Crossing cultural bridges

The “Crossing Borders, Building Bridges” cultural workshop series continued on March 26 under the theme, “Ishi Rediscovered.” Presented by Richard Burrill, a professor of anthropology and an adjunct instructor for the National University in Sacramento, the hour-long session at Yuba’s Marysville campus followed a recent California House of Representatives decision mandating the inclusion of Native American history in public school curriculum. Burrill discussed the plight of Ishi, a “Neolithic, horticulturist” medicine man who first appeared outside of Oroville in 1911, and remains the only Yahi tribesman to ever have been formally studied. Burrill, whose books include “The Human Almanac: People Throughout Time” (1983) and “Ishi: America’s Last Stone Age Indian” (1999), also performed a Native American chant for the audience’s appreciation.Reminding listeners that “Indians have at least 10,000 years of living experience here,” Burrill affirmed the relevance of Native American history. “The U.S. is getting more sloppy. We must learn about the old ways and put them back in school,” said Burrill. The workshop was the latest of seventeen held at Yuba College since the “Crossing Borders, Building Bridges” program was initiated in 1999. Supported by a $4,700 grant from The Yuba College Foundation, the program is directed by a team of college staff and faculty including Neelam Canto-Lugo, Bidya Pradhan, Tony Jow, Nina Gill and Annabell Toche. According to Canto-Lugo, attendance at all sessions has ranged from 80 to 150, making it one of the most largely attended speaker programs at Yuba College during recent history. However, Yuba’s recent fiscal problems have jeopardized the program’s continuation. “We had hoped upon completion of the grant that the college would make this program an institutional commitment,” said Canto-Lugo. “We received a letter from Dr. Epler stating that, due to the budget crises, the college couldn’t support the program.”Canto-Lugo feels Epler’s decision conflicts with a College Vision Statement claiming, as read in Yuba’s General Catalogue, “The College values intellectual and cultural diversity,” and is “a steward to the community’s educational and cultural well-being.” “This is the only on-going diversity effort this college is making,” said Canto-Lugo. “If the college is committed to student growth, it must support something like this.”The program will proceed through the end of the 2001 spring semester, with the upcoming session, titled “Music as Culture,” to be held on 10 April. A week-long “Festival of Colors” reflecting different cultures is planned for May.