sonoma county hikes

A TALE ABOUT MY WORK IN ARIZONA

2011-11-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

WHEN I WAS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST WITH THE BLM I WENT INTO THE DESERT TO SURVEY LANDS. IT WAS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO FIND THE RIGHT ROAD AND TERRITORY TO SURVEY BECAUSE OF THE GENERAL FLATNESS OF THE DESERT. IN ANY CASE I USUALLY AT THAT TIME A REMOTE RADIO TO CALL THE OFFICE IF I GOT LOST OR THE CAR BRIKE DOWN. I REMEMBER ONE UNIQUE TIME WHEN I HAD TO MEET A COWBOY WHO SADDLED A HORSE FOR ME. WE BOTH RODE OUR HORSES ON A HOT SUMMER DAY AQND I HAD ABOUT 10 MILES TO SURVEY - A LINEAR LINE THAT WAS FLAGGED IN REMOTE TERRITORY. THE COWBOY RODE HIS HORSE WITH ME AS I VIEWED THE GROUND FOR PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC SITES. I COULD ACTUALLY VIEW SEVERAL SMALL KNAPPING AREAS WHERE THE NATIVES LEFT OBSIDIAN REMAINS.

INTERESTING ENOUGH AT ONE POINT MY HORSE GOT A CHOLLA IN HIS TAIL AND LEG AND HE REARED UP WITH A WHELP. I THOUGHT I WAS DEAD AS WE WERE NEAR A CHASM. BUT LUCKILY THE COWBOY WAS ABLE TO CALM HIM DOWN AND GET THE CHOLLA OFF HIS LEG.

TA'AN KWACH'AN IN CANADA

2011-11-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

COUNCIL IS ONE OF THE YUKON'S FIRST NATIONS WHO POSSESSES PROFESSIONAL PROOF OF THEIR LONG STANDING LAND CLAIM GOVERNMENT. THEIR NAME TA'AN KWACHAN TAKE THEIR NAME FROM TAA'AN MAN IN THE HEART OF THEIR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY. THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS TENDED NORTH TO HOOLATINQUA AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE YUKON AND TESLIN RIVER, SOUTH TO MARSH LAKE, WEST TO WHITE BANK VILLAGE AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE TAKHINI AND LITTLE RIVERS AND EAST TO THE TESLIN RIVER.

IN 1900 DURING THE GOLD RUSH THEIR CHIEF RECOGNIZED THAQT HIS PEOPLE NEEDED PROTECTION FOR THEIR LAND AND HUNTING GROUNDS IN THE WAKE OF A GROWING NON ABORIGINAL POPULATION. CHIEF BOSS PETITIONED THE COMMISSIONER OF YUKON FOR FOR 1600 ACRES RESERVED AT TAA'AN MAN WHICH WAS SURVEYED. THEY ONLY GOT 320 ACRES. CHIEF BOSS REMAINED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND OUTSPOKEN LEADERS OF YUKON INDIAN LEADERS OF THE YUKON INDIANDS. IN 1956 THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS UNILATERALLY DECIDED TO JOIN 6 BANDS WITH THREE. IN 1987 THEY REESTABLISHED THEMSELVESAS A DISTRICT FIRST NATION. THE COUNCIL FOR YUKON INDIANS RECOGNIZED THE TIAN KWACH'AN PEOPLE NOW LIVE IN WHITEHORSE.\

IN A COMPREHENSIVE LAND CLAIM WITH THE GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND YUKON, THE ITA'AN KWACH'AN SIGNED ITS FINAL AGREEMENTS AND BECAME A NATION IN 2002. THEIR TERRITORYCOVERS ABOUT 12,000 SQ.KM OF WHICH 796 SQ KM. ARE SETTLEMENT LANDS. IN 2002 THE COUNCIL ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH HER MAGESTY THE QUEEN AFFIRMING THEIR RIGHT TO GOVERN THEMSELVES.

