Cal Poly Humboldt Hosts Indigenous Peoples Week with Engaging Events

Cal Poly Humboldt is actively celebrating Indigenous Peoples Week, which runs from March 10 to March 14, 2025. The festivities are open to the public and aim to highlight the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples across the Americas. According to a press release from Cal Poly Humboldt, the week serves not only to honor pre-colonial cultures but also to recognize the resilience and ongoing vitality of Indigenous communities today.

Emma Sundberg, a biology student and president of the Indian Tribal & Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP), emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural traditions while navigating contemporary challenges. She stated, “To be Indigenous is to live in the present with the memory of the past and the responsibility for the future. We youth are strong, keeping alive our ceremonies and fighting for our land back. We push back. We fight.”

Highlights of Indigenous Peoples Week

The week is packed with various activities aimed at fostering understanding and appreciation of Indigenous cultures. Events include educational discussions, film screenings, and community engagement opportunities.

On Sunday, March 10, the week kicked off with a session titled “News From Native California Magazine: California Indigenous Foods,” held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Native American Forum.

The following day, Monday, will feature the ITEPP’s Indigenous Peoples Week kickoff at noon, followed by the documentary “Baduwa’t” from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Later, a film screening of “Many Moons” will take place from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a panel discussion on “Undamming the Klamath: The River Flows Free” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday’s offerings include “Conversations on Altruism” with Joe Giovannetti from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 12, attendees can participate in the “Landscape Care & Hands-On Work Day” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Wiyot Plaza. The day will conclude with a talk by Lourdes Pereira on “Intellectual Property and Information Science in Indian Country” from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The celebrations continue on Thursday with the COMPASS-INRSEP open house from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and the Rou Dalagurr open house from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be an exhibition opening reception for “Coyote and the Monsters/Yet to Slay” from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery.

The week will culminate on Friday, March 14, with a “Diverse Male Scholar Initiative & ITEPP Movie Night” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Native American Forum.

For more details about the events and activities, interested individuals can visit the Cal Poly Humboldt website at humboldt.edu/itepp/indigenous-peoples-week. This week-long celebration not only acknowledges the history and culture of Indigenous peoples but also emphasizes the importance of cultural continuity among younger generations.