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An Abbreviated History of Cal State San Marcos

& Local Tribal Communities

California State University San Marcos – and San Diego State North County, the satellite campus it emerged from, have enjoyed a sustained relationship with the many local American Indian tribes in its service area. The relationships were established through the interest and commitment of a few and have evolved into some formal relationships that involve scores of individuals across all divisions and colleges at the University.

1987

Hosted the first American Indian Storytelling in SDSU North County’s one room library, featuring local elders – and drawing hundreds from the local community
Began working with local tribal libraries that were facing closure due to federal grant funds drying up

1988

Hosted second American Indian Storytelling-SDSU North County Library

1989

Hosted third American Indian Storytelling-SDSU North County Library

1990

Hosted the first American Indian Cultural Fair at the SDSU North County “Jerome’s” campus
First class of Cal State San Marcos students requested Luiseño word for mountain lion – library faculty member worked with Mark Macarro, tribal librarian at Rincon, to approach elder, Villiana Hyde, to bring the word back to students
Tukwut adopted as informal mascot/spirit word for new university
Associated Students American Indian Scholarship was established and later named in honor of Lee Dixon
Library hosted artist Deborah Small’s installation “New World Women” – which chronicled the treatment of Native women by Columbus

1991

Hosted the second American Indian Cultural Fair at the Red Barn – co-hosted with Cal State San Marcos
Library organized a panel of local Indian speakers for American Indian Library Association conference in San Francisco

1992

Hosted the third annual American Indian Cultural Fair at the Red Barn – as Cal State San Marcos
Library hosted a panel featuring local Indian speakers – “Columbus Didn’t Discover America: Native Perspectives on the Quincentenary”
Library faculty member began working with the Rincon Tribal Library, on request of Culture Committee elders, on the evaluation of their Luiseño Culture Bank
Cal State San Marcos American Indian Student Alliance was established
Native history professor establishes Native American Documents Project website

1993

Hosted the first annual American Indian Pow Wow at Cal State San Marcos on the new, permanent site on Twin Oaks Valley Road
Hosted the first American Indian Student College Motivation Day, bringing 90 Indian students from local reservations –this event preceded the Pow Wow every year through 1999
Uncle Henry Rodriguez (Luiseño/La Jolla) invited to provide blessing at commencement- and did so at the International Festival and other key events until his death in 2002
Uncle Henry and Jane Dumas (Kumeyaay/Jamul) begin coming to campus annually to address a variety of classes on local Native culture, stories and ethnobotany

1994-2003

Hosted the American Indian Pow Wow for 10 years until funding and staffing fell short

1994

Began hosting local Bird Singers as part of the General Education Humanities section – for a number of years

1995

Library faculty member began working with Pala Tribal Library on expansion plans, federal grant applications and professional assessment
Library faculty member co-authored, with Lakota professor of education, “Sovereignty, Collaboration and Continuing Challenge:
A History of Tribal Libraries in San Diego County”-which put local tribal libraries on the national map
Library faculty member started the Tribal Library Intern Project in partnership with CSU Fullerton-a program that places Library School graduate students in local tribal libraries-more than 25 interns have interned in the Rincon, Pala and Pauma tribal libraries since the program commenced
Uncle Henry Rodriguez provides blessing at the Questival, a campus-wide event

1996

A time capsule, dedicated to Uncle Henry Rodriguez, is buried in front of Craven Hall – to be opened in 2021

1997

Library hosted installation and lecture by internationally known artist, Hachivi Edgar Heap of Birds- event drew many local Indian people to the University

1998

Library faculty member served as President of the American Indian Library Association-brought issues faced by local tribal libraries into national spotlight
Library faculty member, Dean of the Library, and Vice President for Academic Affairs attend the opening of the new Pala Library and Education Center

1999

Library faculty member invited to deliver annual Faculty Colloquium speech on tribal libraries-sparked interest in faculty on issues facing local tribes

2000

Library faculty member conducts the Tribal Library Census & Needs Assessment project for the California State Library - encompassing 37 reservations & establishing stronger bonds with local tribes
Recommendations from the project to the State Librarian result in formal recognition of tribal libraries by the California State Library
Arts & Lectures hosts Luiseño artist, James Luna, for an art installation and cross-disciplinary classroom seminars

2001

Library faculty member and ITS web designer develop the Library of California Tribal Library Census & Needs Assessment website
Library faculty member and ITS web designer establish a statewide Native Libraries listserv
Arts & Lectures hosts “Smoke Signals” director, Chris Eyre - event draws a large crowd of local Indian people to the University
Uncle Henry Rodriguez is conferred with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at commencement
University Library hosts the first “A Gathering of Voices” conference for tribal librarians and educators from 37 local reservations
First year of the Indian Rock/Native Garden Project, a collaboration between advanced computer art and anthropology students at CSUSM and the San Luis Rey Band of Luiseño Indians - class offered every year

