4th Annual Native American Symposium - October 12, 2026
About the Symposium
The 4th Annual Native American Symposium at Santa Clara University will be held as part of the Indigenous People's Day events on Monday, October 12, 2025 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at the Recital Hall (Music & Dance Building) on the SCU Campus.
This year’s symposium is focused on Indigenous Solidarity: Generational Struggles Towards Liberation and Nation Building and builds upon the 2025 Symposium which focused on Social Justice and a Call to Action, the 2024 Symposium which focused on the role of Reconciliation and the 2023 Symposium focused on federal recognition.
This symposium has been planned in collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area, and co-presented by SCU’s Office for Campus Climate and Belonging, de Saisset Museum and the Community Heritage Lab.
The symposium is just one component of the University’s ongoing collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and is intended to bring greater dialogue and civic engagement to the campus community and regional community. SCU sees the importance of providing a space in which Native leaders and community members come together with academics and others to explore themes and issues important to Native community partners; a responsibility that is important for all Bay Area institutions.
The Symposium is FREE and open to the community. The schedule of events is listed below as well as the registration details.
** Livestreaming will be available and the link will be shared 24 hours prior to the event. A recording will be available on the website after the event. **
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ray Plaza (rplaza@scu.edu)
Schedule of Events
All Sessions held at the Recital Hall and Schedule is Subject to Change
| TIME | DESCRIPTION | SPEAKER(S) |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30pm | Doors Open for Recital Hall | Light Refreshments in Lobby |
| 1:00pm - 1:30pm |
Welcome & Opening
|
|
| 1:30pm - 1:45pm |
Setting the Stage: Inside We Will Receive Justice: |
Dr. Lee Panich, Fay Boyle Professor, Department of Anthropology, SCU |
| 1:45pm - 2:15pm |
PANEL CONVERSATIONS Panel I: Pre-Mission Focus
|
Moderator: Charlene Nijmeh Panelists:
|
| 2:30pm - 3:00pm |
Panel II: Contact Period (Spanish/Mexican) |
Moderator: Charlene Nijmeh Panelists: |
| 3:15pm - 3:45pm |
Panel III: U.S. Colonial Period to the Present |
Moderator: Charlene Nijmeh Panelists: |
| 3:45 PM - 4:00 PM |
Closing Remarks |
|
|
Symposium concludes at 4pm. |
||
| 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM |
Guests are welcome to stay to join a special Zoom session as part of the SCU tuRn week events: Microclimate, Indigenous Environmentalism, and the Way of Life |
To Register to get access to Zoom Only
|
Event Logistics
The 4th Annual Native American Symposium is FREE and open to the public. No ticket required.
Doors will one at 12:30pm. Various educational displays will be available in the lobby area.
Parking
For those driving to the SCU Campus, please plan to park in the North Campus Garage (the parking lot off Benton, across from the Fire Station). If you enter 1063 Alviso Street, Santa Clara, CA in to GPS, it will bring you to the parking garage.
Parking in the Garage is FREE as it is a university holiday. No payment required.
Refreshments
The Symposium will provide light refreshments during the event.