Alameda Native History Project

Year: 2025

Alameda Native History Project’s Position on Partnerships and Collaborations
Official Statement
Alameda Native History Project’s Position on Partnerships and Collaborations
14 April, 2025
Alameda, California
We’ve received several questions about a potential partnership between the Alameda Native History Project and REAP Climate Center. We want to take a moment to share our position with transparency and clarity.
First, we want to uplift two local organizations you may not have heard of—Bay Area MakerFarm and APC Farm2Market. These grassroots groups have been doing incredible, community-rooted work that often flies under the radar. Why? Because REAP Climate Center has taken up a disproportionate amount of space in Alameda’s environmental scene, garnering a significant share of attention and funding. Meanwhile, the people actually doing the hands-on work—cultivating relationships, restoring land, feeding families—are often overlooked. That needs to change.
Last year, we reached out to REAP to explore collaboration around shared environmental and cultural goals. Instead of engaging meaningfully, we were redirected to another Native organization—implying that our initiative required external validation. Additionally, REAP emphasized financial self-sustainability over environmental stewardship and community benefit—an approach that does not reflect our values or how we define meaningful collaboration.
In contrast, we are deeply proud to highlight our growing partnerships with two organizations whose work and values are aligned with ours—and who have helped us make history.
Bay Area MakerFarm
A vibrant community hub providing:
- Archery lessons for children
- Free bicycle repair services
- A working animal project with pigs, goats, chickens, and ducks
- Monthly potluck gatherings
- A community compost hub
- A partnership with 100K Trees for Humanity to reforest Alameda and surrounding areas
- Regular outdoor education programs offering hands-on learning experiences
Bay Area MakerFarm has generously supported our Acorn Flour Production initiative, offering space for our Acorn Leaching Machine and helping us bring acorn processing back to the community for the first time in over 300 years.
By doing so, they are helping to reopen Indigenous foodways—providing a real, tangible pathway to harvest, store, and process acorns into nutritious, culturally-relevant food. This is history in the making, and Bay Area MakerFarm is a huge part of it.
APC Farm2Market
A thriving Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that:
- Provides fresh, locally grown food to over 200 families on Alameda Point
- Hosts educational programming and youth activities
- Organizes regular volunteer days to foster community participation
- Builds relationships through shared service and food sovereignty
- Ensures access to fresh food for local residents
APC Farm2Market was the very first organization to offer us a platform—and we would not be where we are today without them. Their early support gave us space to grow, literally and figuratively, and helped turn our vision into reality. We owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.
They played a key role in supporting our Acorn Granary Challenge—a hands-on, community-powered project where people of all ages came together to build a traditional Native American food storage structure. That installation still stands on site today, symbolizing both Indigenous resilience and community spirit.
Just like Bay Area MakerFarm, APC Farm2Market is helping to reopen and reawaken Indigenous foodways—after centuries of interruption. Their belief in our work from the very beginning continues to nourish our mission and inspire everything we do.
Staying Rooted, Remaining Open
We want to be clear: our decision not to partner with REAP Climate Center is based on our specific values and goals. We recognize that other groups have found meaningful ways to collaborate with REAP, and we respect those choices. Our intention is not to discourage others from pursuing partnerships that work for them.
That said, we remain open to exploring collaboration with any organization that shares a sincere interest in supporting Indigenous communities, respecting tribal sovereignty, and uplifting Native-led initiatives.
Our work is grounded in our mission to:
Honor the ancestral legacy of the First Alamedans—the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.
We advocate for tribal restoration, Native American representation in local governance, institutional accountability, cultural education, and environmental stewardship.
Through creative tools, immersive experiences, advocacy, and community-led initiatives, we envision a future where Indigenous heritage informs and enriches our shared community.
We understand that not every partnership will be the right fit—and that’s okay. We believe in pluralism, and in collaboration without compromise. We approach every opportunity with open minds and grounded hearts, always striving to be fair, while staying true to our community, our ancestors, and our vision for the future.
With gratitude,
The Alameda Native History Project
Want to get involved? Join Us or Donate Today
April 14, 2025
ACORNS! Culinary Series Starts This Sunday

