Indigenous Speakers

In Marin County, CA, the Indigenous tribal communities have always been marginalized--not only in terms of access to resources, but also in presence. On the other hand, Indigenous tribal leaders, advocates, and allies also tirelessly seek recognition and representation. Dominican's Social Justice Grant Project (through Social Justice Department & Service-Learning Program), Museum of the American Indian in Novato, and the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael formed a partnership to provide educational events to DUC students that uplift the voices, knowledge, and wisdom of the Indigenous American leaders and advocates in Marin County and beyond. As co-sponsor for the series, Redeemer Church members were invited to attend the live Zoom sessions and extended invitations to Episcopal church-based communities devoted to working on anti-racism (Sacred Ground). The partnership continues to work on public-facing educational modules based on these talks.

In honor of Indigenous People's Day in 2021, this virtual public panel brings together local Indigenous leaders David Escobar, Theresa Harlan, Kim Shuck, Dean Hoaglan, and Sara Moncada, who tirelessly advocate for appropriate recognition, representation, and conservation of Indigenous Peoples’ histories and cultures. The discussion features their perspectives on how land acknowledgments should be understood within the context historical settler colonialism and continuing systemic denial of Indigenous rights and access to land.

Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, the University-Museum-Church partnership also hosted lunchtime talks over zoom to create space for Indigenous community leaders, advocates, poets, and artists to share their stories and insights. Each speaker told their own life stories and answered questions from the participants. Click on the titles of their talks to watch recordings on Youtube.