AICD Indigenize Project

The citywide Indigenize Project is a placemaking and placekeeping initiative that focuses on honoring and celebrating American Indian culture, history, people, and contributions through art, pole banners, street signs, a mapping genocide project, and QR digital walking tours. This ongoing project is intended to create an interactive experience that will confront systematic erasure and expand the rich cultural heritage of San Francisco by increasing public awareness and elevating the visibility of local Native American culture and history through an Indigenous lens.

Branching out from our home base in the American Indian Cultural District, the Indigenize Project maps out works of art and educational destinations throughout the City creating a cultural trail for residents and visitors to learn and experience American Indian culture and history through the voice of the people. The Ramaytush Ohlone of the Bay Area, and greater intertribal American Indian population are not a people of the past, but an integral and active community in San Francisco.

Murals & Artworks

We are working with local Indigenous artists to develop a multi part art activation project in the Cultural District and throughout San Francisco focused on honoring California Indians and the diverse American Indian and Indigenous communities of the SF Bay Area.

Highlights:

• On October 10th, 2022 AICD partnered with Paint The Void and Rachel Znerold to commission a community mural with over 200 participants and volunteer painters. Located in Golden Gate Park on John F Kennedy Drive the mural is called “We Are on Native Land: Honoring the Original Stewards.” The intention of the 90ft mural is to foster a collective understanding of being on and connected to the land honoring Indigenous animals, plants, and people as the first stewards of Golden Gate Park in Yelamu. The “we” reminds us that we are never alone in the park and to honor our unique and shared relationships, responsibility, and connection to the plants and animals in GGP.

• On May 7th, 2022 during the AICD Clean Streets Happy Hearts event AICD commissioned our first mural in the Cultural District on 16th & Mission Street near the Bart Station. The mural features the AICD logo, and honors diversity and legacy of the intertribal American Indian community in San Francisco.

• On September 25th, 2021 during our One Year Anniversary and Cultural Hub Grand Opening Celebration we created three murals outlining solidarity, Native youth artwork, and the community’s vision for the future.

• We partner with Golden Gate National Park Conservancy on an American Indian Coastal Stories Project at Black Point Historic Gardens . This project uses oral stories and cultural artworks focused on traditional Native medicines, the history of the land and water, and the occupation of Alcatraz.

Street Signs & Pole Banners

To increase awareness of AICD we have partnered with SFMTA to post Cultural District Street Signs in major intersections throughout the Cultural District. We have also partnered with American Indian artists to develop street pole banners that elevate Native art and cultures.

 Highlights:

• In addition to our Cultural District Logo, created by Jackie Fawn (Washoe, Yurok), we will be using art by Lyn Risling (Karuk, Yurok, Hupa) called Ifheektavaan (Truth Bearer) for our flagpole banners.

• We partnered with SFMTA and the Mayor’s Office to place American Indian Cultural District Street Signs throughout the Cultural District along the main street corridors.

Mapping Genocide Project

We are researching placenames in the City starting with streets, monuments, and parks that honor those who have contributed to the genocide of American Indians. We hope to bring truth to the history of City’s practices of honoring those who have contributed to genocide and bring healing through a community-based process to bring in culturally relevant works of art and placenames.

 Highlights:

• We identified 35 streets in the City that are named after individuals who have contributed to the genocide of American Indians.

• We identified at least 11 statues, monuments, or memorials on the SFAC civic art collection list that honor individuals who have contributed to the genocide of American Indians.

• We have a partnership with SFMoMa and Native artist Eric Wilder to kick off the Mapping Genocide Project in summer of 2024. This will gather community feedback on how to reimagine statues, monuments and memorials that honor genocide.

Digital Stories Walking Tour

In partnership with SF Heritage and our sister organizations we will be documenting sites of cultural and historical significance to the American Indian community and using oral storytelling, dance, arts, and literature to tell the story of these sites. These documentation will then be transformed into a virtual platform accessed via a QR scan code and on Google Maps so visitors can easily navigate to these sites to learn more about our culture and history through an Indigenous lens.

Highlights:

• The QR Scan Code project will allow visitors to use their phone to learn more about significant cultural sites in the District and throughout the City. The goal is to increase public knowledge and tourism in the Cultural District.

• AICD is partnering with the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone and local community members to build out the Indigenize Project through a Waterfront Trail. The Trail spans from the Exploratorium to Crissy Field and will share the history of the Ramaytush Ohlone as well as elevate the history and movements of the local urban American Indian community.

Do you have any information about local American Indian sites, businesses, organizations, or more? Take the AICD SF Indigenous History Survey here.

To fiscally sponsor, participate, or get more info on the Indigenize project contact: general@americanindianculturaldistrict.org