We are so excited to announce the first session in our ACORNS! Culinary Series, happening this Sunday, April 6!
The ACORNS! Culinary Series will feature Acorn Flour produced from the Acorns we harvested during the First Annual Acorn Harvest, in Alameda, and donated by our friends in San Ramon, and collected by our Alameda neighbor, Jerry!
It has been a long journey from the harvest to the plate, and we are so grateful that you’ve followed us throughout our journey to collectively reopen Indigenous foodways, by producing (at scale) Acorn Flour for the first time in over 300 years!
Much of our techniques for harvesting, processing, and leaching acorns had to be created from scratch. Including our iconic Acorn Leaching Machine–which was responsible for leaching all of the acorn flour we’re using for the ACORNS! Culinary Series, and to offer to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area!
In the ACORNS! Culinary Series, we will show you several different ways to incorporate acorns into dishes that highlight traditional and contemporary Native American Cuisine.
We will offer tastings, and recipes; and foster the discovery and discussion of what Indigenous foodways are, and how producing natural, nutritional, and culturally-relevant encourages health, and healing…
And inspire participants to imagine the benefits of Decolonizing Our Stomachs.
The ACORNS! Culinary Series is happening every Sunday in April.
You can sign up at:
https://events.humanitix.com/acorns
Register Now!
April 4, 2025
Acorn Flour Production Days March 29 & 30
Join us in reopening Indigenous foodways by creating Acorn Flour for the first time in Alameda in over 300 years!
The nutritious, culturally-relevant food we produce–Acorn Flour—will be shared with local tribes and indigenous communities; as well as used for our upcoming ACORNS! Culinary Series.
Our upcoming Acorn Flour Production events run all day.
- Saturday, March 29
- Sunday, March 30 [weather depending]
What we’re doing:
- Washing
- Sorting
- Cracking Acorns
- Inspecting inside
- Peeling
- Grinding
- Packing leaching machine
- Drying Acorn Meal
What to bring?
- Water
- Gloves
- Hammer
Join us to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime experience!
2025 Acorn Flour Production Signup Form:
https://forms.gle/pA3AW6JKDecbfyPp6
Acorn Flour Production Signup
March 26, 2025
Decolonize This Place! : Support the Indigenous Land Lab
For centuries, Native American communities have faced brutal suppression of our cultural heritage and spiritual practices. Our ancestors’ lands were stolen, our traditions criminalized, and our people forcibly relocated to urban areas.
Today, 87% of Native Americans live in cities, disconnected from our ancestral territories and the natural resources essential for our cultural survival.
Over 18,000 Native and Indigenous People reside In the San Francisco Bay Area – the majority of whom are from tribes in other areas; many of whom are the descendants of families relocated by the Indian Relocation Act of 1956.
The historical traumas persist as the ongoing persecution of “Indianness”:
- Urban displacement separates us from nature, making it hard to maintain cultural heritage and traditional practices rooted in the land.
- Privatization of land forces us to trespass or face fines for practicing our cultural ceremonies. (Even on Tribal Land, we are still harassed.)
- Our cultural practices don’t end at reservation borders – we still need sage, berries, acorns, pine nuts, and traditional foods & materials for ceremonies, healing, and cultural survival.
- Native American People are still criminalized for gathering the materials we need to practice our cultural and religious traditions.
But there is hope.
We have been blessed with an opportunity to reclaim our cultural heritage and decolonize a sacred space in the Bay Area.
The Indigenous Land Lab will be a thriving hub for:
- Traditional medicine and herb garden
- Restoration nursery for environmental healing
- Safe sanctuary for Indigenous people and allies to decompress, honor the earth, and collaborate in decolonization efforts
We need your support to make this vision a reality.
Our immediate goals require funding for:
1. Seeds for our traditional medicine and herb garden
2. Fencing to secure our land, and protect this sacred space from damage by invasive wild boars
3. Greenhouse construction for year-round growth and education
4. Decolonization efforts to reclaim our cultural heritage and restore balance to the land
Every donation brings us closer to decolonizing our homeland and revitalizing our cultural practices.
Your contribution helps cultivate reciprocity – a mutual exchange of respect, resources, and restoration.
Donation levels:
1. Seed Starter ($25)
2. Land Defender ($50)
3. Greenhouse Guardian ($100)
4. Land Lab Hero ($250)
5. Community Champion ($500)
6. Healing Founder ($1000)
Reclaiming cultural heritage and sacred spaces is crucial for our survival. Collaborating to restore this land and realize our connection to it is how we move forward.
Decolonization starts with a single step – yours.
Donate today to support the Indigenous Land Lab and join a movement reclaiming heritage, land, and justice.
Donate Now!
Be our Top Fundraiser and Win a Free *Premium* Indigenous Bay Hoodie!
Join our fundraising team and get rewarded for your hard work!
The top fundraiser will receive a Premium Indigenous Bay Hoodie as a thank you gift for helping us reach our fundraising goals through peer-to-peer fundraising!
Wear your land acknowledgment with pride knowing you’ve personally contributed to the decolonization of Indigenous Land.
Find out more by signing up using the “Fundraise” button on our Decolonize This Place! campaign page:
https://givebutter.com/landlab
You can also reach out to us directly with any questions using collab@nativehistoryproject.org
We can also add you to the team directly, upon request.
Now, let’s Decolonize This Place, together!
February 6, 2025
Remarks at the Alameda Display of Unity Rally Lead to City of Alameda Reaffirming its Sanctuary City Status

Shalom Bruhn opening remarks at the rally, on a cold windy, Monday afternoon in Alameda.
People gathered outside of Alameda City Hall on Monday, February 3, 2025, to show their unified resolve for Alameda’s Sanctuary City status.

