In 2020, the month of November was designated as National Native American Heritage Month.

Norco College’s history is interwound with semi-nomadic bands of Tongva Indians, who spent their day collecting roots, nuts and edible plants while hunting game on the land now occupied by the College. Tongva Indians’ villages occupied the Santa Ana river bottom.

The Tongva Indians were also know for greeting (and resisting) the Spanish. In 1846, their land became part of the nearly 18,000-acre Rancho La Sierra (Sepulveda). For the next 50 years, through a succession of owners, this was open range, pastureland for the Rancho cattle and sheep. It is estimated today that 2,000 Tongva people reside in Southern California, primarily in the Los Angeles area. The Tongva Indians are considered to be one of the two most prominent California tribes without recognition, with 2,800 archaeological sites, such as the sacred site of Puvungna, located on what is now Cal State Long Beach.