CYFN.CA/OURNATIONSTAAN

SELKIRK FIRST NATION IN CANADA

2011-11-02T12:29:00.000-07:00

THIS TRIBE IS LOCATED AT THE VILLAGE OF PELLY CROSSING ON THE CENTRAL YUKON. THEY SPEAK THTCHONE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL GROUPING ARE CONNECTED TO THEIR NORTHERN NEIGHBORS. NACHO NYAK AND LITTLE SALMON CORKNECKS. THESE TRIBES ARE IN THE CARMACKS. THE FIRST NATIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A NORTHERN TUTCHONE TRIBAL COUNCIL. THEY HAVE MANY HISTORIC TIES WITH THE SOUTHERN TUTCHANE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR CULTURE. THEY FIRST SETTLED INTHE HISTORIC COMMUNITYOF THE FUR TRADING FORT OF THE HUDSON BAY COMPANY IN 1850. THIS COMMUNITY REMAINED UNTIL 1950 WHEN THE RIVER BOATS STOPPED RUNNING. MANY FOLKS MOVED TO MINTO ALONG THE KLONDIKE HIGHWAY. THEY RELOCATED FURTHER NORTHWARD TO THE PRESENT DAY SITE OF PELLY CROSSING.

THE PELLY BAND EVENTUALLY BECAME KNOWN AS THE SELKIRK FIRST NATION AND BECAME SELF GOVERNING IN 1997. TODAY THEY HAVE 480 MEMBERS WITH 200 IN SQUARE MILES AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. THEY OWN ABOUT 1800 SQ. MILES AND WIL RECEIVE $16,600,000 OVER 15 YEARS. THEY MAKE LAWS AND DELIVER PROGRAMS. THE FIRST NATION IS GOVERNED BY A CHIEF AND COUNCIL WITH A CONSTITUTION, AND THEY REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE THE SELKIRK FIRST NATION HAS FORMED THEIR TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT. THE CHIEF IS ELECTED AND THE COUNSILORS ARE SELECTED BY WOLF AND CROW CLANS.

CYFY.CA/OURNATIONS

NIH TAT GWICH'IN COUNCIL IN CANADA

2011-11-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

INUVIK "OR PLACE OF MAN" IS LOCATED ON EAST CHANNEL OF THE MACKENZIE DELTA. INUVIKIS LOCATED ON THE EAST CHANNEL OF THE MACKENZIE DELTA. INUVIK IS WAS FOUNDED IN 1955 AS THE ADMINISTRATION CENTER FOR WESTERN ARCTIC. THIS AREA WAS SUBJECT TO YEARLY FLOODING. THEY HAVE A LARGE SUPPLY OF GRAVEL. THE TOWN IS NEAR A RIVER TERRACE. DURING THE LAST 40 YEARS "INUVIK HAS HAS GROWN INTO A GOVERNMENT CENTER, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH AND EDUCATION CENTER FOR THE REGION. IT IS A POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATION. THEY HAVE SOME OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION DURING THE PAST THIRTY YEARS. THE TOWN IS AAABOUT 3300 PEOPLE, WITH 37% OF INUVIALUET DESCENT, 14% GWICH'IN DESCENT AND 7% METIS.

THEY SPEAK ATHAPASCAN AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE IS DISTINCT FROM NEARBY TRIBES. BY THE TIME THE ANGLOS CAME THEY LIVED IN 9 BANDS. TODAY THEY HAVE ABOUT 2500 FOLKS THE GWICH'IN IN YUKON AND ALASKA ARE THEIR RELATIVES. MANY FAMILIES HAVE SUMMER AND WINTER CAMPS OUTSIDE OF COMMUNITIES. THEY GO HUNTING, FISHING, AND TRAPPING.

CYFN.CA/NIHT-GWICHIN

LITTLE SALMON CORKNECKS

2011-11-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

FIRST NATION IS LOCATED IN THE COMMUNITY OF CARMACKS IN SOUTH CENTRAL YUKON ALONG THE YUKON RIVER. CARMACKS WAS AN IMPORTANT STOPPING POINT FOR THE MANY STEAM BOATS THAT TRAVELED BETWEEN WHITE HORSE AND DAWSON COUNTY DURING AND AFTER WHITE HORSE GOLD RUSH PERIOD. THE LITTLE SALMON CARMACKS FIRST NATION PEOPLE PART OF THE NORTHERN TUTCHONE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL GROUPINGS. AND ARE CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH THE FIRST NATION ARE PART OF THE NORTHERN TUTCHONE LANGUAGE. THE THREE FIRST NATIONS ARE FORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE NORTHERN TUTCHONE TRIBAL COUNCIL. THEY BECAME SELF GOVERNING IN 1997. THEY OWN 1000 SQUARE MILES OF LANDAND RECIEVES $15,000 OVER 15 YEARS. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT AND MAKE LAWS AND SERVICES.

