Hello, my name is Cameron D.C Garcia. I am a 21 year old indigenous undergrad almost on his senior year who is attending Fresno State for a bachelors in anthropology with an archaeology emphasis. My truck was broken into.

During the night of May 21st/early morning of May 22nd my garage and truck were broken into and several hundred dollars worth of archaeology equipment, tools, medical supplies, tolietries, clothes, jewelry, sentimental/religious items and sensitive personal information were stolen. The culprit has yet to be identified. Security footage from the night the incident took place is being reviewed by my apartment complex's property manager and a report has been filed with the local authorities.

I'll be providing context for the situation, items stolen, and my intent with any money donated. Details will be given after a short summary of my situation.

QUICK SUMMARY:

I am a tribal youth who is navigating his way through his educational career and right before two of the most important field classes of this semester someone broke into my truck and robbed me of everything but the clothes on my back, and whatever they couldn't lift out of the truck. Estimate is between $600 to $1500 in total damages from theft of personal property and loaned equipment. Luckily my truck's battery or catalytic converter wasn't boosted but what they did take had immense value to me and was a large chunk of my road supplies. I often travel far for community events, tribal ceremonies, school, hiking and to visit family so I keep a small stockpile of traveling stuffs. My family and I have had to spend upwards of almost $400 to replace a small fraction of the gear/clothes they took because I still am required to attend my field classes over the next three weeks. This has put a severe financial strain on us. I had to buy all new clothes yesterday because they essentially stole my entire closet when they lifted my duffle bag from my truck. The whole situation has been very traumatic, anxiety inducing and has left me paranoid. Any donations provided will be used to help me recover and ease the cost of having to replace essential items. If I get past my goal I’ll split the rest according to paying for essential things (replacing more gear, legal stuffs, gas). If I somehow get a very large excess that I’m not comfortable with accepting I’ll take what’s necessary to me and have the rest donated to local tribal orgs. All donations are deeply appreciated.

TL;DR Can't have nuthin' in Fresno.

CONTEXT:

I am a young tribal member of the Chalon Indian Nation, and am of Ohlone-Esselen and Zacateco descent. I have been attending Fresno State for two semesters now with the intent to attain a bachelors in anthropology/archaeology, as well as tap into studying ethnolingustics to help my tribe revitalize our language.

My first semester I was staying with a family friend here in Fresno, but this semester I moved into my first actual apartment. I've lived here since around early February and though the complex itself is decent the surrounding area has been described as troublesome.. well to put it bluntly, it's 'the hood'. Or at least on the edge of it. Break-ins, cops rolling down the street late at night, drug use, human excrement on the sidewalks, etc. I'm from Bakersfield, it's nothing I haven't seen before.

I hadn't had any incidents before this since the security for our complex is pretty good with a large gate around us and a security guard most weeknights. But on May 21st I had driven back to Fresno after being back in my hometown for a couple days since I was gathering my camping/field equipment gear for a required field class I had this week. This and I came back to help my professor and fellow students load our trailer with supplies for the following week's field class seperate to the one I am taking. I later traveled with my professor to survey the site for next week's field school.

After I had got back that evening I parked my truck in my garage with all of my gear inside, closed it, and went up to my apartment to rest since I had spent the whole day driving, loading gear, and surveying next week's site.

The morning of the 22nd, while bringing down my computer bag and other items I needed before I would have to drive up to field school that day; I found my garage door had been opened completely. My manager informed me that sometimes the doors can get stuck a small amount and this can allow people to pry them open completely or slip under them.

My tacoma had been broken into with them getting my doors open. They stole 3 bags/backpacks of clothes, gear, tools, supplies, and medication. Raided the center console and glovebox for personal items. Stole the three books I had left. And finally had pulled out my box of religious items and heirlooms that I kept in an old cigar box. They left behind things like my cooking supplies, and food, and wash bucket but everything else they took if it seemed useful. I was kicking myself in the backside for not securing things more properly and trying to figure out how they could've got the garage door open.

I spent all of the 22nd providing witness testimony, talking to my manager, filling out my insurance claim, and then having to go out trying to find replacement gear/clothes at Dollar Tree, Ross, and Walmart.

That's the situation, cut and dry. Like I stated above, I'm angry, I'm upset, I'm paranoid, and my sense of security has been completely violated. So now I'm just hoping some kind folks will help while my family and I recover from this. Even the littlest bit will help. I'm thankful for those who've helped already as many of my close friends offering their gear for me to borrow. I'm creating this the morning right before I'm gonna have to leave for the field camp I was supposed to be at yesterday before the incident. I'll be up there for 6 days where there's no cell/internet service. My family advised it would be better to do this ASAP rather than later.

ITEMS STOLEN/Estimated cost for big ticket items:

Below are containers and items inside of them which were stolen. This is everything that I can recall and will be providing this as a reference for myself, my insurance and others.

Green Outdoor Products Hiking Backpack with 3 liter water bladder from Walmart - $38.47

This is the only item that I actually have a picture of since I put a stylized version of my last name on it

Items Stolen:

Waterproof black tote bag

This mostly had archaeology equipment I couldn't fit into my green bag

Items Stolen:

Black Duffle Bag with red accents/tag

This bag had (almost literally) all of the clothes I own, tolietries, and jewelry. It

Items Stolen:

Center Console area:

They took literally everything in the center console, which wasn't much, but they also took 3 books I had left in my truck next to the console.

Items Stolen:

Glove Compartment:

The glove compartment is what I'm worried about the most, they stole the vehicle registration for the truck, and this is my grandfather's truck which he loaned me for the semester since mine had the engine blow a gasket.

Items Stolen:

'Hoyo de Monterey' Cigar Box (aka Prayer Box)

This box was a gift from my professor and it's what I used to hold sacred/religious items.

That's more or less what was taken. I provide this list just to help anyone donating understand my reasoning for asking for assistance as a lot of this equipment is expensive to replace. My sentimental items are irreplaceable.

How funds will be used:

The $350 dollar goal is mostly just to cover the gear and clothes I've had to replace within the last 24 hours. My professor loaned me with a new trowel and ranger compass but I still need to replace the loaner trowels I had originally. I've had to tap into my savings and money I had kept aside for gas just to make the final purchases.

If I'm able to meet my $350 goal then any money received afterwards I'm going to divide into two categories. 1. Money set aside for assistance for myself while I climb out of this situation (gas, replacing extra gear that I couldn't afford to buy back originally, rent since I used my savings for this month to buy new gear, any legal fees with insurance and getting my new registration, etc) and 2. money set aside for providing to my native community if I receive an excess amount that I’m not comfortable accepting in full. Such as for the Native American Club (NEUM) at Fresno State or the Indian Studies Dept at state (those graduation pendeltons ain't cheap!). Updates, and documentation transparency are promised on my part for all donation money as soon as I can provide it.

I'll end this off by saying that I do my best to try and walk in a good way, and am not gonna hold malice against the person that did this to me since it'll just eat me up. I don't know their situation and they certainly didn't know mine. I've had a rough semester thus far but this incident has made everything else seem like nothing in comparison. But instead of grieving I'm just focused on making it through and surviving cause that's what you got to do. I humbly ask for you to donate and deeply grateful who can provide me assistance. Money doesn't solve the situation but it certainly makes it a lot easier to get through everything with it. Maksene waya-s oniyet and thank you.