I was honored to be among such speakers as Shalom Bruhn, Amos White, Rev. Michael Yoshi, Dr. Cindy Ackert, Kimi Sugioka, Rev. Vathanak Heang, Hiro Guida, and more people spoke during the open mic session.

Kimi Sugioka (left) holds a sign reading “Alameda Stands United Against Hate”; Amos White (right) speaking at the rally.
These are the remarks I delivered.

Remarks at the Alameda Display of Unity Rally
On February 3, 2025,
in Alameda, California
“Hello, my name is Gabriel Duncan. I’m the founder of the Alameda Native History Project. I’m a mix of Paiute, and Mexican (Chichimeca). I’m Gay, Two-Spirit, and Queer. I’m also disabled; I have AIDS. I’m a mix of many things that are being targeted for deportation, defunding, and disenfranchisement.
“That’s why I want to talk about the fear of belonging to a group of people being targeted. Of the fear I felt when I first came out (just like now.) And how I did it, even though I was afraid.
“I came out not just for myself. But for my LGBTQ and Two-Spirit cousins who could not do it themselves–to stand up and advocate for the other members of my community who were isolated, targeted, and attacked because of who they are–to defend our humanity, and demand to be treated with dignity and respect. I stand up because my conviction and belief in justice and equality give me strength.
“Even now, even though I am afraid, I cannot let people I called my friends, my neighbors, even my family–I cannot let them go on terrorizing the innocent people who came here to escape violence and persecution, who came here looking for a better life, for a brighter future. We cannot allow them to continue demonizing our differences, chasing down our most vulnerable, and subjecting them to more violence, and more persecution.
“Because, the reality is, our diversity gives us strength.
“This is why sanctuaries exist. Sanctuaries exist to give refuge, to provide safety. To allow people to live, and thrive with liberty, justice and dignity. The pursuit of happiness, living in freedom. This is the promise of the American Dream. America is supposed to be a sanctuary.
“As we stand here today, to let out our cry for dignity, inclusivity, and respect, we do this as a diverse community of people who still believe that the American Dream is just as much ours as everyone else’s.
“I stand before you here to re-affirm my commitment to support, advocate, and fight for the inclusion of the people who built this city, this state, and this nation–and who this place was built upon!
“People who provide us with the food we eat, the care for our children, for our sick, and elderly, who do the jobs no one else will do–I will advocate for them because they belong here more than many of us.
“If you believe in liberty, equality, and justice; then it is your duty, too. It is your duty to create and protect a sanctuary as a group, as a collective, that we can share with our friends and neighbors–and even strangers–when they need it most.
“Let us make sure that Alameda is a Sanctuary City – NOW AND FOREVER!”
Special thanks to EB-FLOW (East Bay Fierce Loving Organized Women) for organizing this rally.
Super special thanks to Lis Cox for her awesome cinematography.
This is EB-FLOW organizer Shalom Bruhn reading her poem at the rally.

Update: After receiving the signed petition from Monday’s rally, during the Alameda City Council Meeting on Tuesday, the City of Alameda released the following statement on Wednesday.
“The City remains committed to the values of dignity, inclusivity, and respect for all individuals, regardless of ethnic or national origin, gender, race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or immigration status. We are committed to upholding the Constitution and ensuring a safe community for everyone, consistent with the City’s Sanctuary City policy.”
February 5, 2025 “Statement from the City of Alameda”
Read the entire statement on the City’s website.
Thank you to everyone who came out and signed the petition, and supported this crucial effort!!
February 6, 2025
Native History Project Condemns White Supremacy and Threats to Native American Sovereignty
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Native History Project Condemns White Supremacy and Threats to Native American Sovereignty
Alameda, California – Today, the Alameda Native History Project issued a strong statement affirming its values and condemning racist ideologies.
“Alameda Native History Project vehemently condemns white supremacy, racism, xenophobia, and fascist ideologies. We abhor Trump-era policies destroying civil rights gains, threatening Native American sovereignty, and deporting indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands. Our project stands unwaveringly against bigotry, discrimination, and hate – affirming equality, justice, and dignity for all.”
Contact:
Gabriel Duncan
info@nativehistoryproject.org
(510) 747-8423
January 28, 2025
Next Phase: Acorn Processing

