Episode 52: Water Sovereignty and Artistry
“I’ve always been struck that people don’t know the very intensive history of activism in Northwestern California. There have been Supreme Court cases that have decided major land issues. The Klamath River dam removal, when it happens, will be the largest dam removal in the United States if not the world.”
A conversation with Dr. Brittani Orona (San Diego State University) about visual sovereignty, Indigenous history, artistry, and advocacy on waters. Released May 12, 2023.
guests on the show
Brittani Orona
Dr. Brittani R. Orona is currently Assistant Professor of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University, and soon to be a UC President's Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Santa Cruz. Her research and teaching focus on California Indian history and human rights, Indigenous science and technology studies, environmental studies, public humanities, and visual sovereignty. She serves as the Board Secretary for Save California Salmon. Orona received her Ph.D. in Native American Studies with a Designated Emphasis in Human Rights from University of California, Davis, an M.A. in Native American Studies from UC Davis and an M.A. in Public History from Sacramento State University, and her B.A. in History from Cal Poly Humboldt. In addition to her academic work, Orona has worked for several federal, local, and state government agencies including: California State Parks, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Government Operations Agency, California State Indian Museum, the California State Office of Historic Preservation, California State Archives, National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC, and the Maidu Museum and Historic Site. Dr. Orona is Hupa and an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe in Northern California.