Fresno State’s American Indian Recruitment and Resource Initiative will host the 2015 Native Family Education Gathering from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, in the Satellite Student Union.

The free, public gathering is co-sponsored by University Outreach Services, the First Nations American Indian student organization and the Fresno American Indian Health Project.

It’s part of a weekend of activity starting with acclaimed author, poet and filmmaker Sherman Alexie on April 9 and the First Nations Pow Wow April 11.

The family gathering wraps up the first year of the new American Indian Recruitment and Resource Initiative, which was launched in the fall to strengthen partnerships with rancherias, school districts and tribal agencies serving American Indian students.

The project’s goal is to double the number of American Indian students enrolling at Fresno State by fall 2016, said program coordinator Katie Garcia.

Of Fresno State’s 23,060 students enrolled in fall 2013, 0.4 percent identified as American Indian. System-wide in the CSU, 0.3 percent of 446,530 students were American Indian.

Garcia said more than 200 participants are expected at Friday’s gathering. It is open to youth in grades 6-12 and parents by registering free online. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for those who register.

“The conference is an opportunity for local students and their families to visit the campus and learn more about what Fresno State has to offer, learn more about some of the programs here and to celebrate culture,” said Garcia, a member of the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. She was raised in Ahwahnee.

Garcia is organizing the conference for University Outreach Services with Julian Garza, a social work graduate student from Fresno who is a member of the Yaqui tribe.

It will feature a traditional American Indian opening and posting of the colors, a keynote speaker and campus tours.

On Thursday, Alexie’s free, public talk is part of the “Outlawed: The Naked Truth about Censored Literature for Young People” at Fresno State by the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature in the Henry Madden Library.

Alexie will talk about his life and experiences with censorship at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, in the Satellite Student Union.

Alexie’s National Book Award-winning Semi-autobiographical book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian,” tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the reservation to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other American Indian is the school mascot.

On Saturday, the 24th annual Fresno State First Nations Powwow will be held at Fresno State’s O’Neill Park (Barstow at Woodrow avenues) with the theme “Preserving the Tradition of American Indian Studies at Fresno State.”

Hosted by the First Nations American Indian Student Organization, this free, public family event opens at 11 a.m. with the Grand Entry beginning at 12:30 p.m. featuring American Indian drum groups, singing, dancing and other traditional activities. There will be Native American arts, crafts and food.

For more pow wow information, contact First Nations president Andres Fierro at 559.347.1600 or fierroone@mail.fresnostate.edu or Dr. Charles Ettner, faculty adviser, at 559.278.8831 or charlese@csufresno.edu.

For conference info, contact Garcia or Garza at 559.278.2048.

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