For decades the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has been working as stewards to protect their ancestral heritage sites throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. What role has archeology and anthropology played in revealing the 10,000 year history of Santa Clara County and the people indigenous to it, the ancestors of the Muwekma Ohlone? Hear from Monica V. Arellano, Vice Chairwoman of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council and Most Likely Descendent Representative, and Alan Leventhal, Lecturer Emeritus of Anthropology at SJSU and Muwekma Tribal Archeologist, providing pre-contact and historical context on the history and heritage of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Scholarly collaborations with the faculty and students from the Department of Anthropology at San Jose State University (SJSU) will be presented by Roberto Gonzalez, Chair of the Department of Anthropology, and Jan English-Lueck, Professor of Anthropology, and their students, as they discuss meaningful relationships and how the practice of anthropology and archeology has contributed to the education of the general public by supporting the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in the development of the exhibition Reclamation.

Curious about how exhibitions come together? Wondering how multiple partners can come together to accomplish a common vision? Learn about the collaboration and partnership between NUMU staff, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council, San José State University anthropology professors and graduate students, and artists in telling the story of the Tribe’s history and heritage.

We invite you to join NUMU during the week of Indigenous People’s Day to learn more about the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council’s effort to regain federal recognition. Hear from Tribal Chairwoman Charlene Nijmeh, Tribal Vice Chairwoman Monica Arellano, and Tribal Ethnohistorian Alan Leventhal as they discuss the tribe’s history, the decades of “politics of erasure” that have led to the present situation, where the fight for the Tribe’s reaffirmation as a federally recognized Tribe stands today, and how you can support the Muwekma Ohlone in their efforts.

NUMU will be opening two new exhibitions, one on November 4th and the other on December 9th, highlighting the history, heritage, culture, and places of significance of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council.