News

Reuniting with Our Lands and Waters

On September 22, ISSI's Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues hosted a talk by Clint Carroll on indigenous access and political ecology in settler states. "Reuniting with Our Lands and Waters" is available now for viewing.

Free UC Tuition for All California Native American Students

The University of California announced the Native American Opportunity Plan which covers tuition and fees for California students from federally-recognized tribes. In announcing the plan, President Drake acknowledged the historical wrongs endured by Native Americans, though not the ways in which UC has benefitted as a result of those wrongs. Free tuition for California Native Americans was one of the recommendations in the report "The University of California Land Grab: A Legacy of Profit from Indigenous Land," co-authored by UCB Native American Student Development and ISSI's Myers Center. The new UC plan is a big step in that direction but leaves out the many California Native Americans who are not from federally-recognized tribes. Fortunately, the Federated Indians of Graton Ranchería have created a scholarship fund to cover tuition and fees for these students.

Myers Center Mini-grants - Call for Proposals

The Myers Center invites UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students, who are conducting individual research projects on issues affecting Native American communities in the U.S. today, to apply for mini-grants. Proposals that support undergraduate thesis or graduate dissertation research are strongly encouraged. Undergraduates may apply for grants up to $500. Graduate students may apply for grants up to $1000. Read more about the Myers Center Mini-grant Program and access the online application here. Applications are due on Monday, November 14, 2022 by 4pm.

Native American Museum Studies needs your support!

Since 2012, the Native American Museum Studies Institute (NAMSI) has been bringing together staff and volunteers of tribal museums and cultural center to learn together.

We need your support to offer travel stipends to those who need them!

NAMSI has been selected for a special one-week crowdfunding campaign by UC Berkeley, so please give today!

NAMSI increases the capacity of tribal community members to repatriate, conserve, and revitalize tribal cultural heritage, foster tribal representations and partnerships, and educate tribal and non-tribal communities through museum development exhibits.

East Coast Grit Meets Berkeley Utopianism

Anjika Pai, a recipient of a mini-grant from ISSI's Center for Research on Native American Issues, is this year's winner of the University Medal, UC Berkeley's highest honor for a graduating senior. In this article, Berkeley News summarizes the multiple achievements of Pai, an environmental sciences major and music minor, who is researching rights of nature laws as they pertain to Indigenous people in the United States

Native, Inc.

Shari Huhndorf, faculty affiliate of ISSI's Center for Research on Native American Issues, wrote a new article in Washington Monthly telling the history of the largest Indigenous land claim settlement in U.S. history, and how the admittance of Alaska as a U.S. state complicated the battle for Native rights.

Big Give Success - Thank you for your support!

Thank you to everyone who supported ISSI, the parent institute of the Myers Center, during Big Give last week! We received over $3,500 from 25 donors. Special thanks to our second-year Graduate Fellows who helped with outreach.

While Big Give is over, your donations to support social change scholarship are welcome anytime! You can donate here and designate your gift for any of the ISSI centers or programs using the "in honor of" field.

Keeping Alive Our Indigenous Cultures

Jesús I’x Nazario, a graduate student affiliated with ISSI's Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues, is featured in this Berkeley News article celebrating the linguistic diversity and multilingualism celebrated by International Mother Language Day. Nazario reflects on the "need for immediate action and long-term solutions toward protecting the rights for everyone to speak their own language."

Professor Peter Nelson Adds Wildland Firefighting to His Expertise

Peter Nelson, faculty affiliate of ISSI's Center for Research on Native American Issues, was featured in this Berkeley News article. Professor Nelson is an assistant professor of environmental science, policy and management and of ethnic studies who is now gaining expertise in wildland firefighting in order to use fire as a tool for reducing risk and building economic resilience against wildfires. Routinely controlling the burning of small areas can help communities avoid the catastrophic damages previous wildfires had left.

The University of California Land Grab: A Legacy of Profit from Indigenous Land—A Report of Key Learnings and Recommendations

ISSI's Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues & Native American Student Development at UC Berkeley are pleased to announce the release of a new report, The University of California Land Grab: A Legacy of Profit from Indigenous Land—A Report of Key Learnings and Recommendations. This document is a follow up to the Fall 2020 two-part forum of the same name. The intent of the report is to motivate the University of California to take action regarding accountability to California Indians stemming from the University’s founding as a land-grant institution through Morrill Act land sales and from the ongoing benefits that UC receives from both returns on the original endowment and continued occupation of California Indian territories via current UC land holdings.

Download the PDF of the complete report here (73pp)

Download the PDF of the executive summary and recommendations here (10pp)