It was established circa 1979 after Native American students had perceived issues with
Onamia Public Schools, which previously experienced high dropout rates from Native students. After a March 1975
walkout there was a deal to have Native students spend about half of each school day in Onamia with cultural classes on the reservation taking the remainder, but the time of the latter had decreased. After the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) gave the tribe a $138,000 yearly budget for educational purposes in September 1979, the school opened. The initial enrollment was 49, and Tom Callinan of the
Daily Times reported the number of students staying similar up to February 1983, when it had 47 students. In 2001 the enrollment was 110. That year a mural was established on the school grounds honoring the tribe, with every student having a chance to add to the mural. ==Curriculum==