Challenges Faced by Native American Community in Tulsa and the Need for Continued Funding

The Native American Coalition of Tulsa, Inc. (NACT) is a nonprofit organization consisting of seven Indian organizations and eight members at large. They represent the Native American population in Tulsa, which has the highest concentration of Indians compared to other metropolitan areas. The organization aims to unite and achieve better conditions for Native Americans in Tulsa. In 1975, when NACT was founded, the Indian community in Tulsa faced numerous challenges, including low income, substandard housing, lack of transportation, and unemployment. NACT conducted a needs assessment and found that services for Indians were inaccessible or nonexistent. With funding from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), NACT educated Indians on utilizing existing resources, eliminated barriers in service delivery, and developed programs to address service gaps. NACT provides services that are not duplicated by any other organization and is the only resource for off-reservation Indians who are not eligible for tribal services. In 1982, NACT provided over 5,000 units of services at a cost