Indigenous drumming, storytelling and art will be on full display at UC Merced during the inaugural Native Nights event.
The UC Merced Native and Indigenous Student Coalition (NISC) is hosting the cultural outreach event on Saturday, July 8, from 6-10 p.m. at the UC Merced Sentinel Rock Bowl, located next to the Sentinel Rock student housing.
Artist Chunya Johnson will lead the Indigenous drumming circle, while storyteller Maggie Steele will share meaningful tribal history through oral tradition. An artisanal fair will feature several vendors.
"There is a needed space in our Central Valley for Native and Indigenous people to come together and share our rich cultural traditions and history. UC Merced along with our Student Coalition can play a crucial part in offering this space," a joint statement from NISC read.
The event is free and open to the campus community and general public. Parking in the Bellevue Lot is also free. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Questions can be directed to NISC President Angela Roberts at aroberts26@ucmerced.edu or NISC Vice President Anaya Cambridge at acambridge@ucmerced.edu.
More information about NISC is available on the student club's Instagram account.
