The documentary Pá'Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story explores the mountain’s Indigenous history. Catch the screening April 8 at Poly High School Theatre. (Ken Crawford)
The Riverside Unified School District's Native American Parent Advisory Council will host a screening of "Pá'Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story," a documentary highlighting Native perspectives of Mt. Rubidoux on April 8 from 6- 10:30 p.m. at Poly High School Theatre.
Directors Rosy Aranda, Blossom Maciel, Daisy Ocampo, and Lorene Sisquoc crafted the film to center on Serrano, Cahuilla, and Tongva cultural connections to the mountain, known to indigenous communities as Pá'Čapa.
According to event information, the documentary presents the voices of cultural bearers to highlight Mt. Rubidoux as a sacred Native place. The film contrasts indigenous perspectives with the mountain's current identity, marked by monuments and plaques centered on settler colonial history, including its prominent cross.
Mt. Rubidoux, a popular recreational destination that, according to event materials, attracts upward of 1,000 visitors daily, has long been celebrated primarily for its European-American historical connections.
The documentary provides viewers with perspectives that predate these more recent associations by thousands of years, the council noted in its announcement.
The event specifically targets RUSD families seeking to learn about Riverside's history and its connection to local tribal communities.
More information: The screening takes place on April 8 from 6–10:30 p.m. at Poly High School Theatre, 5450 Victoria Ave. Those interested in attending can visit newsfromnativecalifornia.com.
