The Comic.You can find various formats of the comic here. We will also share free lesson plans and posters and exhibit panels here for download soon - stay tuned!
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COMIC
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There are two parts to this 44 page comic. You can read it starting at either end of the comic/either story. Beyond Gaming is a walk through a community gathering with tribal historians. Our Past, Present, and Future is a series of two page spreads telling history from the Kumeyaay perspective. The first edition for Kumeyaay Nation was distributed November 15, a second edition for the broader public was published December 2024. To download a free copy, see the various formats below.
You can purchase copies of the comic in bulk or as single print on demand copies from the tribally owned, non-profit printing company Tribal Print Source. Call (760) 597-2650 or email [email protected] to request copies. The cost depends on how many copies you order. For example (these are subject to change): 1 copy = $13 each; 5-10 copies = $9 each; at 11 copies pricing drops down to about $7 each. Beyond that TPS will provide a quote as a bulk order with exact pricing based on quantity. |
Traveling Banner Exhibit
These eight banners (or a subset of them) are available for free to display in locations around San Diego county. The Museum of Us has agreed to partner with the KVSP team to store the banners and help schedule their use by different organizations. Kumeyaay schools, organizations, and cultural centers -- as well as other museums, schools, and organizations in San Diego County -- are welcome to request a time period to display the banners. We will also provide large scale files for you to print locally, as well. Learn more below.
More on how to request the banners soon!
More on how to request the banners soon!
What is a traveling banner exhibit? It is a group of tall standalone graphic panels that is a “pop up” exhibit. It is designed to easily be transported from one venue to another. It does not include anything but the banners, but you are welcome to add whatever you like to the display—perhaps you have student art, a table with comic books to read, or museum collection items, etc.
Is this short exhibit the whole story? No – it is meant to direct people to the longer story, a 44 page comic co-authored by Kumeyaay tribal historians that you see featured in the traveling banner exhibit. The QR code leads to this website.
Do I pay for the exhibit? No, it is free to request and display. You can also get downloadable PDFs at the project website (coming soon). This exhibit is the outcome of a grant funded project that created the associated 44 page comic. You can find information about how we made the comic and this exhibit at the project website.
What size is this traveling exhibit? It is 8 banners, each one is 33” wide by 78” tall. They come in compact, cylindrical carrying cases with handles and are easy to transport.
Do we have to show all the banners? No, you can show any combination of the seven banners depending on the space you have.
How long can we keep the exhibit? The exhibit can remain in your organization for up to 3 months. You can contact the Museum of Us to see if there is a gap in the scheduling in the final month. If there is, you may keep the banners until the next scheduled venue or you may return them to the Museum of Us.
Where can it be displayed? Primarily anywhere in San Diego county and on Kumeyaay reservations, including schools, museums, cultural centers, and organizations. The banners should be displayed in a space that has a locked room or adequate security overnight. If you are a Native community outside this area, you are welcome to request the banners but you will need to pick up and return the banners to the Museum of Us in San Diego. Or, if you have funding for printing, you can contact us to get the exhibit banner PDFs to print locally for display.
Can we purchase a copy of the exhibition to keep permanently at our school or organization? Yes, you can! We will provide (coming soon) large scale PDFs that you can have printed as banners.
What language is the exhibit? Currently it is in English with some words in Kumeyaay language.
Can we purchase copies of the comic to accompany the exhibit? Yes, you can! You can purchase copies through the tribally owned non-profit print shop, Tribal Print Source. They do print on demand. If you purchase 250 or more, the price is significantly reduced. More information about Tribal Print Source and the comic here.
Can we make a profit from selling the comics? Only if you are a Kumeyaay organization. Kumeyaay comics co-authors and Kumeyaay Nations organizations may sell copies of the comic to raise money, but other individuals or organizations may not profit from these comics. If you do sell them, sell at cost or – even better! - purchase additional copies with your proceeds and donate them to a Kumeyaay cultural center or organization.
How can we sign up to be on the schedule to display the traveling exhibit? Coming soon.
How do we pick up/return the banners? The Museum of Us will hold the banners in between venues. You can pick up and return them there. Please be sure to return promptly as other venues will be waiting and may have opening reception or other events tied to the arrival of the banners. Museum of Us is graciously helping with the coordinating of the schedule, but they should not have to contact you to receive the banners back on time.
Is this short exhibit the whole story? No – it is meant to direct people to the longer story, a 44 page comic co-authored by Kumeyaay tribal historians that you see featured in the traveling banner exhibit. The QR code leads to this website.
Do I pay for the exhibit? No, it is free to request and display. You can also get downloadable PDFs at the project website (coming soon). This exhibit is the outcome of a grant funded project that created the associated 44 page comic. You can find information about how we made the comic and this exhibit at the project website.