2002

Library faculty member organizes the Tierra Del Sol Tribal Librarians Group (TDSTL), the first of its kind in the state
Library faculty member invited to sit on Lt. Governor’s Senate Bill 41 Advisory Committee - California Indian curriculum revision
Campus holds a memorial ceremony for the late Dr. Uncle Henry Rodriguez

2003

University Library hosts the second “A Gathering of Voices” for 37 local reservations
Arts & Lectures hosts Tracy Lee Nelson’s Native Blues Band - drawing Indian students and community members to campus
Library faculty member coordinates the inaugural meeting of the Native Libraries Round Table of the California Library Association
University President hosts lunch and discussion with Pala and Pauma tribal officials in his board room
Native Studies minor is established

2004

Library faculty member accompanied two federal officials from IMLS, the principal granting agency for tribal libraries, to Pala and Pauma tribal libraries
Pauma Chairman, Chris Devers, provides a traditional blessing for the opening of the Kellogg Library
Arts & Lectures presents the play based on the life of Katherine Siva Saubel – “We Are Still Here” at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido to a standing room only crowd of over 400 - mostly local Native people – University President delivered the welcome – having been on campus one month
Library hosts The Indian Rock Native Garden Project as the inaugural exhibit for the new library - opened with traditional local blessing, song and dance.
University President hosted a luncheon meeting for the North County American Indian Education Council
Library faculty member escorted University President, Provost and Associate Vice President for Research to visit Pala, Pauma and San Pasqual reservations
Tribal Liaison position is established - first of its kind in the California State University system
- Established the Tribal Communities Initiatives Task Force - inviting faculty from across all colleges and disciplines, administrators and staff who were working in or with tribal communities
- Held four Task Force meetings - one held on local reservation
- Task Force projects launched in this first year include:
  - Meetings between School of Nursing faculty and staff and the Native American Research Centers for Health staff at Indian Health Council in Rincon
  - Small group traveled to CSU San Bernardino to talk with organizers of their well regarded California Indian Day
  - Revived activity on the Lee Dixon Indian Scholarship and got Dixon family connected
  - Added Community Service Learning Director, College of Business and College of Education faculty to Task Force
  - Luiseño language transferability explored
- Tribal Liaison coordinated CSUSM delegation to “Prez to the Rez” at Pauma
- Tribal Liaison co-coordinated first Native North County Higher Education Alliance symposium at Mira Costa
- Tribal Liaison organized discussions with Pala Tribal Executive Committee and campus deans regarding potential business course provision on the reservation

2005

Held six Task Force meetings with three held on local reservations
- Task Force activities launched during this year were:
President hosted reception for tribal leaders and educators from nine northern tribes
Tribal Liaison helps to coordinate the first training of tribal librarians by the California State Library in the history of the state - at Pala reservation
California State Librarian attends training to confer certificates - first interface between tribal librarians and State Librarian in state history
Cal State San Marcos begins attending all SCTCA monthly education meetings
College of Business conducts Senior Experience project working with Tribal Digital Village
Campus began posting faculty positions on the California Indian Professors Association website
Campus appointed a set on CSUSB’s Tribal Government, Management & Leadership Advisory Board
Hosted “Tukwut Scholars”, a simulated first day of college for 4th grade Indian students
Tribal Liaison honored at annual SCTCA High School Graduation Banquet - for service to Indian community – shines light on CSUSM
Began providing SDSU American Indian Studies personnel with background on Tribal Liaison position
Subcommittee of the Native Advisory Council began researching MOUs between universities and tribes
Employee Management Certificate Program delivered to Pala leadership
Hosted Young Native Scholars on campus, overnight, in dorms
Dixon family honored at annual Scholarship Donor/Recipient reception
Tribal Liaison member escorted the new Director of the San Diego County Library system to six reservations to help build links between the two
Tribal Liaison solicited State Librarian, on behalf of Tribal Digital Village, to renew support for local tribe’s eligibility for e-rate
Two local Indian women invited to speak to Women’s Studies class
Native Advisory Council is formed based on input from reception held earlier in the year - and only one of two in the California State University system
Held inaugural meeting of the Native Advisory Council with President
President names her home “a$wut pote” - Luiseño for eagle’s nest
President Haynes hosted local Native people in her home for the first time in the University’s history

