“Making Space: A Retrospective on the California Indian Conference” News From Native California 29 (Fall 2015): 30-35. Before I enter the doors, walking up to the annual California Indian Conference and Gathering (CIC), I hear the clinking of abalone and pine nut jewelry. I hear the familiar rhythm of clappers or gourd rattles, dependig on if the conference is being held in northern or southern California. Scholars Devon Mihesuah (Choctaw) and Waziyatawin Angela Cavender Wilson (Dakota) advocate for indigenizing the academy, “to carve a space where Indigenous values and knowledge are respected; to create an environment that supports research and methodologies useful to Indigenous nation-building...to compel institutional responsiveness to Indigenous issues, concerns, and communities.”i The CIC is an event which indigenizes the academy. It is an experience I urge everyone, Indian and non-Indian, scholar and non-scholar to attend. The CIC had its roots heavily sided with non-Indians and the fields of archeology and anthropology. However, the beauty of it as an academic and community conference is its malleability. It began as a small, regional conference, with good intentions, but was initially dominated by presentations about linguistics, anthropology, and archeology. It now regularly attracts hundreds of attendees and engages in dynamic critical scholarship from a myriad of fields. Many of the panels are interdisciplinary and collaborative. The CIC reflects the diversity of California Indian cultures and values accountability to the people and nations of California. A key feature of the CIC is its lack of ownership or sponsorship to a specific college or University. In recent history, it travels throughout the state, generally rotating between northern and southern California. Though as a Hupa friend once wryly commented to me, the concept of northern is central California to those living further north in the state. Its mobility ensures regional cultural differences are respected and celebrated. Each sponsoring school and conference coordinator and committee brings their own “take” on the CIC. The CIC facilitates an exchange of views and information among California Indians, tribal scholars, educators, academics, public agencies, students, tribal nations, native organizations, and community members. The theme of the CIC changes every year, but generally presentations address: sovereignty, language revitalization, history, anthropology, law, political and social issues, families and children, education, economic development, and the arts. The CIC held its inaugural conference in 1985 at UC Berkeley, led by committee chairperson and anthropologist Dr. William Simmons. In the conference program, he asserted its objective was, “to provide a regular forum for people working in California Indian studies to share the results of their work.”ii In addition to the Anthropology Department, the event also had the support of the Lowie Museum of Anthropology (now the Hearst Museum), the Department of Linguistics and the Native American Studies Program. The committee expressed gratitude to Dean William A. Shack of the Graduate division of UC Berkeley who helped provide a start-up grant for the conference. In the first few years, the CIC had minimal representation of contemporary California Indian issues. Indeed, the first conference had one panel on the Oakland Intertribal Friendship House and one presentation by scholar Yuki William Oandasan (Yuki/Pilipino) from Round Valley. The second year, Oandasan presented, and was joined by additional California Indian presenters including Jack Norton (Hupa) and a collaborative team between Mary Pyle Peters and Loretta Allen (Yurok/Karuk) on the revival of the Brush Dance. By the third year in 1987, the conference hosted a reception and poetry night. In addition, for the first time, the conference occurred outside of Berkeley and was held in Santa Barbara. By the fourth year, growth in interest and participation led to dual sessions to accommodate all the presentations. Increasingly, every year, more California Indians attended the CIC, and this changed its environment. In 2002, Edward Castillo (Cahuilla/Luiseño) described the need for the CIC because in the past, “It was uncommon, for instance, for a California archaeologist to speak to a linguist, and ethnographer to a historian, and no one wanted to hear from an Indian.” He continued, “As the number of California Indians increased the heavy emphasis on formal technical papers gave way to more the general and cross-disciplinary.”iii Prior to the CIC inception, only a handful of events occurred which provided the opportunity to gather and speak to issues concerning Indians, in particular, California Indians. In 1961 the American Indian Chicago conference, largely organized by anthropologist Sol Tax, represented the first major national gathering of Indians. In addition to the estimated 460 Indian participants from roughly ninety tribes, the conference attracted about 145 nonIndians, largely scholars, religious, and government employees. Marie Potts (Maidu), member of the Federated Indians of California (FIC) and editor of its newsletter Smoke Signals, served as the only California Indian participant on the coordinating committee. The closest regional meeting