What size is this traveling exhibit? It is 8 banners, each one is 33” wide by 78” tall. They come in compact, cylindrical carrying cases with handles and are easy to transport.
Do we have to show all the banners? No, you can show any combination of the seven banners depending on the space you have.
How long can we keep the exhibit? The exhibit can remain in your organization for up to 3 months. You can contact the Museum of Us to see if there is a gap in the scheduling in the final month. If there is, you may keep the banners until the next scheduled venue or you may return them to the Museum of Us.
Where can it be displayed? Primarily anywhere in San Diego county and on Kumeyaay reservations, including schools, museums, cultural centers, and organizations. The banners should be displayed in a space that has a locked room or adequate security overnight. If you are a Native community outside this area, you are welcome to request the banners but you will need to pick up and return the banners to the Museum of Us in San Diego. Or, if you have funding for printing, you can contact us to get the exhibit banner PDFs to print locally for display.
Can we purchase a copy of the exhibition to keep permanently at our school or organization? Yes, you can! We will provide (coming soon) large scale PDFs that you can have printed as banners.
What language is the exhibit? Currently it is in English with some words in Kumeyaay language.
Can we purchase copies of the comic to accompany the exhibit? Yes, you can! You can purchase copies through the tribally owned non-profit print shop, Tribal Print Source. They do print on demand. If you purchase 250 or more, the price is significantly reduced. More information about Tribal Print Source and the comic here.
Can we make a profit from selling the comics? Only if you are a Kumeyaay organization. Kumeyaay comics co-authors and Kumeyaay Nations organizations may sell copies of the comic to raise money, but other individuals or organizations may not profit from these comics. If you do sell them, sell at cost or – even better! - purchase additional copies with your proceeds and donate them to a Kumeyaay cultural center or organization.
How can we sign up to be on the schedule to display the traveling exhibit? Coming soon.
How do we pick up/return the banners? The Museum of Us will hold the banners in between venues. You can pick up and return them there. Please be sure to return promptly as other venues will be waiting and may have opening reception or other events tied to the arrival of the banners. Museum of Us is graciously helping with the coordinating of the schedule, but they should not have to contact you to receive the banners back on time.
Posters - Our Past, Present, and Future
The half of the comic titled "Our Past, Present, and Future" is a series of two page spreads that can be printed as posters, as well. Click on the PDF for Reading Online Only or PDF of Exhibit Banners above for some poster-worthy prints!
Lesson Plans
Paused in 2025 due to remaining grant funds not being transferred when National Endowment for the Humanities canceled many existing grants.
A note about distribution and sale of the comics
These comics are free to download and were grant funded. They are creative commons. No one may sell or earn money from these comics except for the Kumeyaay authors and Kumeyaay Nation cultural organizations. You can purchase copies of the comic in bulk or as single print on demand copies from the tribally owned, non-profit printing company Tribal Print Source.
How did we get here?
For more information about the creative process, there is a short 4min video about the creative process by John which was shared by the tribal historians at their panel at the San Diego Comic Con 2024.
As of July 2025, the banner exhibit arrived! And the La Jolla Historical Society exhibit is open from June 13-August 31, 2025. Stay tuned for additional PDFs of posters and banners.
As of December 2024, the second edition, for the public and schools, has arrived!
As of November 2024 a Special Edition of the comic was printed and distributed to Kumeyaay Nation members at two launches on Kumeyaay Lands on November 15 and 16, 2024!
As of October 2024, the final edits and artwork were completed.
As of July 2024, the story was reviewed and artwork and further editing moved forward.
As of July 2023, members of the team strategized during zoom meetings, recorded conversations and oral histories, tracked down Kumeyaay centered history resources, reviewed and edited the script together, and met in person in San Diego to review comics drafts. We all really enjoy working together! Here are some glimpses of our work to date:
As of July 2025, the banner exhibit arrived! And the La Jolla Historical Society exhibit is open from June 13-August 31, 2025. Stay tuned for additional PDFs of posters and banners.
As of December 2024, the second edition, for the public and schools, has arrived!
As of November 2024 a Special Edition of the comic was printed and distributed to Kumeyaay Nation members at two launches on Kumeyaay Lands on November 15 and 16, 2024!
As of October 2024, the final edits and artwork were completed.
As of July 2024, the story was reviewed and artwork and further editing moved forward.
As of July 2023, members of the team strategized during zoom meetings, recorded conversations and oral histories, tracked down Kumeyaay centered history resources, reviewed and edited the script together, and met in person in San Diego to review comics drafts. We all really enjoy working together! Here are some glimpses of our work to date:
