• Overlooking Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at sunset. Blooming yellow brittlebrush, ocotillo, and agave in foreground on the hillside. Mountain range in the distance.

    Colorado Desert District Tribal Affairs 101 Training: Developing and Improving Relationships with Local Tribes and Tribal Members

    Overlooking Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at sunset. Blooming yellow brittlebrush, ocotillo, and agave. Author: Jaime Purinton, Anza-Borrego Foundation Communications Manager California State Parks, Cultural Resources Division presented Tribal Affairs 101 virtually for both Colorado Desert District staff and Anza-Borrego Foundation representatives. Through the Tribal Affairs Program, the training was led by Sabine Talaugon, Tribal Affairs […]

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  • Street sign pointing the way to Black Miners Bar Park Access. Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.

    More About Healing Than Holidays and Heroes

    Black Miners Bar, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area More About Healing Than Holidays and Heroes by Thomas Stratton, CALPA Board Member A follow up to our successful Juneteenth U.S.A. 2022 event leaves me with the idea of where to take the momentum of our accomplishment. First, this accomplishment is a peaceful celebration of freedom dedicated […]

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  • Black Miners Bar at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area

    Juneteenth U.S.A. 2022 at Black Miners Bar

    Entry sign at Black Miners Bar Folsom Lake State Recreation Area — Juneteenth U.S.A. 2022 at Black Miners Bar by Thomas Stratton, CALPA Board Member Our Juneteenth National Independence Day began at Negro Bar Folsom Lake State Recreation Area the morning of June 18. For Juneteenth U.S.A., this brought a year’s planning to fruition. Upon […]

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  • People march through San Francisco's Financial District during a climate protest on September 20, 2020. Eric Risberg, AP.

    Tending the Garden: Social Justice as Environmental Justice

    photo credit: People march through San Francisco’s Financial District during a climate protest, September 20, 2020, Eric Risberg/AP https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/03/im-black-climate-scientist-racism-derails-our-efforts-save-planet/” — Tending the Garden: Social Justice as Environmental Justice Elizabeth Cameron, MendoParks Executive Director and CALPA Board Member February 15, 2022 Recommended listening for this blog post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUkgfSCjfN0 Supaman: “Let Em Go.” Supaman (Apsaalooke Nation) is […]

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  • Robins sculpted by Yon Chambers

    Rebuilding the “Three Senses Trail” at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

    Rebuilding the “Three Senses Trail” at Calaveras Big Trees State Park By Rod Smith The last five and a half years has been a learning experience for me that I would like to share with others. With the help of dedicated park staff, and the broader community we have rebuilt the Three Senses Trail at […]

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  • First Proceeding of the First State Convention of the Colored Citizens of the State of California. Credit California State Library Foundation, Number 126, 2020.

    Understanding Race as a Myth

    First Proceeding of the First State Convention of the Colored Citizens of the State of California. Credit California State Library Foundation, Bulletin Number 126, 2020. Understanding Race as a Myth By Thomas Stratton As a board, we have engaged consciously with justice related issues as George Floyd’s murder provided a catalyst. This conversation started years […]

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  • Site visit with representatives from local tribes to create 4 new interpretive panels at MacKerricher State Park featuring stories from local tribes. MacKerricher currently has no educational materials or acknowledgement of local tribes in spite of the fact that the park is the site of the former Mendocino Indian Reservation. Pictured: Michelle Levesque, Elizabeth Cameron, Tina Sutherland, Eddie Knight, Erica Fielder, Katherine Gabrielson, CSP Interpreter.

    Relationships, Reciprocity, and Repatriations: A conversation on how Park-Partners Can Support California Natives

    Site visit at MacKerricher State Park in March 2020 with Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Tina Sutherland (Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians) and Eddie Knight (Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians) for MendoParks’ commission of 4 new interpretive panels along the Haul Road trail featuring First Nations stories and information. Also pictured: Michelle Levesque, CSP […]

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  • Vintage nautical compass. Old world map on vector paper texture with grunge border frame. Wind rose. With CALPA logo.

    Launching a Blog on Social Change from CALPA

    By George Loyer, President, CALPA I’m pleased to write the first in a series of blogs for CALPA and its newly formed Social Change Committee. This blog aims to bring more light to the discussion of how parks and park partners need to improve access – in the broadest sense – to its parks: to […]

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