Programs
Beading Workshops
ITRC Beading Workshops happen 2-4 times a quarter during the academic year. Each guided session is a 2-hour workshop focused on a different beaded project, from earrings, to lanyards, graduation regalia, and more. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to connect to one another and build community while engaging in a fun cultural practice. Space is limited, so participants are encouraged to sign up early!
Campus Visits/Native Tours
The ITRC frequently hosts campus visits to show prospective students and their families around campus and familiarize them with life at UCSD. These visits often feature a “Native Tour,” which aims to expose and engage prospective students with the academic, social, cultural, and political aspects of the undergraduate experience at the UCSD. In addition to a Native Tour, the ITRC will typically treat prospective students to lunch, give them a tour of the ITRC, tell them about our programs/resources, and answer any other questions they may have.
Holiday Party
The ITRC hosts an annual holiday party to celebrate the end of Fall quarter. This program is an opportunity for students to connect before they go on break and celebrate their achievements of the past quarter. At the holiday party, students can decorate cookies and ornaments, participate in a White Elephant gift exchange, and more.
Language and Culture Table
Language and Culture Table was started by a Native American graduate student at UCSD in 2019. This program allows students and staff to talk about tribal traditions, government, language, art, culture, and more. Any student or staff is welcome to hosting a Language and Culture Table upon asking ITRC staff. Past topics have included lessons on traveling abroad as a Native American woman, Comanche language lessons, Navajo weaving demonstrations, and more.
Midterm Refuel/Finals Study Jam
Every quarter, the ITRC hosts a Midterm Refuel and Finals Study Jam event for students. Past programs have included to-go care packages filled with snacks, notebooks, and other goodies. Snacks such as bagels, coffee, and juice are typically provided to fuel students while they study in the Center. Student Assistants primarily lead Study Jams and Refuel events.
Native American Heritage Month Celebration
Every November, the ITRC leads a campus committee in recognizing the achievements and contributions of Native American people and tribes. Native American Heritage month offers a variety of speakers, performances, workshops, film screenings, and more in order to promote awareness of issues in Indian Country. The committee is composed of students, faculty and staff, all committed to increasing the Native American presence on campus, supporting Native American students and honoring our local tribal communities.
Native American Heritage Night at Petco Park
Each year, the San Diego Padres (Major League Baseball team) host a Native American Heritage Celebration during one of their games. Free, themed hats are given out to attendees. The ITRC organizes a group trip to the game where we provide tickets to students, staff, faculty, and community members. Often, the ITRC group travels together to the game and enjoys a meal prior to the start of the event. This event is a fun way to build community for incoming students and strengthen bonds between continuing students and community members.
Native American Welcome Dinner
The Native American Welcome Dinner typically takes place during the first or second week of Fall Quarter. Welcome Dinner is a chance for incoming and continuing students to start the year off right and connect with staff, faculty, and peers. A catered dinner is provided by the ITRC for all attendees.
Native American and Indigenous Graduates Honoring Ceremony
At the end of every academic year, the Intertribal Resource Center holds the annual Native American and Indigenous Graduation Ceremony, a pre-commencement event honoring UC San Diego students who have successfully earned their undergraduate or graduate/professional degrees. This celebration highlights their accomplishments while offering an opportunity to acknowledge those who played a vital role in their success. Emphasizing community, scholarship, and cultural heritage, the ceremony embraces Native American and Indigenous traditions and concludes with a blanketing ceremony.
Skoden Wellness Club
Skoden Wellness Club is a group dedicated to supporting students in setting and meeting their wellness goals. These wellness goals are not only related to physicality, but also mental and spiritual wellness. In the past, Skoden Wellness Club has met for yoga, light stretching, community discussions, and more. Led by a UCSD Native alumna, Skoden typically meets quarterly.
Talking Circles
The ITRC hosts quarterly talking circles for students, faculty, and staff at UCSD to foster collective care, process the challenges of our times, and celebrate perseverance. These circles are a space to center Indigenous wellness and wellbeing. We invite all members of our community to join us in healing and collective processing.
UCSD Annual Powwow
The UC San DIego Powwow continues to build upon the tradition of welcoming Native American people and experiences to campus in this community event.
