PROPOSAL NARRATIVE Grant Proposal
Tecate Community Museum-Kumiai Museum Phase 1
CAREM
March 20, 2009

1. PURPOSE OF GRANT

Brief Description of the Project

The creation of a museum, exhibits, and supporting programs that will serve the Kumiai, Tecate Baja California, and southern California communities through the development of a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Kumiai and their place in the history, culture, and identity of Baja California.

Description of the problem or the project

Tecate’s local Kumiai culture has been eclipsed by the overwhelming impact of non-indigenous cultures over the last two centuries. The local Kumiai peoples and communities are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their culture and language, especially when faced with a lack of information about the history and accomplishments of their indigenous culture. A few cultural authorities still maintain enormous knowledge about traditional culture which urgently needs to be passed on or documented, however the transmission of this knowledge has been interrupted as younger people move to the cities for work and school, and are no longer able to be immersed in their native culture . Ignorance and discrimination towards indigenous peoples on the part of the dominant culture often leads to an internalized perception that native culture is backward or undesirable; it is hoped that this project will assist the Kumiai to gain greater respect for their culture and increase support for their communities, while helping the public develop a greater appreciation for the region’s native heritage. Fortunately, there is growing interest on the part of teachers and students of the Tecate/Tijuana region to learn more about the local cultures and peoples (now a part of the public schools’ curriculum); the public in general is interested in knowing more about our unique local history and cultural identity of the region. This window of opportunity needs to be seized in order to educate future generations while creating new means of preserving and transmitting the original culture of our region.

One important challenge of the project is to ensure the sustainability of the museum and its programs by creating ongoing sources of income and support that will maintain the administrative structure and ongoing operations., We are confident that through the museum’s presence, exhibits, and programs, as well as our financial resources strategies outlined under “Sustainability,” that we will be able to establish ongoing sources of income to address this matter. We also consider that one of our challenges will be to ensure ongoing community involvement in the project through programs that engage and involve local communities: indigenous, local, and regional binational populations. Perhaps the greatest immediate challenge is that in a world-wide economic crisis, the acquisition of the funds necessary to establish the programs, build the museum, and create the administrative structure will not be easy, but in spite of these difficulties, we are confident that we will garner the support needed thanks to the attractiveness of the museum, exhibits and programs, the significance of the project in our binational region, and the collaborative team that includes organizations and individuals with proven track records and excellent contacts.

Who else in our specific area is directing attention to the problem? No one. Some Kumeyaay communities in the United States are addressing the issue for the Kumeyaay communities north of the U.S./Mexican border, however the Kumiai communities south of the border, and in particular those in the Tecate region, have received little or no attention. The Centro Cultural de Tijuana (CECUT) is the closest major museum and includes a general exhibit on the many cultures of the whole Baja California peninsula, but it provides very little information specifically on the Kumiai.

The cross-border collaboration that has been created between CAREM, the Kumiai communities, SDSU, Fundación La Puerta, and Rancho La Puerta represents a unique opportunity to develop a lasting, binational project that will benefit our entire region. It will strengthen CAREM’s standing as an effective community-based organization that has already produced significant results (e.g. the Cuchuma Library and the Multi-Media auditorium) and allow it to pursue its long-term goal of establishing a Tecate Community Museum. Helping to fund phase one of the museum project (the Kumiai Museum, gift store/administrative office, and related programs), will bring attention to the work of CAREM and collaborators, and facilitate the leveraging of further resources for Phase Two (Historic and Modern Period wings of the museum).

Description of the solution and activities

In order to meet the need, we will construct the Kumiai Museum (see below) and operate the following programs:

1. Education program to provide teaching resources and learning experiences about the Kumiai culture for the Kumiai community, the Tecate/Tijuana community (in particular students and teachers), and the public.

1. General outreach to the community and general public by:
   - events and workshops involving the Kumiai people
   - field trips to the Kumiai land led by Kumiai guides
   - lectures by specialists from Mexico and the U.S. on the topics related to the anthropology and history of the region
   - traditional music and Kumiai language programs
   - ethnobotanical plant education
2. Schools - students and teachers
   - training programs on the culture for teachers
   - workshops and seminars for students K-12
   - the development of materials, including interactive kits and books
   - guided tours of the museum exhibits

2. Kumiai Language Program

1. Revitalization of the language by teaching it to the Kumiai children
2. Documentation of the Kumiai language for:
   - the Kumiai
   - linguistic research

3. Oral history program

1. Develop an archive system/storage
2. Purchase the equipment necessary for the interviews
3. Train Kumiai to interview and curate materials
4. Develop materials through videos, books, exhibits, etc.

4. Native Artisan cooperative

1. Museum store-display and sale of the Kumiai art
2. Training of Kumiai to manage programs
3. Workshops and demonstrations in traditional arts
4. Linkage with other programs, indigenous communities, activities, and organizations
5. Development of art field trip programs

To support the programs and house the permanent exhibits, we will construct the necessary infrastructure. The Kumiai Museum building, an architecturally innovative space especially designed for exhibits depicting traditional Kumiai life, from ancient times to European contact. (Exhibits related to the Kumiai during the historic and contemporary periods will be incorporated into the later wings to be built as part of Phase Two of the Tecate Community Museum.) The exhibits will include life-size depictions of Kumiai in the different environments where they hunted, gathered and fished as they moved from coasts to mountains on their seasonal round. Social, symbolic and ceremonial life as part of these Kumiai cultural landscapes will include storytelling, basketweaving, rock art, children’s activities and traditional games. The thousands of years of indigenous habitation in the region will be presented through both native oral tradition and archaeological descriptions of chronology. Artifacts, including archaeological and ethnographic items, descriptive signage and labels, photographs, murals, drawings, dioramas, interactive elements and sound recordings of Kumiai language will be integrated into the exhibit. All texts will be bilingual (Spanish and English) and where possible will include Kumiai language. The exhibit extends out into the gardens and patios of the museum, where an ethnobotanical garden will highlight native plants and their uses for food, medicine and tools. Spaces will be created where indigenous artists can demonstrate the making of basketry, pottery, foods and other items.

