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Local tribal leaders kicked off California Native American Day a little early this year with a Wiyot Brush Dance and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, celebrating the unveiling of a new cultural archive collection and display case at the Northern California Indian Development Council (NCIDC) office in Old Town Eureka. 

The wooden display cabinet, designed by local architect Kash Boodjeh, showcases handmade basketry, jewelry, ceremonial hats and regalia, quivers made of animal pelts, abalone shells and other cultural items from tribes across the North Coast.

NCIDC Chief Executive Officer Madison Flynn described the new exhibit as “a tribute to the strength and resilience of our communities,” as well as a “reminder that [Native] traditions, languages and stories will continue to thrive in the future.” However, she warned that “celebrating culture is not enough.”

“We are faced with a federal administration that, within the six months since the inauguration, has proposed unprecedented and devastating budget cuts,” Flynn said. “The President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2026 proposes nearly $1 billion in cuts to Indian Country, including more than $700 million in cuts to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and $239 million to tribal housing programs. … At a time when funding for native programs continues to be cut, it is more important than ever to showcase and preserve our traditions.”

She closed with a quote from Wilma Mankiller, a prominent Native activist and the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation: “The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.”

NCIDC Chair Trina Mathewson took a moment to honor the legacy of Terry Coltra, who helped shape the NCIDC and advocate for local tribal communities during his 30-plus years as executive director of the organization. 

“This cultural display case was one of his long-time goals,” Mathewson said. “This collection showcases the cultural and historical significance of native basketry and regalia from the North Coast region. It is a reminder of the strength, resilience and beauty of our local tribes. … We dedicate this display to the memory of Terry Coltra and to the leadership of Greg Gehr and Madison Flynn, whose efforts helped bring this vision to life.”

Lonyx Landry, an advisor and coordinator for the Indian Natural Resources, Science & Engineering Program (INRSEP) at Cal Poly Humboldt, added that many of the “living items” in the display case are still used in ceremonies.

“Just recently, we had some of our staff returning from world renewal ceremonies where some of the baskets that you will see got to go dance and live the life that they’re supposed to live,” Landry said. “Now, we have this wonderful home for those items to exist — not locked up in some dark closet for 100 years — and have the life that [they’re] supposed to have, and do the things it’s supposed to do, like dance and ceremony.”

Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel shared a few words as well, expressing her gratitude to the tribal community and underscoring the city’s commitment to “celebrating and honoring Native culture — past, present and future — through restoration of language and ceremony, reparations and through the land back movement.”

After the speakers, a group of Wiyot dancers in ceremonial regalia performed a Brush Dance on the sidewalk in front of the NCIDC. More pictures of Thursday’s ceremony can be found below.

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