Remembering Doug Fryday
1951-2026
Board Member Emeritus, Museum of the American Indian
Doug Fryday’s connection to the Museum of the American Indian extended far beyond his years of service on its Board of Directors. He felt a profound kinship with this place—the Museum, Miwok Park, and the land itself. Doug understood and respected that this is the ancestral homeland of the Coast Miwok people, and his relationship with the Museum was grounded in that understanding of place, history, and the people whose connection to this land reaches back thousands of years. That sense of place remained deeply meaningful to him throughout his life.
Follow The Land...Trace The Traditions...
Land Acknowledgment
Marin County is on the ancestral lands of the Coast Miwok People, including the Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. The Southern Pomo people are from the Sebastopol and Sonoma County area.
The Coast Miwok Indians have occupied the lands throughout Marin, Marshall, Tomales, Petaluma, and Bodega since time immemorial. Their deep understanding of the ecosystems and landscape allowed for them to thrive in these areas before western contact, living off the abundance of resources, traveling the bay and celebrating the land through ceremony. Village sites have been identified and are continually discovered throughout these areas. The Coast Miwok are known for their skills in basketry, flint knapping, clamshell bead making, cordage making, fishing and tending of their ancestral landscape. They continue to practice these skills and share their traditions among their tribal communities.
We respectfully recognize that the Museum of the American Indian is located on Coast Miwok territory. We strive to be humble and respectful of the tragic colonial history that led us to this present circumstance, and we acknowledge that indeed colonial pressures still exist today. We are dedicated to listening, learning, and supporting the Coast Miwok people in their efforts to cultivate and maintain their tribal sovereignty. We stand in awe and respect of their strength and resiliency.
Exhibits
MAI shares exhibits that highlight Indigenous Peoples from all over the Americas. MAI rotates exhibition of our collections to share the magnificent artistry and creative skills of Native Americans.
Education
MAI provides educational tours and opportunities for all ages. We offer informative programming that educates visitors on Native California and Native America. Our programming includes lesson about local tribes, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), Indigenous identity, and the history of Indigenous Peoples of the Americas.
Events
MAI is a gathering place year round! We host lectures, readings, workshops, and cultural events that uplift Indigenous Cultures of the Americas. Our events offer opportunities for Indigenous Peoples to share their traditional ways and arts with their community and the greater Bay Area.
Mission Statement
The Museum of the American Indian uplifts, supports, and makes visible the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas by offering authentic educational programs and cultural resources to Marin and the greater Bay Area.
Thank you Fiscal Sponsors!
MAI wishes to thank the many friends, sponsors and professionals that have greatly contributed to our success, foremost all the Native American artists, past and present.
Major Funding Contributors:
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Thank you Community Partners and Stakeholders!