Seven years ago, UC Riverside’s Native American community mourned the loss of several oak trees on campus. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, they gathered to celebrate those oaks as part of a new art display.

The oak tree art display, installed in July, was formally unveiled at the Student Success Center at a ceremony that included a blessing and performances from bird singers.

Wood from the oak trees, cut to make way for the new building, was saved and shipped to an artisan woodworking firm in Ohio to create the 20-foot-wide and 10-foot-long display and four benches. 

Native American Student Programs, or NASP, worked with campus leaders and groups to come up with the idea of honoring the trees with a map showcasing the region’s Indigenous history. The display also includes a TV monitor to display photos, videos, announcements, and stories about Native American events and figures.

“When we take something, we have to give back,” said Josh Gonzales, director of NASP at the ceremony. “That’s our way.”

Lina Tejeda, a student at the time and now a program coordinator with NASP, recalled how upset students protested by placing a white banner with red lettering on the fencing that went up around the project area in fall 2019. The banner stated: “You are on Native land.”

That statement is now part of the oak tree display.

Joaquin Torango, a former program coordinator with NASP who is now an adviser at Cal State Sacramento, said he felt pride seeing how students took that action, which happened while he was away on a work trip. He initiated meetings with campus leadership to explain their concerns, which led to the proposal to create a display from the oak trees.

“We talked about how do we make this better for those future generations that come through this college, for those future Native American students so they know what happened here, the legacy of the students that were here, and the history of those trees,” he said.

Brian Haynes, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, recalled those meetings with NASP students and leaders and thanked them personally for explaining the importance of the oak trees and their history.

“We needed to listen, and we did that,” he said, describing the display as a promise kept that will remind future generations of important history.

“It's both a work of art and a public act of remembrance,” Haynes said.