NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIAN BEHAVIOR

THE CHILDREN WERE BORN INTO A VERT STRICT SOCIETY BUT OF OOURSE HAD MANY GAMES AND FREE TIME TO HAVE FUN IN NATURE. THEY LIVED IN SMALL TRIBAL GROUPS THAT CARRIED OUT TRADITIONS WHICH HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT FOR MILLENIA. THE WOMEN'S AND MEN'S TASKS WERE THE SAME AS THEIR GREAT GRANDPARENT'S WERE. THE MEN HUNTED DEER THAT WERE DESCENDANTS OF THOSE THAT THEIR GRAND FATHERS HUNTED. THE WOMEN TENDED THE SAME SEDGE BEDS THAT THEIR GRANDPARENTS TENDED.. CHILDREN WERE NOT EXPECTED TO IMPROVE THINGS - THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE DISRUPTIVE. THEY WERE EXPECTED TO ADAPT TO THEIR TRIBAL CUSTOMS. INDEPENDENCE WAS DISCOURAGED VS. HOW WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TODAY TO BE INNOVATIVE. THE NATIVE VIRTUES WERE OBEDIENCE, MODERATION, AND RESTRAINT.


THE BABIES WERE KEPT RESTRAINED IN A WILLOW BASKET CRADLE AS THIS USUALLY KEPT THEM FROM CRYING. IN THISWAY THEY WATCHED THEIR WORLD RATHER THAN EXPERIENCED THEIRWORLD. THEY WERE ALSO PROTECTED FROM SNAKES, BEARS AND OTHER ANIMALS AND IT GAVE THE MOTHER SOME INDEPENDENCE TO GATHER ROOTS OR WEAVE BASKETS. MALCOMB MARGOLIN SAYS THAT THIS SEVERE RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT FOR MONTHS MUST HAVE INFLUENCED THEIR PERSONALITY. THET LIVED WITH AN ATITUDE THAT OF ACCEPTANCE OF THEOR WORLD AND BECAME NURTURED WITH A COMPLEX SYSTEM OF BELIEF AND VALUE.

SOME TRIBES USED THE LICHEN FROM OAK TREES AS DIAPERS WHILE OTHERS USED THE INSIDE BARK OF RED OR WHITE WILLOW. THE BABY IS KEPT CLEAN AND THE MOTHERS MAKE SURE THEY ARE ATTEDED TO. MOST CHILDREN REMEMBER THEIR CHILDHOOD AS HAVING FUN AND IN CALIFORNIA AFTER THEY LEARNED TO WALK THEY THEY WERE RELATIVELY FREE TO EXPLORE THE ADULT WORLD AND PLAY GAMES.

ONE MODOC INDIAN RECALLS HIS CHILDHOOD AS PLAYING IN THE WATER. THEY HAD GAMES OF WHO COULD STAY UNDER WATER THE LONGEST. THE BOYS LEARNED TO CATCH FROGS AND FISH VARIOUS FISH AND WHEN THEY CAME HOME THEIR GRANDPARENT'S WOULD TELL THEM MYTHS.