Growing up in Humboldt County, Martina Mapatis—who is Mojave, Hualapai, and Yavapai (tribes from the Southwest)—felt embraced by her local Native community, surrounded by members of the Yurok and Karuk peoples of Northern California. When the fifth year Cal student first set foot on the UC Berkeley campus, she was nervous to see if she would find a similar, welcoming community there.
The fears of this self-described introvert immediately vanished.
“The Native American Community Center became my home, and it is where I met most of my...
Da Nzho, greetings! My name is Poppy Gallegos-Zingarelli, and I am the Program Specialist for Native American Student Development and the Native Community Center here at the University of California, Berkeley. I was born and raised right across the Bay in San Francisco, traditionally known as Yelamu Territory to the Ramaytush Ohlone people. I am a descendant of the Jicarilla Apache and Taos Pueblo Tribes of Northern New Mexico. I am a Berkeley Alumna; I graduated in Spring 2024 with my B.A. in Native American Studies and a Minor in Education...
Established last year, the Center for Indigenous Law and Justice (CILJ) aims to advance tribal sovereignty, support Native nations, and expand awareness of how tribes engage with the law. Last week, it checked all of those boxes over two enlightening days that featured the Navajo Nation Supreme Court holding a case argument at UC Berkeley Law and CILJ’s inaugural Three Sovereigns, One Conversation roundtable with representatives from tribal, state, and federal governments discussing...
“Our long term goal is for every student, every faculty member, every professor — everybody that's engaged with the university — to have a common understanding about Ohlone people and our living identity,” said Vincent Medina, co-leader of the campus-wide ‘ottoy initiative.
Director of Thriving, Native American Thriving Initiatives (NATI)
Phenocia Bauerle (she/they) is the Director of Native American Student Development (NASD) and the Native Community Center (NCC). A member of the Apsáalooke (Crow) tribe, she is a sixth generation descendant of Sits in the Middle of the Land, and a fifth generation descendant of Mountain Chief (Piegan). She had the privilege of working with her grandfather on editing a collection of Crow stories, The Way of the Warrior: Stories of the Crow People (2002). She has had the good fortune of being part of a rich cultural heritage and strong family grounded in the belief systems and worldview of...
