By David Hasemyer, STAFF WRITER

Richard Bugbee moved to the front of the room. He was quiet for a moment, gathering his courage not only to speak to the audience but to show reverence for his Native heritage.

It was Bugbee’s task to open a two-day conference on “Early San Diego Regional History” yesterday at InterAmerican College in National City. The event, which will continue today at the Presidio and Old Town state parks, includes lectures from historians and scholars, art classes and other workshops, re-enactments and displays of artifacts.

Bugbee began the conference with a welcome in the Kumeyaay language. His words had a gentle, reassuring rhythm. He asked for the participants to gain an understanding of all people.

The significance of having Bugbee start the program was not lost on the nearly 100 people who attended the ceremony. The Kumeyaay, who trace their ancestors back centuries, represent the depth of San Diego history.

Such depth must be preserved and appreciated as much as the more well-known aspects of the region’s history, said keynote speaker Tony Valladolid, director of student policies and judicial affairs at the University of California San Diego.

“Without embracing all of history, cultures and events, there is a failure to appreciate,” he said.

“Without that awareness, we lose the understanding. And without understanding, it is difficult to respect the diversity of history.”

Angela Garcia-Sims, one of the event’s organizers, urged participants to delve into the region’s lineage.

The area has had its share of colorful characters such as Salomon Pico, an Indian chief whose daring exploits and mask made him one of the models for Zorro. It has endured epic events, including the 1872 fire that destroyed the heart of San Diego.

The region’s history extends beyond Juan Cabrillo and Father Junipero Serra, two historical icons inexorably wedded to San Diego’s infancy. There is so much more that Garcia-Sims and other local teachers and historians want people to recognize.

For example, the public might not know that San Diego was the first European settlement on the West Coast. It also might not know that early settlements of Kumeyaay Indians in the area have been documented as far back as 12,000 years.

The region was shaped by the Barona Band of Mission Indians and other tribes. Since then, immigrants of all nationalities have helped form its character and personality, Garcia-Sims said.

“When it’s all considered together, you understand this is a region rich in history,” she said. “There is so much diversity.”

The conference will continue today at 10:30 a.m. with a gathering in the parking lot at Presidio Drive and Taylor Street. Participants will then fan out to attend workshops or join activities scheduled through late afternoon.

David Hasemyer: (619) 542-4583; david.hasemyer@uniontrib.com
© Copyright 2007 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.

Posted on September 16th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: Culture, History