California Native American Day Events at UC San Diego Pay Tribute to Region’s Indigenous Cultures

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Photos by Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

“Honoring Tradition through Culture and Education” is the theme of the 8th annual California Native American Day celebration at the University of California, San Diego. The celebration, running from Sept. 27, 2013 through May 2014, will feature events that pay homage to the past, present and future cultures of Native American people in San Diego, the state and throughout the nation. California Native American Day is a statewide holiday, established in 1998, which is recognized on the fourth Friday of September. In recent years, UC San Diego has expanded the one-day festivity to a yearlong celebration.

“We are proud to host numerous events throughout the academic year to honor and celebrate Native American history and culture,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “We are dedicated to strengthening the relationship between UC San Diego and local tribal communities, and raising awareness on our campus about the legacy and contributions of the Native American community.”

This year’s campus activities begin at noon Friday, Sept. 27 with a kick-off celebration that will feature a blessing, lunch and performances from Rincon Youth Storytellers and Viejas Asha Takuk (Bird Singers). Other events include a Native American drumming workshop, Native American graduate school information workshop, film screenings and more. A powwow, scheduled in May, will conclude this year’s California Native American Day celebration. All events are free and open to the public.

The celebratory events include:

• Sept. 27, California Native AmericanDay Celebration Kickoff, noon to 2 p.m.–– Featuring a blessing, lunch and performances. International Center.
• Oct. 4, Native Community Welcome Dinner Hosted by the Native American Student Alliance (NASA), 6 p.m.––Welcome dinner for alumni and Native American students. Cross Cultural Center.
• Oct. 10, American Indian Recruitment (AIR) 20th Annual Fundraiser Banquet, 5:30 p.m.––AIR is a regional program for Native American youth to gain experience with college campuses and research skills. Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center at San Diego State University.
• Oct. 23, Running Grunion Storytelling, 9 to 11 a.m.––Abel Silvas will combine comedy, storytelling and mime, offering an interpretation of Native American history and culture from past to present. UC San Diego’s Early Childhood Education Center.
• Oct. 29, Social Justice LENS Film Presentation, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.––Body image and identity of Native American women are explored in a powerful and intimate documentary. Cross Cultural Center.
• Nov. 7, Traditional Drumming Workshop, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thurgood Marshall College Room, Price Center West.
• Nov. 7, Native American Research Symposium and Graduate School Information Workshop and Dinner Hosted by Office of Graduate Studies (OGS), 3 to 6 p.m. All undergraduates are welcome––to reserve a seat call (858) 822-3536. Chancellor’s complex, conference room 111A.
• March 1 to April 23, California Native American Day High School Art and Essay Contest––Students from grades 9-12 can participate in this essay and art contest. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best essays in four categories. There will be a prompt available in February 2014 at eaop.ucsd.edu that students are invited to respond to with art and a written explanation of the images.
• May, Powwow––Spearheaded by the Native American Student Alliance (NASA), The event will bring together Native American and non-Native American people to dance, sing, socialize and honor American Indian culture. Muir field.