Participate & Follow

Welcome to CIHC Outreach page for the California Indian Heritage Center (CIHC)’s hub for online engagement! We believe that all California Native Americans have a voice in the development of the CIHC. Whether it's innovative ideas, personal experiences, or constructive criticism - we invite you to join the conversation and help shape the future of the CIHC.

About the Community Outreach Initiative

The community outreach process is focused on reaching as many California tribes (recognized and unrecognized) and Native Americans as possible in the development of CIHC. Throughout the year, we'll share updates on this website. This site will also offer new ways to add feedback on specific topics. Sign-up to follow the project and stay in the loop, participate, and follow.

Participate to Win a CIHC Acorn Blanket!

By participating in Outreach Workshop Events, completing an online Survey, or entering the #MyCaliAcornArt Coloring Contest, you will be eligible to win a coveted one-of-a-kind CIHC Acorn Blanket.

1. Survey - open for online completion (click here).
2. #MyCaliAcornArt Coloring Contest - art pages from the "Acorn Coloring Artbook" are now available to download. Visit our #MyCaliAcornArt page to get involved.

Sample of some of the submitted colored art pages

Behind the Design of the Outreach Brand

The acorn is representative of California Native American cultural landscapes and symbolic of the commonalities and differences of Native American tribes and people. Where acorns grow, how they are picked, the vessels that carry them, and the techniques of processing them for food or adornment, are all part of the distinctive traditions and culture of California Native Americans. Acorns are a symbolic reminder of traditional values. As one of our artists shared, “Acorns are as unique as our traditions … and our traditions are as unique as our acorns,” — Meyo Marrufo. The design of the logo art is meant to represent Outreach throughout the state and its vast regions. The acorns and leaves represent the variety of species found across the state. Artist Eric Wilder’s purposeful design is described this way: “The outreach center starts at the inside circle and follows outward through each acorn, through each leaf and its veins. The inner triangles, or arrowhead points, face outward, representing outreach, while the inward-facing arrowheads represent input from the outreach. These inward and outward facing arrowheads that are common forms of our basketry, here represent collaboration and sharing.”