THE RECORD
CULTURE KEEPER
Honoring and protecting the Indigenous history of La Jolla .
BY ERIKA JOHNSON ’ 11
UC San Diego was built on the unceded territory of the Kumeyaay Nation . Prior to Spanish colonization , Southern California and Northern Baja were home to the Kumeyaay people for over 10,000 years , and their contributions and culture continue to make an impact .
The university has had a complicated relationship with local tribes . However , a new chapter is beginning . UC San Diego alumna and Kumeyaay Native Eva Trujillo ’ 20 has become the university ’ s repatriation coordinator , the conservator of tribal resources found on campus . With a background in anthropology and a passion for protecting Indigenous history , Trujillo is guiding the campus in identifying and repatriating important Kumeyaay ancestral remains and cultural resources .
Can you tell us about yourself and your new role ? I am siny ‘ Iipay-Kumeyaay ( northern woman ). I grew up both on and off my reservation of Mesa Grande , and I continue to reside , work and thrive within my traditional ancestral territory . For over 20 years , I have worked for the UC San Diego Medical Center — first as a clinical care partner and , later , a hospital unit service coordinator . When I decided to act in the service of my ancestors , my career path shifted to repatriation efforts , and in July 2021 , I became UC San Diego ’ s first repatriation coordinator .
In this role , I ensure that our campus is compliant with the Native American Graves Repatriation Act ( NAGPRA ), which involves protecting human remains and cultural resources that are discovered at the university . If found , all human remains , funerary objects and items of cultural patrimony must be returned to the Indigenous community to which they belong .
As a Native person myself , I understand the Indigenous perspective . It truly goes against beliefs of many community members to unbury ancestors who have passed away . We respect them deeply and are concerned about what happens to them . My goal is to honor my ancestors and their belongings .
How did you first get involved in this field ? My drive to make a difference was spurred when I began attending Kumeyaay Cultural Repatriation Committee meetings . It was apparent to me that there was more work to be done in protecting tribal remains , and I wanted to play an active role . At the time , I learned about a cultural resources manager position at the San Diego Museum of Man , now the Museum of Us . I had been doing this work for some time with my local Indigenous community , and this was a way to gain experience facilitating NAGPRA at an institution . When
18 TRITON | WINTER 2022