VISION

A space for Tribal Members to gather and participate in workshops.

A Cultural space for education and truthtelling through art.

'Uba Seo is a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Nevada City featuring a gallery and Nisenan Cultural space for the Tribe and Community who visit or call Nisenan Territory their home. The vision for this space is to elevate The Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan's representation locally, tell their stories, share history, and create a platform for educating the public in creative ways.

The latest addition to the Gallery is a custom theater space, which will screen short films that relate to the current exhibit or special films CHIRP wants to highlight.

Nevada County is one of the epicenters of Indigenous genocide in California. In light of this, ’Uba Seo represents a courageous endeavor on the part of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan and CHIRP. Because the legacy of settler colonialism is ongoing, ‘Uba Seo is a necessary tool to alter how we conceive of history and provides a different perspective to the public through creative ways. The medium of Art provides a bridge to understanding and can be a powerful tool for change and education.

“At the 2022 VTA Art opening Tribal Elders not only produced their own artworks but Tribal Members young and old came out and were proud to be seen. This is the first time after almost 15 years of hard work and advocacy that Tribal Members felt they could come to a safe space that was not only their own, but also a place where they could welcome the community and the public. Seeing the Tribe’s reaction to the art on the walls is priceless because we are experiencing a true moment of healing.” - Shelly Covert