CSUSB Hosts 29th Annual California Indian Conference, Oct. 9-11

The 29th Annual California Indian Conference will take place over three days at Cal State San Bernardino, culminating with a gala event featuring cultural dances and music on the final day. The conference, “Silenced Voices: California Natives' Survivance and Revitalization,” will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. All sessions – which are free and open to the public – will take place in the Santos Manuel Student Union. Parking at the university will be free in lots C and D during the conference. "The California Indian Conference provides a forum for the sharing of knowledge, scholarship, and issues of importance related to Native California,” said conference co-chair James Fenelon, a CSUSB professor of sociology. Fenelon is also director of The Center for Indigenous Peoples Studies, which is co-sponsoring the conference with the university and the university’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. “The conference brings together California Indians, academics, tribal scholars, educators and students, public agencies and institutions, tribal communities and organizations, and the general public,” Fenelon said. “For this reason, we have asked for a California Indian co-chair to lead a conversation with American Indian leaders from southern California to ask what the important issues and topics should be.” Luke Madrigal, from the Cahuilla Band of Indians and executive director of Indian Child and Family Services, is serving as the conference co-chair and has been instrumental in setting up meetings and dialogues that have produced the conference. The last day of the conference, Saturday, Oct. 11, will feature the Cultural Gala – Celebration of California Indian People, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center. The cost of the dinner is $20 per person; there is no admission fee to attend the cultural portion of the event. Form more information on the conference, visit the 29th Annual California Indian Conference website at http://californiaindianconference2014.org.