to California, occurred in Reno, Nevada, a short distance to those residing in the northern interior of California, but hundreds of miles away for others. Although an important meeting, the Chicago gathering proved less important to California Indians. Only nine California Indians attended, many from Agua Caliente. The American Indian Historical Society (AIHS or the Society) held irregular symposiums at its headquarters in San Francisco and at off-site locations. The Society organized the first Convocation of American Indian Scholars in March 1970 at Princeton University. Much to the chagrin to some, the Convocation had an application and was by invitation-only for nonIndians. According to the application pamphlet, the Convocation would be “an interdisciplinary event in the exploration of knowledge.” In contrast to the Chicago conference, Indians held leadership positions at the Convocation and served as creators, directors, and coordinators of the event. As Costo remarked in his keynote address, “It is not the purpose nor the intention of this Convocation to dictate policies or to make decisions which will affect all of our people, or to impose upon the sovereignty of the tribes.” He continued, “It is our purpose only to point out a direction, to provide the help needed to reach certain necessary goals.”iv The Convocation played a significant role in facilitating the establishment of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA). Many founding Board members attended the Convocation and presented or attended the afternoon panel “Innovations in Education.” Attendees were inspired to create a national Indian education organization. The conference generated an electric environment. As one attendee remarked, “Last night one or two of us, as many of you did, sat up until all hours of the evening discussing what this conference is about, and what we thought we could do to extend everything here that’s going on.”v The comment demonstrates the sheer excitement and potential the Convocation generated. The AIHS has a significant legacy in California. Tthe 6th annual CIC in 1990 held at UC Riverside was dedicated to the memory of Rupert Costo, as the conference program noted, he was “a man whose life and work were an inspiration to all.” Similar to the Convocation, the CIC provides the opportunity for tribal communities to hear about research in the academy. Some of the most powerful moments are when community members offer constructive criticism, critique methodology or conclusions drawn by academics. Some comments are corrective, such as informing a scholar they are mispronouncing a tribal name or place. In another instance, a graduate student presented on the Sherman Indian school and while speaking of the horrors of boarding schools, her presentation style remained perky. Afterwards, she was quietly approached by an older California Indian woman and kindly reminded that her audience included Sherman alumni, and it would behoove her if she changed her tone when speaking of traumatic events. Others are inquiring, tribal members forthrightly ask if the presenter spoke to any community members; they ask about the sources used to inform the presentation and question the bias of those sources. In one memorable instance, an elder clarified for an anthropologist that a mortar and pestle are used to pound acorns, not grind them. Some of the most lively exchanges routinely center on presentations about the mission system. All of these interactions illustrate the power of community and academic interaction when their voices are equally heard and respected. Attend any of the panels, and witness the power of collaboration. The CIC validates the field of California Indian studies. An important cultural aspect of the CIC is the welcoming environment and inclusion, sometimes offered with good-natured humor. California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Anthropology Professor Terri Castaneda first attended the CIC in 2000. Yet, for her, one year stands out, the year Floyd Westerman sang “Here Come the Anthros” at Palomar College. She details, “He was halfway through his first stanza when he suddenly stopped short, “Say, do we have any anthros here? Come on—stand up!” Two of us rose slowly to our feet (I still have no idea if that was an accurate representation of the anthros in attendance). A wide grin lined his face before he broke out in a deep chuckle and resumed his lyrical roast.” She continues, “I appreciated the good-natured slaps on the back from my California Indian friends who were seated at that banquet table with me.” For Castaneda, the CIC represents a unique experience and she always leaves feeling “enriched as a human being and a teacher-scholar.” The annual event is a venue for organizations to gain exposure and recruit new members. For example, throughout the years, the California Indian Storytellers Association, California Indian Basketweavers Association, and Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival are among some of the organizations that attended the CIC. Thus, the conference serves as a forum for community-building and facilitates organizational activism. In addition, several government agencies regularly send representatives to the CIC. By the third and fourth year, the California Department of