Spotlight Sundays: Screening of The School: The Legacy of Hintil Ku’u Ca and Panel Talk with School Participants and Film Director

Spotlight Sundays: Screening of The School: The Legacy of Hintil Ku’u Ca and Panel Talk with School Participants and Film Director

Join us for the premiere of The School: The Legacy of Hintil Ku’u Ca, a powerful film created and directed by an all-Native team. This documentary traces the origins of Oakland’s first urban Native child development center, which began during the All-Tribes occupation of Alcatraz Island (1969-1971) and is still in operation today.

The afternoon will begin with a traditional drum and dance offering from J.J. Ahboah (Kiowa/Cheyenne) and Teresa Littlebird (Northern Cheyenne), followed by the film screening.

Afterward, a panel featuring those who attended, taught, and shaped The School—Linda Aranaydo (Muscogee Creek/Kialegee Tribal Town/Bear Clan & Filipina), Lisa McKay (Pomo/Wailaki/Wintun), Kevin Nez (Navajo), and language carrier for her Tribe, Deja Gould (Chochenyo/Confederated Villages of Lisjan)—will engage in a discussion about cultural reawakening and language preservation. The conversation will be moderated by the film’s director and Hintil Ku’u Ca student and teacher, Mike J. Marin (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo/Washoe).

This event is part of our exhibition programming for  Born of the Bear Dance: Dugan Aguilar’s Photographs of Native California—on view through Junio 2025. Don’t miss it!

Panelist and Performer Bios

Deja Gould (Chochenyo/Confederated Villages of Lisjan) was born and raised in her traditional territory in the East Bay, in the village of Huchiun. Deja is a core member of the administrative office team and a land team lead. Deja is the Chochenyo language carrier for her Tribe the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation, she enjoys bringing her children to the land to connect with soil and life around them, seed save and learn about traditional plant use.

Mike J. Marin (Navajo/Laguna Pueblo/Washoe) is an award-winning indie filmmaker who attended Hintil in the mid 1970’s and  returned back to Hintil as a teacher from 1998 – 2002. 

Kevin Nez (Navajo) has worked for Southwest Airlines for over 30 years and attended Hintil in the  mid 1970’s. 

Lisa McKay (Pomo/Wailaki/Wintun) currently works in health care for Alameda County and attended The School  (which became Hintil) when it was founded on Alcatraz Island during the occupation in  the early 1970’s. 

Linda Aranaydo (Muscogee Creek/Kialegee Tribal Town/Bear Clan/Hillubee Ceremonial Ground) was a teacher at Hintil in the 1970’s. Her brother Kanuto “Sonny” Aranaydo helped establish Hintil in East Bay when it moved from Alcatraz in the 1970s.

Teresa Littlebird (Northern Cheyenne) is an Oakland native and carries the Cheyenne name Vóemé’ėhné’e, meaning “First Appearing Woman.” She is a northern traditional dancer, wearing a hand-crafted buckskin dress adorned with beadwork in traditional Cheyenne colors and designs — all of which she designs and creates herself. Each summer she travels the powwow trail celebrating culture. Beyond her cultural work, Teresa serves her community as a special education paraprofessional in Oakland Unified School District and supports special needs children in their homes and communities.

Thomas Phillips (Kiowa/Muscogee Creek/Hualapai/Navajo), lives in California’s San Joaquin Central Valley and is a proud father of six. As a member of the Kiowa Gourd Clan and President of the Silver State Gourd Society, he is dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich culture of the southern plains. Alongside his work as an operations manager, Thomas teaches cultural classes, including powwow dance styles and protocols, to Native youth. He is honored to have served in many roles on the powwow trail—including head dancer, head singer, arena director, and head judge.

Accesibilidad

Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) se compromete a ofrecer programas accesibles, acogedores e inclusivos para nuestra comunidad. Las sillas de ruedas, los dispositivos de inclusión sensorial y los servicios adicionales están disponibles en el mostrador de venta de entradas por orden de llegada. Para solicitar otras adaptaciones, como intérprete de lengua de signos americana (ASL), cantonés, español u otro idioma, envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] al menos tres semanas antes del acto. Más información sobre nuestras opciones de accesibilidad.