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Railroads in Native America Forum

An Exploration of the Impact of Railroads in Indigenous Communities


Event

Railroads in Native America: An Exploration of the Intersection of American Railroading and Indian Country

July 10-12, 2026 | Sacramento, CA

In the Summer of 2026, Sacramento will host the third Railroads in Native America Forum. This event started in 2019, as the nation was reflecting on the 150th Anniversary of the joining of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad tracks at Promontory Summit, Utah.

In recognition of the significant impact of railroading in Indian Country, this event seeks to provide a forum to discuss the diverse experiences of Native Americans through the lens of the development of railroads.

The Railroads in Native America Steering Committee and Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians (2026 Host Tribe) are proud to bring together scholars, artists, community leaders, tribal members, and representatives from tribal governments for this public multi-day event in partnership with the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, California State Railroad Museum, CSRM Foundation, and California State Parks.

Although we highly encourage in-person attendance, there will be a live streaming option. Registration link will be available on June 1, 2026. See the event schedule for more information. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Event Schedule

The 2026 Railroads in Native America Forum will start the morning of Friday, July 10, and end early Sunday afternoon, July 12, at the California State Railroad Museum.

View Schedule & Program
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Welcome from the 2026 Host Tribe

Séekas’in!

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians (SSBMI) welcomes you to the 2026 Railroads in Native America Forum at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California, unceded territory of the Nisenan people.

Our community descends from the Nisenan and Miwok people of the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Foothills. It is our pleasure to host this national forum taking place on our ancestral homelands. Bringing attention to this enduring landscape and the nearby villages of Pusúune, Sáama, Seek, K’ademmá, and Wóllok gives our communities an opportunity to showcase the restoration efforts taking place despite the extraordinary impacts the railways have had on our ancestral homelands.

As river people of the Táamom, Nótowmom, Koosóm Mómti, and Óota (the Sacramento, American, Cosumnes, and Feather rivers), we take pride in stewarding the land, as our ancestors always have. We do this by maintaining beneficial land management practices, perpetuating cultural arts and traditions, advocating for healthy waterways and educating our community and the public through exhibits, contemporary art shows and publications showcasing our rich history and culture.

We hope that forum participants will enjoy the installation curated by the SSBMI Exhibits & Collections Center in collaboration with regional tribal artists and learn about the impacts of the railways in our communities. The legacy of the railroad continues to have lasting effects on Native peoples and the environment, and illustrates the importance of forums like these that promote tribal perspectives from across the nation.

We look forward to meeting attendees, engaging in these important discussions, and sharing our stories and culture with you.

Wenném! (Thank you!)


About the Artwork

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Artist: Weshoyot Alvitre (Tongva)

Statement: “This is a portrait of Modesta Avila, who was mixed race woman (Californio and CA Indian descent) and the first convicted Felony in Orange County, CA for protesting the building of the railway on her family’s property, land grant and surrounding tribal land. The piece is a large scale rendition of her official mug shot portrait from San Quentin prison, overlayed with the CA state flower: the poppy. The juxtaposition is to bring awareness that Native people have always been here, and continued to fight for their lands despite occupation and the history of land development and extraction. The railways contributed to colonization and westward expansion of Native Lands during the 1800s. Modesta Avila’s story shows a pinnacle of Mexican occupation, US occupation and complex relationships of Native peoples who survived both eras, who still fought for their land.”


Guiding Questions & Principals

Railroads in Native America Forums are led by these guiding questions:

  • How/why did Native communities resist and/or participate in railroad expansion?

  • In what ways have Native peoples—past and present—used the mobility and marketplace access provided by railroads to protect kin and community?

  • How did railroads, their corporate backers, and the government contribute to the dispossession of Indigenous peoples?

  • How have Indigenous homelands and cultures evolved in response to railroad expansion?

  • What are the lasting impacts from railroad expansion to Tribal communities, lifeways, and ecosystems?

Railroads in Native America Forums are rooted in 7 core principals established by the Union Pacific Railroad Museum:

  • Engage Native artists

  • Deference on all decisions to Native partners

  • Emphasis on synchronous experiences

  • Include non-academic and cultural ways of knowing

  • Free or reduced registration

  • Compensate presenters for attendance and travel if possible

  • Capture this knowledge for the future to ensure impact

The Railroads in Native America Steering Committee seeks out new members for each event. We are honored to have worked with partners including Tribal Nations and community members across the United States in an ongoing initiative by the Union Pacific Railroad Museum.