LITTLE SALMON CORKNECKS HAVE RETURNED TO A TRADITIONAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THEY ELECTED THEIR CHIEF. THEIR COUNCIL HAS A TEEN AND AN ELDER. THEY PLAN TO BUILD A SELF SUFFICIENT FIRST NATION.

CYFN.CA/GWICH'IN

KLUANE FIRST NATION

2011-11-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

KWANE FIRST NATION IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF IN THE TOWN OF BURBANK LANDING ON THE SHORES OF KWANE LAKE. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS THE SOUTHERN TUTCHONE PEOPLE MIGRATED THROUGH THE KLUNE LAKE AREA, HUNTING AND FISHING AND GATHERING FOOD. THEY BELONG TO THE ATHAPASKAN FAMILY THEY ARE CLOSE WITH THEIR NEIGHBORSTHE CHAMPAGNE /AISHIHIK AND ALSO UPPER TANANA. BY 1943 AREA WAS DESIGNATED WAS DESIGNATED A NATIONAL PARK AND IT WAS AVAILIBLE TO THE PEOPLE WHO RELIED ON ITS RESOURCES. THE KUANE LIVE ON THE SHORES OF THE LAKE. THEY ARE PROUD OF OUR 'A SI KEYI' OUR GRANDFATHERS COUNTRY. THEY HAVE CLIMBED THE MOUNTAINS , FISHED THE LAKES AND CREEKS. THEY CELEBRATED THE POTLATCH IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD. WE BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF OUR PEOPLE AND PRACTICE OUR RIGHT TO SELF GOVERN.

CYPN.CA/OURNATION

GWICHYA GWICH'IN COUNCIL

2011-11-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

ARCTIC RED RIVER EQUALS "MOUTH OF THE IRON RIVER". A CATHOLIC MISSION WAS ESTABLISHED WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1869 WHEN THEY BUILT A TRADITIONAL GWICH'IN FISHING CAMP AT THE MOUTH OF THE CONFLUENCE OF THE ARCTIC RED AND MACKENZIE RIVER. IN THE EARLY 1870'S HUDSON BAY TRADING COMPANY TRADING POST WAS BUILT HERE. BY 1940 THERE WERE STILL THREE FAMILIES AT THE SITE

BY 1970'S THE POPULATION BEGAN TO GROW. TODAY THEY HAVE ABOUT 200 FOLKS, 90% ARE GWICH'IN DESCENT AND THEY STILL FOLLOW A TRADITIONAL STYLE OF LIFE OF HUNTING, FISHING AND GATHERING.

CYFN.CA/EHCLITAL

NACHO NYAK DUN FIRST NATION

2011-11-01T15:52:00.000-07:00

THIS NATION REPRESENTS THE MOST NORTHERN COMMUNITY OF THE TUTCHONE FIST NATIONS AT PELLY CROSSING. THE THREE NATIONS FORM A NORTHERN TUTCHONE COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH ISSUES AND VISIONS.

THIS NATION HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ITS BEGINNING IN 1973. MEMBERS OF THE FIRST NATION HELPED GUIDE THE COUNCIL OF YUKON. FIRST NATIONS AND ITS MEMBER NATIONS WERE GUIDED DURING CRITICAL TIMES. TWO OF THEIR ISSUES WERE LOSS OF SELF GOVERNMENT AND RETENTION OF ABORIGINAL RIGHTS. THESE WERE IN THE 1993 AGREEMENTS. THEY NOW OWN 1830 SQUARE MILES OF SETTLEMENT LANDS AND WILL RECEIVE $14,000 OVER 15 YEARS. THEY ARE ACTIVE IN THE MAYO COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE A RICH NATURAL RESOURCES.

