UC San Diego Extends California Native American Celebration Throughout Academic Year

Article Content

This year's California Native American Day Celebration kick-off will be held at the International Center.

The University of California, San Diego’s sixth annual California Native American Day celebrations have been expanded with various events highlighting the past, present and future identities of San Diego’s indigenous cultures. California Native American Day was established as an official state holiday in 1998 and is recognized on the fourth Friday of every September. However, at UC San Diego the holiday has been expanded throughout fall quarter and for the first year ever, California Native American Day will be celebrated throughout the 2011-2012 academic year. All events are free and open to the public.

The celebration kicks off Friday, Sept. 23 from noon to 2 p.m. with a ceremony featuring intertribal music, dance and regalia. Other events include a powwow and a photo exhibit at The Loft with images of San Diego’s Native American communities dating back to the beginning of the 20th century.

“We are proud to extend our commemoration of California Native American Day and our celebration of diversity at UC San Diego,” said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “I invite our campus and local community to join us as we honor and recognize the heritage, culture and traditions of our Native American tribes throughout the academic year.”

This year’s California Native American Day celebrations come off the heels of UC San Diego’s successful powwow that took place last May when hundreds of visitors of all ages from the San Diego and campus community came together to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of American Indian culture. The powwow has been established as a new UC San Diego tradition. This year’s powwow in May will conclude the campus’s California Native American Day celebrations. In addition, UC San Diego recently established a center for the campus’s Native American Student Association (NASA).

The year of events include:

• Sept. 23, California Native American Day Celebration Kickoff, Noon to 2 p.m.––The opening event will feature an intertribal presentation and regalia workshop. International Center.
• Sept. 29, “Running Grunion,” 9-10:30 a.m.––Abel Silvas will combine comedy, storytelling and mime, offering an interpretation of Native American history and culture from past to present at UC San Diego’s Early Childhood Education Center.
• Oct. 5, Native Community Welcome Dinner, 6 to 8 p.m.—Welcome dinner for alumni and Native American students. Cross Cultural Center.
• Oct. 20, Native American Film Festival: “Older Than America” Screening––Noon to 2 p.m.––Produced in 2010, “Older than American” is contemporary drama based on Native Americans who suffered discrimination at the hands of the boarding school system. There will be a brief discussion following the film. Cross Cultural Center.
• Nov. 17, Jeffrey A. Henderson, M.D., Talk, 6 to 8 p.m.––Henderson is a UC San Diego Medical School alumnus. His talk, “Journeys Along the Good Red Road,” will explore intersections of culture, science, policy and inequities in American Indian and Alaska Native health. Multipurpose room, Student Center.
• January to May, Partnership Funding––UC San Diego departments, programs and student organizations may apply for funding for an event or program in partnership with an American Indian group in the San Diego region. Funded partnership activities will take place on or off campus before the end of May.
• March 1 to April 30, Essay and Art Contest—Students are invited to think of a story that connects perceptional views of Native Americans in the past to their personal experience and/or a more accurate portrayal of Native peoples today. Students are required to tell the story in pictures and write an explanation of the images. Open to all students from grades 9-12. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best essays in four categories and the grand prize will be a $500 incentive scholarship.
• May, Powwow––The event will bring together Native American and non-Native American people to dance, sing, socialize and honor American Indian culture. The winners of the California Native American day essay contest will be announced. Muir field.