SAN FRANCISCO-- WHAT: Nearly 500 scholars, students and representatives from more than 50 California Indian tribes are expected to attend the 13th annual California Indian Conference sponsored by San Francisco State Universityís California Studies Program Feb. 27-28. The wide-ranging conference will examine the history of Californiaís Indians as well as their future in a changing society. Organizers are calling the gathering one of the largest of its kind in the state.

WHEN AND WHERE: Friday, Feb. 27 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 28 from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. in San Francisco Stateís Seven Hills Conference Center, 800 Font Blvd. on the campus.

DETAILS: Key sessions include discussions on California Indian casinos, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, conflicts between Indians and settlers during the California Gold Rush, sacred sites and the encroachment of development, attempts by tribes to gain federal recognition, nuclear waste in Ward Valley, the use of the word "Indian" for sports mascots and the revitalization of Indian languages in California.

Also, there will be an interesting session on how Indian tribes are now using computers to help teach language featuring Patrick Orozco of the Pajaro Valley Ohlone Tribe and Paul Kroskrity of UCLA's Anthropology Department.

The conference features a colorful demonstration of performance art with the California Indian Storytellers Association on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6 p.m.

Among the SFSU presenters will be Angela Gonzales, chair of American Indian Studies; Betty Parent, professor of American Indian Studies; and Joely De la Torre, assistant professor of American Indian Studies and a member of the Luiseno Tribe.

In addition to numerous scholars from throughout California and the West, community leaders scheduled to attend include Syndi Ladd, Cherokee, of the Indian Action Council; Vincent Feliz, Chumash, of the Seventh Generation Fund; Joseph Talaugon of the Committee for Native American Rights; Bruce Crespin of Juaneno Band of the California Mission Indians; Jennifer Bates, president of the California Indian Basketweavers Association; Malcolm Margolin, publisher of News from Native American; and Jim Lamenti, president of the California Indian Education Association.

For a more detailed conference program or more information, call Lee Davis, coordinator of the conference and director of the California Studies Program at S.F. State, at (415) 338-6583 or call Ted DeAdwyler of the SFSU Office of Public Affairs at (415) 338-7110.

Source.

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