2006

Mission statement of the Native Advisory Council is approved:

The California State University San Marcos Native Advisory Council will:
- Advise the President on University relations with Native American communities
- Articulate the educational needs of the local California reservations and surrounding Indian communities to the University
- Foster collaboration between the University and the Native American community to achieve mutual goals
- Promote and support academic and professional access and success of Native American students and employees at Cal State San Marcos
Held 4 Task Force meetings – two on local reservations
- activities launched at Task Force meetings this year include:
Tribal Liaison helps to coordinate the second California State Library & National Library of Medicine sponsored training for tribal librarians at Pala reservation - focusing on consumer health information
Campus representative participated in first All Tribes American Indian Charter School graduation ceremony
University Outreach offers to pay registration for tribal education center staff to attend the CSU Counselors conference
Held two meetings at reservation sites with tribal community members of Native Advisory Council on MOU specifics
Career Center Director offers seminar at Pala on “Future Career Trends in a Global Labor Market”
Pala Chairman, Robert Smith, appears in the series, “In the Executive’s Chair”
Hosted the North County Higher Education Alliance - “American Indian Education Issues: Strategizing for Success in North County” event at Cal State San Marcos
Hosted the second, SCTCA- sponsored “Tukwut Scholars” program
President Haynes asks the Educational Equity Task Force to review history of ‘tukwut’ - Tribal Liaison supplied history and gathered Luiseño community member commentary for meeting
American Indian Student Alliance elects first California Indian as their president
President Haynes serves as invited speaker at Southern California Tribal Chairman’s (SCTCA) annual American Indian High School Graduation Banquet in Barona
Co-sponsored SCTCA’s annual Native Return to the Surf youth retreat, including faculty from Chemistry and Physics donating time and expertise
Hosted the first California Indian Day (week) on campus – featuring many local performers, artists, storytellers - culminating in play based on Luiseño story and acted by local Indian kids
Tribal Liaison presented history of ‘tukwut’ to the Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors, resulting in a unanimous vote to name old library courtyard, Tukwut Courtyard
Cal State San Marcos is one of two CSUs invited to share the Chancellor’s Office booth at the National Congress of the American Indian in Sacramento
Developed a draft mission statement for the proposed California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CCSC
Indian student numbers jumped from .8% to 1% since 2005
Book release party in Kellogg Library for Indian Rock Native Garden Project - President Haynes provided welcome and many local Indian people attended and spoke

2007

University President invited to address the CSU Board of Trustees on Cal State San Marcos activities relating to tribal communities
Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueño Indians - focusing on college preparation of their youth and only one of its kind in the California State University system
Coordinating the first “Tribal Lands and Governance” seminar of Leadership North County
Two Task Force meetings in Spring
- Activities launched from these two Task Force meetings:
University hosted a naming ceremony to rename the old library courtyard Tukwut Courtyard - well attended by local Indian leaders, elders, educators and youth
Sought proposals for mountain lion statue by local Indian sculptors
Subcommittee of Native Advisory Council established to fundraise for statue in Tukwut Courtyard
California Indian Center advocacy group visited eight northern reservations with information and questionnaire - seeking tribal input on the Center
University President was invited to represent the CSU on the best practices panel of the Higher Education Symposium of the California Indian Education conference in Sacramento
Cal State San Marcos is noted as one of the CSUs ahead of the game in the resulting document from the American Indian Higher Education Consortium
Tribal Liaison spoke on panel at USD’s “American Indian Educational Issues:
Listening to Community Need” - key findings were:
- Hire a tribal liaison
- Form a Native Advisory Council
President’s annual Report to the Community notes the establishment of the Native Advisory Council and the MOU with Santa Ysabel
Staff from the National Latino Research Center meet with Pauma Education Committee members to seek advice on migrant worker community health initiative taking place on tribal lands
Tribal Liaison assists Rincon Culture Committee on library and archives staffing needs proposal
President publicly displays Pendleton blanket from Santa Ysabel in Craven Hall foyer - as tribute to the MOU signing
Local Native professor co-presents on tribal community initiatives at the Center for Border & Regional Affairs faculty research seminar
President invited and attended the opening of the Santa Ysabel Casino
Given permission, by the family of Dr. Uncle Henry Rodriguez, to transport his collection of notebooks on Luiseño culture, to the Kellogg Library for safekeeping during a comprehensive digitization project
Secured Pechanga Chairman, Mark Macarro, to appear in Fall 2007 “In The Executive’s Chair” series
Based on pending retirement of the founding Tribal Liaison, the University strategic budgeting process places high priority on replacement of position