Nick Youman, left, and Carlos Geisdorff sing as they play the hand game during the California Indian Conference and Gathering at UC Davis on Oct. 26-27. The conference included research presentations, elders' circles, demonstrations, dance performances, health screenings and programs aimed at encouraging Native American youth to apply to college. More than 150 Native American studies scholars from 50 nations and tribes, 18 universities and five states attended the gathering and discussed their work.