Project Impact, an initiative that works to increase the number of men of color in the teaching profession, recently held a two-day seminar for teaching credential students that focused on immersing them in the rich history and culture of Southern California’s Indigenous peoples.

The second day of the seminar, for which participants earned a certificate of completion, took place in the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education and featured traditional customs that included a welcome prayer, a smudging ceremony led by Robert Levi (Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians) and bird singing led by Mario Castellano from the Los Coyotes Band.

Participants also explored topics that included traditional ecology, environmental science and tribal creation stories, along with hands-on experience with basketry weaving and the sampling of traditional foods.

The entire seminar was aimed at helping future teachers apply their new-found cultural knowledge in K-12 classrooms.

Project Impact is housed in CSUSB’s Watson College of Education. Started by Chinaka DomNwachukwu, dean of the college, the teacher training program locates, recruits, trains, mentors and then deploys minority male teachers to classrooms throughout the inland California area and the state.

Tribal Elder Lorene Sisquoc demonstrated traditional basketry weaving during the event, where attendees had the opportunity to learn the art form and create their own woven baskets. 
Tribal Elder Lorene Sisquoc demonstrated traditional basketry weaving during the event, where attendees had the opportunity to learn the art form and create their own woven baskets.  
Led by Mario Castellano, bird singers from the Los Coyotes Band performed for attendees. 
Led by Mario Castellano, bird singers from the Los Coyotes Band performed for attendees. 
At the seminar, participants explored topics that included traditional ecology, environmental science and tribal creation stories.
At the seminar, participants explored topics that included traditional ecology, environmental science and tribal creation stories.
Tribal Elder Hannah Kivalahula-Uddin, assistant professor in the Watson College of Education, led a smudging ceremony at the event, which is performed to spiritually cleanse participants and the space, creating a sacred and respectful setting aligned with ancestral and land-based traditions.
Tribal Elder Hannah Kivalahula-Uddin, assistant professor in the Watson College of Education, led a smudging ceremony at the event, which is performed to spiritually cleanse participants and the space, creating a sacred and respectful setting aligned with ancestral and land-based traditions.