Since 1966, CICD has designed and implemented innovative projects
to meet fundamental American Indian community needs.
In 1966, Humboldt State University established the Center for Indian Community Development (CICD) to provide services to American Indian communities in Northern California. Since then, CICD collaborated with American Indian community members, Tribes, Indian organizations, educational institutions, and governmental representatives on hundreds of projects. CICD continues to dedicate its staff, materials, and resources to support projects, programs, and goals as defined by each American Indian community. The Center's primary services are:
CICD coordinates the efforts of linguists, curriculum specialists, teachers, students, Tribes, and members of American Indian communities to document and reinforce Indian languages and culture. CICD supports these efforts through publications, language classes, workshops, technical assistance, curriculum development, and the services of expert consultants. The Center also provides Tribes with the services of its on-staff ethnographic researcher and involves other HSU personnel on specific projects such as Native language dictionaries, language cassettes, story collections, elementary and secondary language curriculums, and Tribal writing systems.
CICD provides much needed services such as grant writing, educational materials, technical assistance, feasibility studies, needs assessments, conference planning, materials development, and business planning. Services also include publications, course offerings on-site at HSU and on reservations, distance learning opportunities, program development, representing American Indian communities' interests in public forums and assisting in negotiations between the Tribal governments and federal, state, and local governmental agencies.
CICD publicizes and sponsors American Indian activities and projects. The CICD graphics department designs logos, brochures, materials, books, CD-ROMs, and packets for Indian programs, projects, or events. CICD also sponsors American Indian activities and projects.
CICD provides professional services to California Tribes, federal, state and local agencies. CRF staff has extensive experience implementing and meeting the full range of State and federal legislative mandates regarding prehistoric and historic cultural resources. The CRF services have included reconnaissance, site mapping, excavation, NAGPRA assistance, historical research, historic preservation, evaluations, and construction monitoring.
CICD's offices are on the ground floor of the Behavioral & Social Sciences building at Humboldt State University. HSU sits in the northwestern portion of Wiyot ancestral territory near the Mad River, one of four rivers running though Wiyot territory. The Wiyot ancestral territory encompasses everything from Little River to Bear River to Chalk Mountain and on to Berry Summit. It includes the towns of McKinleyville, Blue Lake, Arcata, Eureka, Kneeland, Loleta, Fortuna, Ferndale, and Rohnerville. The three federally-recognized Wiyot Tribal governments — the Table Bluff Reservation, Blue Lake Rancheria, and the Rohnerville Rancheria — are located within these boundaries. (See a MAP in another window)