News

Deb Haaland’s Confirmation as Interior Secretary to Indigenous Communities

In a new post on the Berkeley Blog, ISSI's Joseph A. Myers Center affiliated scholar Nazune Menka explains the historic impact and symbolic importance of the confirmation of Deb Haaland, an Indigenous woman, as the United States' Interior Secretary. Not only does Haaland symbolize Indigenous strength and resilience, Menka stresses, she is the first Secretary of the DOI who "has a lived understanding of what Tribal sovereignty is and why it is important, and who truly understands that a government-to-government relationship requires collaboration (and not just consultation)."

Harlem Mural depicting collaboration between Yuri Kochiyama and Malcom X

The Myers Center Calls for an End to Anti-Asian Violence

The Myers Center condemns the recent and on-going violence against Asian Americans and grieves with the families of those lost to or injured by these hate crimes as well as all those who are suffering from racist and sexist violence and discrimination. We redouble our commitment to stand in solidarity with Asian American and Pacific Islander communities as we work collectively for a more just future. We support this statement from our friends and colleagues in the Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies program at UC Berkeley. For those who want to learn more about the historic roots as well as contemporary expressions of anti-Asian racism, we encourage you to read this Berkeley News interview with Lok Siu, Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies, who also emphasizes the often-overlooked interracial solidarity that we need to build upon now.

Big Give Success - Thank you for your support!

Big Give was a big success for ISSI, the parent institute of the Myers Center! We raised just over $34,000 from 41 donors, unlocking a $20,000 matching grant from the Miles Ahead Fund. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped to get the word out. Of course, we welcome donations anytime! You can direct your support to the Myers Center or any of the ISSI centers or programs (choose In Honor Of and then use the first and last name fields to make any notes).

Summer Workshop in Qualitative Methods: July 6 - August 13, 2021

This workshop, based at ISSI's Center for Ethnographic Research, provides mentorship, hands-on research experience, and advanced training in designing and executing a project using qualitative methods for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Students will receive six weeks of intensive methodological training in the design and practice of qualitative. Scholarships are available for students studying Native American issues. Learn more and apply here.

Indigenous Archaeology: Past, Present, and Future

Several of ISSI's Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues Center affiliates were quoted in this article, including Peter Nelson, an alum of ISSI's Graduate Fellows Program who is now a UC Berkeley faculty member, and Danny Sosa Aguilar who was recently awarded a Myers Center mini-grant for his research. "'All these wonderful tools and methodology speak to our preservationist values as Indigenous archaeologists and to the values of tribal communities,'" Nelson mentions. Though anthropology has a "checkered past," Nelson mentions that he does not wish to see anthropology’s ignominious history eclipse the good coming out of Indigenous archaeology.

Kroeber Hall "Unnamed"

Graduate student Ataya Cesspooch is quoted in this Berkeley News article about the unnaming of Kroeber Hall, which previously honored an anthropologist who symbolizes exclusion. Cesspooch, an affiliate of the Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues, based at ISSI, asserts that this is "a 'first step' that Berkeley must take to acknowledge that 'influential scholars, such as Kroeber, participated in the dehumanization of Native Americans.'"

ISSI Will NOT Close This Summer

After seven months of organizing, we have achieved a major victory! Issuing this statement, the university reversed their decision to close ISSI. Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign to Save ISSI. There are still unanswered questions about the building, funding, and so on, and we count on your continued support going forward! Keep up with the future of our campaign, now focusing on keeping space, fundraising, and ensuring longeivity of the social justice community at UC Berkeley on the Social Justice Futures website.

In Memoriam - Joseph A. Myers

We mourn the loss of Joseph A. Myers, who passed away on December 29, 2020, due to complications related to his heart. Our center is named after Joe Myers to recognize his extensive service to Indian country. Please read more about the life and legacy of Mr. Myers here.

The University of California Land Grab Series

This two part event, featuring numerous speakers, took place on September 25 and October 23. Both parts of "The University of California Land Grab: A Legacy of Profit from Indigenous Land," are now available for viewing in this playlist. The Joseph A. Myers Center for Research on Native American Issues was one of the series sponsors. The complete lists of sponsors and speakers, along with additional resources, are available on the series website: uclandgrab.berkeley.edu.

Native Heritage Month

We're celebrating Native Heritage Month this month and honoring Native past and present every month. Check out this great web page that our friends at
Native American Student Development made, including suggestions of educational resources, Native-owned businesses to support and much more. Pictured is Katie Keliiaa, one of our former Myers Center Grad Fellows, now Asst Prof of Feminist Studies at UC Santa Cruz.