SUBJECT: California Native American Day Celebration at UC San Diego

I invite the entire campus community to take part in UC San Diego’s expanded celebration of California Native American Day. This is the fourth year UC San Diego is participating in the celebration that honors the heritage, culture and traditions of Native Americans and promotes events to enhance the relationship between the San Diego tribal communities and the UC San Diego community. This year’s theme is “Storytelling: Traditional and Contemporary Voices.”

The California Native American Day celebration will kick off at 11:30 a.m., Sept. 24, with a formal program at the International Center. The keynote speaker will be internationally recognized linguist, educator, community elder and storyteller Stan Rodriguez (Kumeyaay, Santa Ysabel Band of Digueño Indians). He will present a program entitled, “Dance of the Spirits: Tóowchum Pompéllax.” He will also conduct a workshop on bird singing and Kumeyaay storytelling. Other celebration events will include film screenings, workshops, lectures and exhibitions. For more information, visit: http://blink.ucsd.edu/go/nativeamerican

In recognition of this annual event, I am approving two hours of administrative leave with pay so that employees may attend a California Native American Day Celebration activity. Supervisors may allow employees two hours of administrative leave with pay to attend one of more of the planned events when the absence does not infringe upon the performance of required job duties or patient care.

I would like to thank the members of the California Native American Day Celebration Planning Committee for their time and effort to coordinate these educational and celebratory campus events and activities.

Marye Anne Fox Chancellor