CYFN.CA/OURNATIONS

EHDIITAT-GWICH'IN COUNCIL IN CANADA

2011-11-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

THE EHDIITAT GWICH'IN COUNCIL LIVE IN KLAVIK. THIS IS A PLACE OF BARREN LAND OF THE GRIZZLY. IN 1918 IT WAS FOUNDED ON THE PEEL RIVER, NEAR THE MACKENZIE RIVER. IT FLOWS INTO THE SEA NEAR THE MOUNTAINS. THERE ARE THREE MAJOR ZONES -THE DELTA, THE HILLS, THE PLAINS. AKLAVIK IS ON A FLAT AREA BY THE RIVER. THERE ARE 780 PEOPLE HERE. THE FROZEN RIVER HAS A ROD WHILE WATER CROSSINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR PART OF THE YEAR. MOST PEOPLE FLY HERE. THIS IS THE SITE WHERE THE INWIALIUT AND GWICH'IN MET AND GOT GOOD FOOD AND TRADED.

THIS COMMUNITY WAS THE MAIN LOCATION FOR TRADING, TRAPPING, AND BECAME A TRADING POST FOR THE HUDSON BAY FOLKS IN 1912. A MISSION WAS BUILT THERE IN 1926.
THE FIRST NATIONS NEGOTIATED A SELF GOVERNANCE FOR THEIR TRIBES IN 1996 AND IT CONTINUES TODAY. MOST FOLKS FOLLOW THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE. THEY HUNT, FISH, TRAP, DO ARTS AND CRAFTS, TOURISM, EXPLORE FOR MINERAL AND GAS (AN IMPORTANT ECONOMY). THEY HAVE BUILT A HALL, SCHOOL, POOL, PLAYGROUND, OUTDOOR RINK, MUSEUM, HEALTH CENTER, FIRE HALL, AND CHURCH.

CYFN.CA/OURNATIONS

CHAMPAGNE AND AISHIHIK IN CANADA

2011-11-01T14:32:00.000-07:00

THE CHAMPAGNE ARE LOCATED IN HAINES JUNCTION. THEY MAINTAIN A BUSY OFFICE IN WHITEHORSE. THEIR HOMELAND IS IN THE SOUTHWEST YUKON AND NORTHWEST BRITISH COLUMBIA. THEY ARE LOCATED DEZADESH RIVER. THEIR LANGUAGE IS TUTCHONE- A MEMBER OF THE ATHABASKAN. THEY MAINTAIN STRONG RELATIONS WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH AND THE TLINGITS. IN OLDER DAYS THE MOST PEOPLE WERE BILINGUAL. THIS NATION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST OF YUKONS 14 FIRST NATIONS WITH 1200 MEMBERS.

IN 1993 AFTER MORE THAN 29 YEARS OF DEBATE THE YUKON PORTION OF THE TRADITIONAL LAND AND RESOURCES WERE CONFIRMED WITH THE FIRST NATION FINAL AGREEMENT. THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THEM WITH OWNING 2400 SQ. KM. OF LAND AND $28 MILLION TO BE PAID OVER 15 YEARS.

THE AREA OF A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE SCIENTIFIC WORLD IS A RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIND IN MELTING ICE FIELDS WITHIN THE CHAMPAGNE TERRITORY. 150 ARTIFACTS WERE FOUND DATING 800 TO 9,000 YEARS AGO: WEAPONS, TOOLS OF HUNTERS, DEBITAGE SITES PRESERVED IN ICE. IN 2000 A FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEAR OLD BODY OF A HUNTER WAS DISCOVERED IN B.C. THESE FINDS ARE IMPORTANT TO THESE TRIBES TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH ANCESTORS WHO LIVED THERE.

CYFN.CA/OURNATIONS

YUKON INDIANS IN CANADA

2011-11-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

CARCUSS/FAGISH FIRST NATION IS LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF CARCROSS. THESE FOLKS SPOKE ATHAPASKAN AND WERE TAGLISH. THEY BECAME HOME TO TRADERS FROM SOUTHEAST ALASKA WHO CAME TO THE YUKON FOR TRADE PURPOSES FOR 30 YEARS. THE CARCROSS/TAGLISH ARE DESCENDANTS OF THE TAGLISH AND TLINGIT. BY 2006 THEIR NATION BECAME THE SELF GOVERNING ONE.

THEY HAVE BUILT A GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE BASED ON THE CLAN SYSTEM. THERER ARE FIVE CLANS REPRESENTED. EACH CLAN PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THIS FIRST NATION.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO RESTORING JUSTICE AND BELIEVE IN THE WELLNESS OF THE COMMUNITY. THESE FOLKS HAVE POTLATCHES PRESERVING SONGS, DANCES AND ORAL HISTORIES. THEY PRESERVE THEIR ANCESTRAL STORIES.

