Native American Symposium: Challenges of the Federal Recognition Process

500 El Camino Real,Santa Clara CA 95053

05 May, 2023

Description

This newly developed symposium is being planned in collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area and co-presented by SCU’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion, de Saisset Museum, Community Heritage Lab, and Center for the Arts and Humanities. The symposium is just one component of the University’s ongoing collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and is intended to bring greater dialogue and civic engagement to the campus community and regional community. SCU sees the importance of providing a space in which Native leaders and community members come together with academics and others to explore themes and issues important to Native community partners; a responsibility that is important for all Bay Area institutions. During the May 5 symposium, audiences will hear from Tribal Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh; learn about the history of Bay Area Indigenous peoples from SCU’s Dr. Lee Panich, Associate Professor of Anthropology; and gain a greater understanding of the federal recognition process and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s efforts to re-establish their federal recognition from Alan Leventhal, the Tribe’s ethnohistorian, and Emeritus Lecturer at San José State University, and Dr. Les Field, Professor of Ethnology at the University of New Mexico. SCU’s student group the Native American Coalition for Change will also participate in the program, with their President providing opening remarks and a later panel discussion will bring together aforementioned speakers and other academics from local institutions to reflect on the process of federal recognition. Guests are welcome to come and go throughout the day. Session information will be listed soon. REGISTRATION DETAILS: Event is open to the public and FREE. SCU Community members with an active Access Card do not need to register, please just present your card upon arriving to Mayer Theatre. And the livestream link will be sent via campus communications. Non-SCU community members will need to register through eventbrite to get a ticket.