Campus Kicks Off Native American Celebration
Ioana Patringenaru | September 29, 2008
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox gives welcoming remarks during the Native American Day Kickoff.
“Creator of all, I ask that you look upon us all. I ask that you bless the people who are here, the ones who couldn’t make it, the ones who are sick, the ones who are poor.”
A blessing and a song from Kumeyaay elder Stan Rodriquez opened the Native American Day Kickoff event Friday at UC San Diego, followed by a warm welcome by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. The kickoff marked the beginning of more than a month of celebrations, including a film festival, a high-school essay contest, teach-ins and workshops.
“I am just so pleased that we have a chance to come together to celebrate such an important occasion,” Fox said.
She made her welcome remarks during the Native American Day kickoff celebration at The Loft @ UCSD, in the Price Center East. Events are taking place from Sept. 26 to Nov. 7 and are designed to celebrate the cultural heritage of Native Americans. Over the past years, UCSD officials have made a concerted effort to strengthen the campus’ ties to the Native American community, Fox said.
For example, last spring, 90 students and their parents got to visit UCSD, during an event called “Walking in Two Worlds.” Anthony Pico, former chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, was the keynote speaker. Another 30 Native American high school students toured the UCSD Moores Cancer Center as part of an American Indian Recruitment program.
Audience members listen to keynote speaker Mike Connolly.
“Diversity is fundamental to what we’re doing at UCSD,” Fox said. “It’s part of our mission. (…) It contributes to the education of all students.”
Three organizations on campus work to highlight the contributions Native Americans have made and mentor and support students, Fox said: the Native American Student Alliance, the American Indian Faculty and Staff Association and the Native American chapter of the UCSD Alumni Association.
Friday, Perse Hooper, from the alumni chapter, dedicated the kickoff event to Crystal Roberts-Mesa, a UCSD staff member who fought for the recognition of Native American history, Hooper said. Roberts-Mesa recently passed away. “She worked very hard and tirelessly,” Hooper said.
Meanwhile, Fridays’ keynote speaker was Mike Connolly of the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. He is the chief executive of a private consulting firm, Laguna Resource Services, Inc., specializing in Native American projects such as energy project evaluation and support, water quality standards development, forest resource inventory assessment, and solid waste management plans. He also is a councilman for the Campo Kumeyaay Nation and has served as director of the Campo Environmental Protection Agency.
Mike Connolly, of the Campo Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, gave the keynote address during the Native American Day Kickoff.
Friday, Connolly sought to give the audience a different prospective on tribal history in California. Gaming revenues are not as widespread as many people think, he said. Also, most Native Americans still live below the median income level in San Diego County. Today, tribes are struggling to find balance, Connolly said, not only for the environment, but also economically and spiritually.
“What we’re looking at is an era of scarcity,” Connolly said. “And how we deal with that scarcity is going to help define the legacy we leave for our children.”
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