News From Native California - Spring 2015 Volume 28, Issue 3 | Page 42

big times/little times

Big Times/Little Times
Written by Vincent Medina

first, the big news: as of press time, Junipero Serra’s impending canonization has led Native California to
respond in a multitude of ways. Extensive media coverage
has led to various insightful perspectives on colonization,
canonization, and cultural perseverance. Deborah Miranda
(Ohlone Costanoan Esselen Nation), Nicole Myers-Lim
(Pomo), Andrew Galvan (Chochenyo Ohlone), and Vincent
Medina (Chochenyo Ohlone) were featured in the New
York Times; Deborah Miranda and Ron Andrade (Luiseño)
were both featured in the United Kingdom’s largest publication, The Guardian. These people, along with countless others from the California Indian world, have eloquently shared
their words and voices. You can find these stories, quotes,
and links to media, articles, and resources on the News from
Native California blog.

The Oakland Museum successfully held their first annual
California Indian Art Market in late November 2014. It coincided with the Off the Grid food truck fair, and it was a
wonderful night of delicious food, dancing, museum exhibits, and old and new friends. The art market showcased
the beautiful art work of  Tiffany Adams (Chemehuevi/
Konkow/Nisenan), Jennifer and Carson Bates (Tuolumne
Me-Wuk), Mary Carpelan (Shasta/Cahuilla), Johnny Clay
(Pomo/Konkow), L. Frank (Tongva/Raramuri/Ajachmem), Meyo and Randy Marrufo (Kashaya Pomo), Leah
Mata (Chumash), Clint McKay (Dry Creek Pomo/Wappo/
Wintun), Native Women’s Collective (Yurok/Karuk/
Hupa), Linda Navarro (Cahuilla/Shasta), Billyrene and
Kayla Pinola (Kashaya Pomo), Savage Skatez Native (Yuki/
40

▼ N E WS F ROM N AT IVE C AL IFO RNIA

Wailaki/Pomo/Konkow/Nomlaki), Kimberly and Austin
Stevenot (Me-Wuk), Carly Tex and Mandy Marine (Mono/
Maidu/Ohlone), and Analisa, Monica, and Emilio Tripp
(Karuk). What a line up!
Last November, the Tuolumne Me-Wuk graciously
hosted their wonderful Miwok language symposium,
Koyo:Mu ’Uṭen, on their beautiful rancheria. Carlos Geisdorff (Me-Wuk) shared his stories of success teaching children with their language program, and the wonderful
Candra Neff was awarded, honored, and thanked for her
dedication as a linguist for the Tuolumne Me-Wuk tribe. We
are thankful to the leadership of the Tuolumne Me-Wuk and
grateful to have been in attendance.
Two major film festivals happened in November, both called
the American Indian Film Festival but held in different cities
(San Francisco and San Diego). Both showcased the vibrancy
of Native experiences in film. The California Indian Sovereignty Center in San Marcos, directed by Joely Proudfit
(Luiseño), hosted San Diego’s festival, and our contributing editor Terria Smith (Torres Martinez Cahuilla) wrote a
poignant piece on our blog where she reflected, “The closing events had the personal touch and close-knit feel of our
Southern California tribal communities. Yet it had all the
class, glamour, and sophistication expected of a major Hollywood event. It’s going to be so exciting to see this very cool
little festival grow in the years to come!” We wish continued
success for this lovely festival! San Francisco’s festival was
just as dynamic, and was hosted at the Palace of Fine Arts.