CYFN.CA/OURNATIONS

TOBIQUE INDIAND IN NEW BRUNSWICK

2011-11-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

PRIOR TO CONTACT THE TOBIQUE OPERATED THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED OF W'OTA'TOKIYOKOK WHICH CONSISTS OF VAST NETWORK OF RIVERS AND LAKES IN 54,000 SQ. KM. THESE NATIVES TRAVELED TO THE RIVERS AND LAKES AND LIVED ON THEIR SHORE. THEY GATHER ANIMALS AND PLANTS FOR NOURISHMENT. THESE PEOPLE HUNTED, FISHED, AND GATHERED ENDLESS PLANTS. THEY COLLECTED BERRIES, NUTS, MEDICINAL PLANTS AND FRUITS. THEY RESPECTED THEIR TERRITORIES.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS VISITED IN THE THE 1490'S. AN ENGLISH KING AND FRENCH CAME TO MAKE PROFITS BUT ALSO CONQUERED LANDS, THAT RESULTED IN WARS.

BY 1763 A PROCLAMATION GUARENTEED THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THEIR LAND AND RESOURCES AND THE TITLES MUST BE PURCHASED OR AN AGREEMENT REACHED. THEY WERE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO A BIG SPIDER WEB SPREAD OVER THEIR HOMELAND WITH 65 CAMPSITES AND 15 MAIN VILLAGES. THEY ALLOWED PEACEFUL NOMADIC NATIVE IMMIGRANTS USE AND OCCUPY PARCELS OF LAND THEY MADE ALLIES WITH THE FRENCH AS EARLY AS 1500 AND 1600.

THEN BOTH FRENCH AND ENGLISH PILAGED THE RESOURCES OF ALL THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. THEY DISREGARDED THE 1763 PROCLAMATION THAT GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO TO THESE LANDS. FINALLY IN 1867 CANADA TOOK RESPONSIBILITY TO RESERVE THEIR LANDS UNDER THE BRITISH NATIVE AMERICAN ACT. THEY RECIEVED THE MANAGEMENT AND SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS THAT BELONGED TO THE PROVINCE AS WELL AS TIMBER AND WOODS THERE.

TOBIQUELANDRIGHTS.COM

SAINT MARY'S FIRST NATION

2011-10-31T17:05:00.000-07:00

THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF SAINT MARY'S COMMUNITY THE OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF SAINT MARY'S COMMUNITY ON THEIR RESERVATION WAS IN 1867. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS USED AS A CAMPGROUND AND AT LEAST AS EARLY AS 1818, THE YEAR OF A WIGWAM SITE. THEY HAVE INDICATIONS THAT IT WAS A CAMPGROUND IN THE EARLY 1800'S.

MOST OF THE FOLKS WHO USED THIS SITE CAME FROM MALISEET VILLAGE IN KINGSCLEAR. BUT SINCE OUR PEOPLE REGULARLY TRAVEL UP AND DOWN RIVER AS PART OF THEIR MIGRATIONS, THERE WAS A MIXTURE OF PEOPLE FROM FROM ALL VILLAGES. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE MALISEET TRAVELERS WERE ATTRACTIVE SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO FURS, BASKETS, MOCCASSINS, AND SNOW SHOES THAT THEY TRADED.

THE EARLIEST WRITTEN EVIDENCE AT ST. MARY'S CAME IN 1832 AND AGAIN IN 1814. THEY CALLED IT THE INJUN CAMP, AS AN INSULT. BY 1947 THEY CHANGED THE NAME TO DEVON. THEY BUILT A MISSION FOR THE MALISEETS IN THE AREA AND THERE WAS A CHURCH OF ST. ANNE. GABE IS A RECOGNIZED FOUNDERS OF THEIR COMMUNITY OF ST. MARY'S IN 1847. IT WAS A MALISEET COMMUNITY AT THE TIME.

HE MET A WOMAN AND LIVED A MIGRATORY LIFESTYLE. HE FOUND REGULAR EMPLOYMENT AS A GUIDE FOR TOURISTS BY 1850'S AND HIS WIFE WAS KNOWN FOR HER BEADWORK. HE CLEARED 14 ACRES AND PLANTED A GARDEN AND LIVED IN A WIGWAM UNTIL 1857 WHEN HE BUILT A HOUSE WHICH GAVE HIM RECOGNITION AS FOUNDER.

