FRESNO STATE — On Friday and Saturday, October 18th and 19th, Fresno State will host the 34th annual California Indian Conference. The event will take place at the Ellipse Gallery and Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room in the Fresno State Library. Moreover, established at U.C. Berkeley in 1985, the conference serves as a key forum for discussing Native California’s history, culture, and pressing issues. Specifically, with a focus on preserving and revitalizing indigenous cultures.
Focus on Sovereignty & Cultural Revitalization
Flyer for the 2024 California Indian Conference, focusing on Sovereignty and Cultural Revitalization (Click to Enlarge)
To begin, this year, the conference will center on the theme “Sovereignty Movements.” Therefore, bringing together Native and non-Native academics, tribal scholars, educators, students, and many more. In addition, the program will highlight topics such as traditional ecological knowledge, climate change, sacred site preservation, and language revitalization. Moreover, with a focus on local languages like Choinumni, Chukchansi, Mono, and Wuksachi. Additionally, attendees will discuss food sovereignty, public history, and workforce development.
Also, the event will include paper presentations, panels, roundtables, and Native art and vendor exhibits. It will also address efforts under CalNAGPRA (California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act) to return human remains and cultural items to tribes.
Community Engagement & Local Involvement
In addition, Dr. Leece M. Lee-Oliver, emphasized the conference’s broad reach.
Director of American Indian Studies at Fresno State, Dr. Leece M. Lee-Oliver
“The California Indian Conference welcomes Native American and non-Native academics, tribal scholars, educators, and students with representatives of tribal communities and organizations, NGOs, public agencies, and institutions whose work focuses on California Native peoples, tribes, individuals, and tribal sovereignty,” said Dr. Leece M. Lee-Oliver.
For the first time, the conference will take place in Central California. Thus, marking a departure from its traditional rotation between Northern and Southern California. Dr. Kenneth Hansen, a Fresno State professor, expressed excitement about hosting the event after a pandemic-related pause.
“After a long pandemic-related hiatus, we are proud to host the California Indian Conference at Fresno State. This is the first meeting of the CIC ever held in Central California, as the tradition of the conference for many years was to alternate between Northern and Southern California campuses near U.C. and C.S.U. systems,” said Dr. Kenneth Hansen.
“We are happy to feature many of our friends and neighbors from local tribes who are Native artists, linguists, culture bearers, community and government leaders, working to reassert and take back their inherent sovereignty.”
Sponsors & Open Invitation
Finally, programs providing funding for the 2024 conference include:
- Fresno State’s President’s Office
- Provost’s Office
- College of Social Sciences
- American Indian Studies Program
In addition, tribal co-sponsors include:
- North Fork Mono Tribe
- Chalon Indian Nation
- Cold Springs Rancheria
- Fresno American Indian Health Project
- CAL TERRA (Native-serving emergency response organization)
All in all, the conference is open to the public and welcomes people of all ages to attend.
