UC Davis Native Affairs Initiative

Indigenizing UC Davis

For all generations that are from yesterday and today and tomorrow

Who We Are: Native American Affairs centers on the principles of Relationship, Reciprocity, Responsibility, and Reparations within our work. We aim to create relationships, programs, policies, and procedures with these core values.

What We Do

  • Act as the point-of-contact for Native American organizations, communities, and individuals.
  • Act as the point of contact for Tribal Nations.
  • Facilitate and guide relationships between university entities and Native American communities/Tribal Nations.
  • Assist in the development of programs, policies, and procedures that help center Native American presence and perspective.
  • Provide conceptual and cultural leadership on Native American affairs to campus leaders and departments.
  • Provides Native perspective in meetings with campus leadership.

Useful Links

Resources

UC Davis Native Affairs has curated a list of resources for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of Native history, culture, and other foundational topics. This collection offers introductory information on key areas significant to Native communities, with a particular emphasis on California Native tribes. While not exhaustive, this is a living document that will be updated regularly to reflect new insights and resources.

We are listing some external resources to help students find critical information that can supplement what the university provides. This list is compiled based on student feedback and is not an endorsement. Students should conduct their own research in vetting any external resources for their unique needs.

Essential Understandings and California Native History

These resources provide essential understandings of California Native peoples’ deep connections to their homelands, their historical experiences, and ongoing efforts to preserve their cultures and assert their rights. The following sections include maps, historical overviews, timelines, and academic resources that shed light on California Native history. These resources are essential for anyone who wants to engage with California Native communities.

Story Maps

Books

  • We Are The Land: A History of Native California- Damon B Akins and William J Bauer
  • California Through Native Eyes- William J Bauer
  • Know We Are Here: Voices of California Native Resistance- Terria Smith
  • We are Dancing for You by Cutcha Risling Baldy
  • Bad Indians by Deborah Miranda
  • An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873 by Benjamin Madley
  • Tending the Wild by M. Kat Anderson

Allyship, Cultural Humility and Communication

These resources cover essential understandings around allyship, cultural humility, and communication from a specifically Native viewpoint. These resources cover a range of topics, ranging from responsibilities as a Native ally, ways to actively practice allyship, and questions that can be used to reflect on allyship efforts.

Allyship

Cultural Humility

Communication

Stewardship

These resources cover the topics of ecological stewardship and Land Back, focusing on how to engage in stewardship and conservation efforts with tribal communities.