3rd Annual Native American Symposium October 13, 2025
About the Symposium
The 3rd Annual Native American Symposium at Santa Clara University was be held this Indigenous People's Day on Monday, October 13, 2025 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at the Recital Hall (Music & Dance Building) on the SCU Campus.
This year’s symposium with a focused discussion on Social Justice and a Call to Action, builds upon 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 Diversity and Inclusion, 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.
The full recording of the Symposium is now available.
If you have any questions, please reach out tp 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 12:30 PM |
Doors Open
|
Light Refreshments in Lobby |
| 1:00 PM - 1:20 PM |
Welcome & Opening remarks from SCU and Muwekma Ohlone Land Acknowledgement Blessing Welcome from Santa Clara City Council |
|
| 1:20 PM - 2:00 PM |
Presentation: SCU and the Muwekma Ohlone (Due to time, this presentation did not happen) |
Dr. Lee Panich, Santa Clara University |
| 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
Presentation: Tribal Trail of Truth Journey |
Joseph Torres, Muwekma Ohlone Tribe |
| 2:30pm - 3:30pm |
PANEL CONVERSATIONS Panel I: Theological Perspectives
|
Moderator: Lauren Baines, SCU Panelist: Rev. Michael Carson, Director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace for the Diocese of San Jose |
| 2:30pm - 3:30pm |
Panel II: Youth Perspectives |
Moderator: Matt Ricchiazzi Panelists: Aaron He, President & Founder, Ayush Iyengar - Vice President, Caleb Wang - Vice President from the Indigenous Justice Coalition, Bellarmine College Preparatory |
| 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM |
Presentation: Call to Action in the Bay Area |
Moderator: Lauren Baines Panelists: Julie Dominguez, Joseph Torres, Aaron He, Rev. Michael Carson and Isabella Gomez (SCU Native American Coalition for Change) |
| 3:50 PM - 4:00 PM |
Closing Remarks |
Joseph Torres & Ray Plaza |
| 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM |
Symposium concludes at 4pm. Guests are welcome to stay to join a special Zoom session with Shannon Rivers as part of the SCU tuRn week events |
|
Event Logistics
The 3rd 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 before the start of the event.