Parks and Recreation and National Archives and Records Administration had members in attendance. Their staff present on the resources available; and they gained a better understanding on California Indian views and concerns. As the 2013 CIC program committee noted, “We hope that you will take the information from the presentations and conversations, discuss ideas and turn these thoughts into action, in a positive way for our communities.” Thus, a central goal of the CIC is to translate presentations into informed action by presenters and attendees. An additional component of hosting the CIC on college campuses includes exposing college students, of diverse backgrounds, to California Indians and provides them an opportunity to see the humanity and cultural diversity of living Indigenous cultures. Kristina CasperDenman an Anthropology Professor at American River College, recalls how as a graduate student in Native American Studies, she presented on the accuracy in contemporary Native California textbooks in 2007. Her fellow panel members could not attend because of road closures and traffic delays due to wildfires. Casper-Denman had some unease about what to do about not having a complete panel. Even with missing panel members, she had a positive learning exchange and notes, “The audience was not only gracious with this situation, they were encouraging, offering a welcoming place for dialogue about what makes a good or bad text and how to supplement formal histories with other significant cultural resources.” This demonstrates the unique environment of the CIC, where conversations occur, not lectures. For Casper- Denman, the CIC is special because of the “feeling of welcome,” and she comments, “It’s a gift to be part of the process of helping to protect cultural continuity for the future.” The CIC is often a respite from the challenges of the academy and provides networking opportunities in the field of California Indian studies. In addition, it allows students to observe models of California Indian scholars. For example, California Indian scholars Greg Sarris (Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria) and William Bauer (Wailacki and Concow of Round Valley) presented at the CIC early in their academic careers. In addition, the event values and presents cultural caretakers of traditional languages and arts. Their presentations are generally some of the most attended because it is an opportunity to see their inspiring work. CSUS Native American Studies Professor Annette Reed (Tolowa) has some insight about the CIC and its growth. As an undergraduate student at UC Berkeley in 1985, she remembers quietly folding programs in preparation for the inaugural CIC. She was excited to attend a conference dedicated to California Indians. In 2001, she co-chaired the CIC along with Professor Charles Roberts (Choctaw) and Frank LaPena (Wintu). They decided to expand the conference to three days and had over 100 presenters. In 2013, she one of the main organizers for another successful CIC with a planning committee of over sixty people. For Reed, the CIC represents a special role for community, “This conference provides that opportunity of many people, Native and non-Native, to come together and pass along knowledge, exchange ideas, and to ensure future generations will continue to learn, cherish knowledge, and to thrive.” She continues, “It is for our young people to believe in themselves, and one day, be up there sharing knowledge.” The CIC continues the work started at earlier gatherings across the country. Indigenizing the academy is occurring at California colleges that host the CIC. For a few days, one may crisscross across campus and meet and visit with California Indians. It is a reunion, a homecoming, for regular attendees. My first CIC was at CSUS in 2001. As a young California Indian college student, it was powerful to attend the CIC, and indeed it played a pivotal role in my decision to pursue my Ph.D. in history. One of my first presentations as a graduate student occurred at the CIC at Humboldt. It was a rewarding experience marked with laugher, good words, and thoughtful reflection. The CIC is an inspiring gathering that serves the California community, and through persistence will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this October. It is returning to where it began: UC Berkeley. I hope to see you there.vi i Devon Abbott Mihesuah and Waziyatawin Angela Wilson eds. Indigenizing The Academy: Transforming Scholarship and Empowering Communities. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2004, 2. “1st Annual California Indian Conference program,” California Indian Conference, CSU Chico, accessed June 12, 2015, http://www.csuchico.edu/cic/archive.shtml. ii “17th Annual California Indian Conference program,” California Indian Conference, CSU Chico, accessed June 12, 2015, http://www.csuchico.edu/cic/archive.shtml. iii iv Rupert Costo and Jeannette Henry-Costo, eds Indian Voices: The First Convocation of American Indian Scholars. San Francisco: Indian Historian Press, 1970, 4. v Ibid., 236. Some quotes first appeared in Rose Soza War Soldier, “to take positive and effective action”: Rupert Costo and the California Based American Indian Historical Society” (Ph.D. Dissertation, Arizona State University, 2013). vi