Welcome
Pre-conquest Indigenous Cultures and its Aftermath (PICA) is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization that emerged out of the OCA-Greater Seattle Youth Affiliates, and the Ethnic Studies Students Association (ESSA), American Ethnic Studies, University of Washington. Since 2013, its purpose is to increase knowledge and create a shared identity, based upon greater awareness about issues common to our community. We accomplish this by focusing on a historical event in American history as it impacts people of color in the Seattle area.
Formerly known as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA was founded in 1973 with a vision of uniting Chinese Americans across the United States into one representative voice. Today, OCA Advocates has transformed into a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.
The Department of American Ethnic Studies (AES) is a multicultural and multidisciplinary research and teaching unit dedicated to the production and transmission of knowledge on key aspects and issues of race and ethnicity. AES aims to help students become knowledgeable citizens with an advanced sense of critical thinking and respect for diversity. ESSA is an University of Washington student group made up of students interested in advancing the educational goals of AES. In 2013, most members of OCA Youth Affiliates were also involved with the ESSA.
In April 2013, OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA organized the well-attended, free “A Passage to Seattle: Chinese American Heritage Society” conference affiliated with the national Association of Asian American Studies conference. Building on that success, OCA Youth Affiliate/ESSA wanted to expand their skills to celebrate the collective histories of local multiracial and multicultural groups. In August 2013, Yakama Nation’s Heritage University approached OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA to collaboratively examine the cultural inter-mixing of Asians and Native Americans, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA decided to showcase the rich histories of people prior to European imperialism and the continuing aftermath of this conquest. Hence the title, “Pre-conquest Indigenous Culture and the Aftermath” (PICA). Since 2013, the conference consisted of a series of 3 events in November related to Pre-conquest and the Past, Present and Future of APIA and Native Americans. Thematically, OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA tied the conference to an anniversary of an important historical event for APIA and Native Americans. In planning for the second conference, OCA Youth Affiliates became the independent PICA Board, still affiliated with OCA-Greater Seattle and the University of Washington’s American Ethnic Studies department.
**Admission is Free for all**
Formerly known as the Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA was founded in 1973 with a vision of uniting Chinese Americans across the United States into one representative voice. Today, OCA Advocates has transformed into a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.
The Department of American Ethnic Studies (AES) is a multicultural and multidisciplinary research and teaching unit dedicated to the production and transmission of knowledge on key aspects and issues of race and ethnicity. AES aims to help students become knowledgeable citizens with an advanced sense of critical thinking and respect for diversity. ESSA is an University of Washington student group made up of students interested in advancing the educational goals of AES. In 2013, most members of OCA Youth Affiliates were also involved with the ESSA.
In April 2013, OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA organized the well-attended, free “A Passage to Seattle: Chinese American Heritage Society” conference affiliated with the national Association of Asian American Studies conference. Building on that success, OCA Youth Affiliate/ESSA wanted to expand their skills to celebrate the collective histories of local multiracial and multicultural groups. In August 2013, Yakama Nation’s Heritage University approached OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA to collaboratively examine the cultural inter-mixing of Asians and Native Americans, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA decided to showcase the rich histories of people prior to European imperialism and the continuing aftermath of this conquest. Hence the title, “Pre-conquest Indigenous Culture and the Aftermath” (PICA). Since 2013, the conference consisted of a series of 3 events in November related to Pre-conquest and the Past, Present and Future of APIA and Native Americans. Thematically, OCA Youth Affiliates/ESSA tied the conference to an anniversary of an important historical event for APIA and Native Americans. In planning for the second conference, OCA Youth Affiliates became the independent PICA Board, still affiliated with OCA-Greater Seattle and the University of Washington’s American Ethnic Studies department.
**Admission is Free for all**