Acorns are the single most important food stock in California.
They are enjoyed by First Californians from coast to coast. And it was traded throughout the state and beyond. We all share this heritage, even though we have different stories, songs, and journeys.
While the First Californians are famous for eating acorns; we are not the only people in the world who gather and process acorns for food.
As we develop the equipment necessary to process the acorns we harvested during our First Annual Acorn Harvest en masse, we wanted to tell you more about the global significance of acorns.
The Global Significance of Acorns
Acorns are eaten in North America, Europe, and Asia. China is a major manufacturer of acorn harvesting and processing equipment. Their largest customer is Korea. Where acorns are a major food stock, so common that acorns are part of the pop culture.
Acorn Caricature on TikTok
Yeah, I totally used TikTok as a source. “Acorn Caricature” is so hot right now!
But acorns aren’t just a recent trend. Acorns have been a part of Korean pop culture for a long time.
Check out this children’s book, “Kindergarten in acorn village”; which is a popular and well-known series:

Kindergarten in acorn village (Korean Edition) by Nakayamiwa (Author), Kim Nam-ju (Author) https://a.co/d/7fKocbo
But it’s not just Korean culture that celebrates the acorn.
Here is an eminently relevant article published in the National Library of Medicine: “Food Security beyond Cereals: A Cross-Geographical Comparative Study on Acorn Bread Heritage in the Mediterranean and the Middle East“.
Anecdotally: The dude at a gas station near our office gave me his mother’s recipe for Berber Acorn Bread, when I told him what I was working on. He shared with me that acorn bread was something he ate as a child, and shared his fond memories of gathering and processing acorns.
When I brought him an acorn from a Coast Live Oak, he was so used to the sweet acorns of his homeland that he immediately opened the acorn to eat it–not realizing that this acorn is high in tannin and very bitter. But it was his experience that influenced his belief that all acorns were ready to eat, because they are in the place he’s from.
This is all to say that acorns are global. And they are something which can tie us together when we need it most.
Foodways are intersected by the acorn, not the other way around.
This is why we all have an innate fascination with acorns. Because we all share an ancestral urge to eat them!
For our purposes, we’re going to be processing acorns en masse, in an effort to produce food for as many people as possible.
Yes, it’s true that some of the most traditional ways to process acorns include soaking acorns in flowing water.
Most processing methods use water directly from rivers, streams, and springs.
But we don’t have free flowing bodies of clean water anymore. We have culverts, canals, aquaducts, and flumes. And they’re full of trash, industrial (agricultural, manufacturing) runoff, and pollutants like sewage, and microplastics.
So, we couldn’t show you how to do it traditionally, even if we wanted to. Because it’s not safe.
Anyone who tells you different is probably gonna pull out a glass jar, or some coffee filters to process acorns in their kitchen, anyway–and that’s not “traditional”, either.
So let’s just lay this one to rest and make peace with the fact that the world has changed [is continuing to change] and it behooves us to adapt accordingly.
None of this makes the acorn less special, or our mission less important.
It means that we can share our enthusiasm and celebrate the reopening of indigenous foodways with more people!
And there’s nothing better than sharing something with people who appreciate it as much as you do.
Modern Acorn Processing Techniques are Well-Documented
There is an enormous amount of literature and video available for modern acorn processing techniques to make small amounts of acorn flour. Not the least of which is this cool open source zine called “Eating Acorns: A Guide to Processing Acorns for Use as Food” by Mary Hatch.
There’s also a CSU Sacramento Museum of Anthropology Publication called “Past and Present Acorn Use in Native California”. And even cookbooks, like “Acorns and Eat’em: A How-To Vegetarian Acorn Cookbook“
We recommend this guide to Leaching Acorns by Sara Calvosa Olson, the author of “Chími Nu’am: Native California Foodways for the Contemporary Kitchen“
These are the kinds of Acorn Processing methods we will show you during our Public Acorn Processing Workshops:
Modern, relevant, acorn processing techniques you can enjoy in your own kitchen, with readily available tools and supplies.

While those are good for small amounts. We’re going to be processing much larger quantities.
We are offering two types of Acorn Processing Events.
The first one (listed above) is our public workshop. We are also running production workshops.
Production workshops will be focused on producing the Acorn Flour and Acorn Meal we’ll actually offer and distribute to Indigenous Communities, and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Learn more about how we will accomplish this task by volunteering to help us process the acorns we’ve harvested.
2025 Acorn Process Signup Form is here.
Stay tuned for more updates.
January 9, 2025