facts

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History and Facts

The Phoenix Indian Center is the oldest and the first created Native American non-profit organization in the Nation. It was formed in 1947 as an outgrowth of Native people moving to urban Phoenix not only to sell their crafts and goods but as a result of the Federal Government's Indian Relocation Act.

The Federal Government's Indian Relocation Act (PL 959) created a mass migration of American Indians from rural, reservation settings to large scale cities across the United States during the 1950-1960's. The act was an attempt to assimilate American Indians into the prevailing non-Indian city life culture and remove their practice of Native culture and traditions through the break-up of reservation systems. As a result of this Act and a period well-known as the Federal governments "period of termination," several Indian Centers were formed in the major "relocation" cities across the country. These Centers provided a place for American Indians to connect and socialize with other Indians and to receive various necessary services. Phoenix was designated as one of the original "relocation cities."

The Indian Relocation Act began the network of a large urban American Indian community in the Phoenix metropolitan area, resulting in members from several different tribes moving to the area. Today, over 50,000 American Indians reside off-reservation in Maricopa County, ranked second by county with largest number of American Indians (2000 Census, U.S. Census Bureau).

The Phoenix Indian Center has evolved over its several years of existence adding several social service programs, educational and school-based prevention programming, workforce development and language and culture programming. Each year the Center also looks at new, needed services for our ever growing Native population in the Maricopa valley. But as the Center evolves over its nearly 60 years of existence, one thing has always held true - it provides a home environment for Native people looking for opportunity and finding a difficult and challenging, foreign and unfamiliar environment in the Phoenix valley.

Phoenix Indian Center has been operating continuously for nearly 60 years;
The Center was founded by Leon Grant, Omaha Tribal member, now residing in Chinle, Arizona;
The Center has assisted nearly every, direct and directly, urban Indian residing in metropolitan Phoenix;
The Center is long standing recipient of Valley of Sun United Way funds;
The Center staff is culturally competent, over half the Center staff are bi-lingual and versed in various Indian history;
Train talented Native Americans to become effective leaders;
The Center is involved and participate in community planning and activities;
The Center collaborates with other Indian and non-Indian agencies to improve the lifestyle of urban Indians;
The Center has a quality infrastructure including a sophisticated management information system other hard and soft wares;
The Center board, staff and volunteers raise funds annually.

Phoenix Indian Center, Inc.
4520 North Central Avenue, Suite 250
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
(602) 264-6768