UCSD - University of California - San Diego

02/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/05/2026 09:10

The Power of Story

Published Date

February 05, 2026

Article Content

Indigenous stories, culture and knowledge provide history of the past, medicine for the present and lessons for the future. Paramount to honoring and understanding Indigenous messages is ensuring these narratives are uplifted and shared with the next generations. The 2026 Indigi-Con Creators Symposium will offer one such place.

During this year's Indigi-Con, authors, advocates, artists and creatives will gather to share stories and lived experience at Harrah's Resort Southern California on Feb. 7, through comics, sequential art, language and culture. Hosted by the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians in collaboration with the UC San Diego Indigenous Futures Institute and the Eyaay Ahuun Foundation, the event features workshops, panels, vendors and showcases local Native American artists through programming designed to support and inspire the next generations of storytellers.

The Indigenous Futures Institute

The Indigenous Futures Institute (IFI), established at UC San Diego in 2020 with support from the Social Science Research Council, is a community-based interdisciplinary project committed to uplifting Indigenous experience, cultural practice and stewardship by amplifying the work and voices of community knowledge-keepers. Led by Executive Director Chag Lowry, MEd, the institute is now housed within the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science.

"The country is currently facing an identity crisis, and one way to help connect each other and raise awareness of common cultural values is through the telling of stories," said Lowry, who is also a featured comic book creator at Indigi-Con. "Native people are the original storytellers of this country, crafting stories and caring for the land before the United States was created. This country's oldest stories of resilience, bravery and overcoming adversity are located within Indigenous communities."

Since its creation, the IFI has collaborated with Tribes, tribal health organizations and community partners at local, regional and state levels, and has partnered with members of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health to advance health research, strengthen cultural development and initiate community capacity-building projects that honor Indigenous knowledge and support long term well-being.

In the last few years, the IFI hosted and partnered on several events centered on uplifting Indigenous creators, poets, artists and photographers, while providing essential spaces for expression, connection and shared learning. IFI has partnered with the Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties organization, the Lumina Foundation and the California Wellness Foundation in support of these events.

"This country's oldest stories of resilience, bravery and overcoming adversity are located within Indigenous communities." Chag Lowry

Honoring the Past, Strengthening Community

Last year's first California Indigi-Con took place during San Diego Comic-Con week and, much like this year's event, included panels, featured artists and provided a platform to share in community.

From left, Chag Lowry, MEd, Katie Walkiewicz, PhD, professor, Johnny Bear Contreras, founder of the Eyaay Ahuun Foundation, and Pilialoha Estall, executive director of Eyaay Ahuun. Photo by Joel Ortiz.

"Last year's Indigi-Con was a fun and happy success, connecting Native people from the Karuk, Paiute, Kumeyaay, Yurok, Lipan Apache, Cherokee and Tongva cultures through their shared comic book experiences," said Lowry. "We achieved a big goal of connecting this region's original storytellers to one of the country's premiere comic book and pop culture events."

Members of Indigi-Con were presented with a certificate of recognition from the office of Assemblymember David Alvarez for their achievements in advancing Indigenous knowledge and art. Award recipients include: Johnny Bear Contreras, Chag Lowry, Roy Boney, Jackie Fawn, Weshoyot Alvitre, Xatimniim Drake and Ethan Benegas. Photo by Joel Ortiz.
Chamish Duro holding a symposium poster featuring her art at All Together Now. Photo by Chag Lowry.

In December 2025, the IFI hosted "All Together Now: California Native Women's Leadership."

This symposium, held on campus, strengthened cultural and professional networks among Native nations across California and featured panel members from the Kumeyaay Nation, who shared their work, personal perspectives and insights on how UC San Diego can be a meaningful partner to local Tribes and Native families.

The December event was facilitated by Alexis Munoa-Dyer, a local artist and speaker from Pechanga, and Priscilla Ortiz, a Kumeyaay language learner and advocate, provided an opening blessing. Cheryl A.M. Anderson, PhD, MPH, dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, joined the gathering to recognize 13-year-old artist Chamish Duro, who created the event's logo.

Artist Chamish Duro and Cheryl A.M. Anderson. Photo courtesy of Chag Lowry.

"The symposium allowed time for the group to get to know each other," said Lowry. "There are other community projects that I'm sure will occur based on the knowledge shared and the friendships forged at All Together Now."

Lowry also noted that there now exists a Native and Indigenous UC San Diego alumni council; Lowry is mentoring the three co-chairs of this council.

In summer 2024, the IFI sponsored an event highlighting contributors to Yaámay: An Anthology of Feminine Perspectives Across Indigenous California.

Yaámay contributors and symposium facilitators, Alexis Munoa-Dyer and Marlene Dusik.

The anthology was published by the Great Oak Press, owned by the Pechanga Tribe, and brings together Indigenous poetry, artwork and essays that reflect the experiences and voices of communities throughout Southern California.

The gathering celebrated the power of storytelling and creative expression to honor Indigenous perspectives and lived experiences in addition to featuring local artists, food and a crafting activity.

Continued Connection

Recently, the IFI received a $45,000 grant from the Prebys Foundation for continued programming. In addition to supporting both the Indigi-Con Creators Symposium and other Indigi-Con events, the grant will help contribute to a Native health, truth and healing gathering with local tribal health organizations later this year. The grant will also fund a range of 2026 programming to continue IFI's work of elevating Indigenous voices, creativity and community dialogue.

Planned initiatives include an on-campus gallery exhibition featuring a selection of photographs from "Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar's Photographs of Native California." This exhibit will highlight powerful images of California Native people from across the state, captured over a span of 30 years, offering a visual record of resilience, identity and lived experience.

Building on their previous work, the IFI plans to host a symposium convening leading California Native photographers and image-makers in summer of 2026 to engage in meaningful conversations about identity, representation and cultural responsibility in visual storytelling.

In fall 2026, the IFI will host a Native veteran symposium featuring a new theatrical production by local playwright Mabelle Reynoso. The production will center the stories of Kumeyaay, Mexican American, and other Native veterans, sharing experiences from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, honoring the many ways Indigenous service members have shaped history across generations.

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