The Tecate Community Museum Giftstore and administrative office will include areas for the exhibit and sale of traditional arts of the region, books and other items. This will provide an outlet for the Native Artists Cooperative as well as the Tecate Community Museum’s books, recordings, videos, and ticket sales. Income generated will cover part of the ongoing expenses of the museum project. Administrative offices will provide spaces for the Museum Director, the Indigenous Interpretive Specialist, and the Program Coordinator.

The actions and methods that we plan to use to accomplish our goals are:

Community Contribution

The working partners/team for this project are:

1. San Diego State University
2. Fundacion La Puerta
3. Rancho La Puerta
4. Corredor Historico CAREM, A.C. (CAREM)

Interested community partners in addition to working partners listed above

1. Department of Tourism for the State of Baja California
2. City of Tecate, Baja California, Mexico
3. Various Organizations of Businessmen in Tecate B. C.
4. Barona Casino in Alta California, U.S.A.
5. Department of Tourism of Tecate B. C. - Fideicomiso
6. Chamber of Commerce of Tecate B. C.

The target population/geographic community served will be primarily the State of Baja California, in particular the northern area, southern California, U.S.A., as well as national and international visitors to our region, many of whom have shown interest in the historical preservation and presentation projects of CAREM. We hope that the museum will also be of interest to Kumeyaay and other indigenous people from north of the border, and that the programs will help strengthen the bonds between the U.S. and Mexican Kumeyaay/Kumiai. We will reach this audience with our promotional programs, through our website, and the news media.

The project will benefit and impact the community by

1. Enhancing understanding of, and respect for, the Kumiai people of Baja California, their culture, and their history.
2. Responding to the need for teaching resources and learning experiencing related to the unique culture of the Kumiai people
3. Strengthening the bonds between the U.S. and Mexican Kumeyaay/Kumiai
4. Putting Tecate on the map as a destination for culture, art, and architecture.
5. Providing jobs and commerce for the community through tourism and sales of traditional arts.

Key Staff

The project is currently run with volunteers, although we hope to raise funds to hire staff to develop the programs and manage the museum. The volunteers currently working on the project include:

Michael Wilken, project coordinator for SDSU –Wilken has worked with Baja California’s indigenous groups for thirty years as an applied anthropologist and co-founder of a Mexican civil association. Wilken is currently a graduate student in anthropology, lecturer in American Indian Studies and research assistant on an NSF-NEH “Documenting Endangered Languages” project on Kumiai Language as spoken in Baja California.

Lynn H. Gamble, Ph.D. is Professor of Anthropology at SDSU, Director of Collections Management Program, and Editor of the Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology. Dr Gamble, as a specialist in southern California anthropology and archaeology, has written numerous articles on the region and recently published a book on the Chumash Indians of southern California.. She has over 30 years of experience working with indigenous groups of the Californias.
Laura Silvan, Director of Fundacion La Puerta - Many years of experience with non-profit foundations and fundraising.
Rancho La Puerta - Experience with building beautiful buildings and gardens in the Tecate B. C. Area in particular their architect Ruben Leon.

Corredor Historico CAREM, A. C.: Volunteers in the community of Tecate for 12 years with a nice list of accomplishments during that time, including: the creation of the specialized library in Tecate (specializing in books and information on Baja California); assisting in the renovation of Campo Alaska in the Rumorosa including the museum in the building; assisting in the development of the interpretation center at the Guadalupe Mission site, educational programs, tours, etc. Officers and a partial list of volunteers includes:

• Hernán Ibáñez Bracamontes -an organizer and President of CAREM - lifetime Tecate Resident and long time businessman
• Zella R. De Ibáñez-long time member of CAREM and volunteer executive director, retired business executive and past president of the Ventura County Museum, Ventura, CA.
• Gabriela Schneiter-4 year member of CAREM and retired business consultant
• Professor Guadalupe Alvarez - longtime member of CAREM and retired teacher - volunteer library chair and director of CAREM education program
• Lily Kellenberger -an organizer of CAREM, Board Secretary, Chair of annual Concert fundraiser
• Too many other volunteers to list

Sustainability

The long-term funding resources for the operation and maintenance of the museum will be obtained through several sources. Funds generated through the museum programs (workshops, etc.), sales through the gift store, entrance fees, and special events will cover part of the cost. Through our initial fundraising efforts, we will seek funds for the Museum director, whose priority will be to raise additional funds through Mexican governmental agencies such as CONACULTA, the Secretary of Tourism, Comisión para el Desarrollo de los Pueblos Indigenas, international foundations, U.S. American Indian communities, local and regional businesses, and individuals. The Director will work closely with the museum’s Binational Advisory Council to establish an endowment fund, which will provide long term financial stability to the project.

2. BUDGET

Please contact Amy Carstensen amyc@icfdn.org at the International Community Foundation for a copy of the budget.