BY 1861 SAINT MARYS HAD GROWN FROM 9 HOUSEHOLDS TO 21 HOUSEHOLDS. SOME OF THESE FOLKS WERE HUNTING GUIDES, SOME ARTISTS, AND CRAFTSMEN, AND CANOEMAKERS. THEY HAD A LARGE GROWTH OF POPULAQTION. THEN THEY EXPERIENCED THEFT OF THEIR LANDS AND DESTRUCTION OF HUNTING BOUNDARIES, STARVATION, DISEASE FOR MALISEET. THIS WAS DUE TO GREED OF THE NEW PIONEERS. IN 1844 THEY PASSED THE ACT OF DISPOSING LANDS RESERVED FOR THE INDIANS AND THE ANGLOS WERE INVOLVED IN FRAUD AS RAILROAD BARONS/ LEGISLATURES BY GRANTING MORE LANDS TO ENGLAND. THE MID 1800'S HAD INTENSE RASICM AS OTHER PEOPLE CONSIDERED THE NATIVE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD IN LITURATURE AS SAVAGE, LAZY, AND LESS THAN HUMAN. THE MALISEET AND OTHERS EXPERIENCED RACISM. HOWEVER, THIS TRIBE WAS BOTH STRONG AND HAD RESISTENCE TO REPEATED REMOVAK EFFORTS. IN 1865 THEIR LAND WAS SOLD TO AN ANGLO, MR. HUGHES.BY 1865 THE GOVERNMENT AGREED TO BUY A PIECE OF LAND FOR THE MALISEETS. THEIR LAND MEASURED 2 1/2 ACRES. THE FIRST FEDERAL AGENT TO BE APPOINTED HAD THE JOB OF ASSIMILATING AND CIVILIZING INDIANS THROUGH AGRICULTURE, SCHOOLING AND REDUCTION OF GOVERNMENT RESISTANCE TO INDIANS.

THE NATIVES HAD RESISTED THIS AND COMPLAINED SINCE THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED AT THE SAME TIME FISH AND GAME WERE RESTRICTED AND A WORLD OF LAWS WERE RESTRICTED AND AWARDED A WORLDWIDE DEPRESSION. THE SAINT MARY'S NATIVES SUFFERED AND REFUSED TO PUT THEIR KIDS IN ANGLO SCHOOLS. THEY HAD NO SPACE FOR AGRICULTURE, POOR HEALTH, LIMITED WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOGGING, RAFTING, GUIDING, TRAPPING, AND THE MAKING OF BASKETS, CANOES, AND MOCCASINS.

IN 1884, THE INDIANADVANCEMENT ACT GAVE SAINT MARY'S NATIVES A MISSION TO SEEK RESTORATION OF THEIR LANDS. IN 1885 THEY BUILT A BRIDGE OVER ST. JOHN'S RIVER AND THEY BUILT FACTORIES FOR MANUFACTURING CANOES AND SHOEPACKS. SOME OF THE NATIVES HAD TO TRAVEL TO SELL THEIR GOODS AND WORK IN THE WOODS AND MILLS. THESE FOLKS ARE STILL UNSETTLED WITH MANY ISSUES AND STILL STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL.

ST MARY'S FIRST NATION.COM

ACADIAN.COM

MADAWASKA INDIANS IN NEW BRUNSWICK

2011-10-31T15:10:00.000-07:00

MADEWASKA LIVE ON A KNOLL NEAR EDMONSTON, NEW BRUNSWICK ON THE ROAD TO SAINT BASILE. THIS IS THEIR RESERVATIONAND THE REMNANTS OF THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF THE SAINT JOHN RIVER. THE VALIENT MALECITE WERE AN ALLY TO ACADIA AND WERE ENEMIES OF NEW ENGLAND PIONEERS. TRADITION HAS IT THAT THIS SITE WAS KNOWN AS MADOUESKAK. THIS SETTLEMENT WAS CALLED MADOUESKAK. IT WAS HERE FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES BEFORE THE FRENCH EXPLORATION OF ACADIA AND CANADA. THE INDIAN VILLAGE HAD ABOUT 300 FOLKS AND WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CENTER OF THE MALACITE TRIBE.

THE MALICITES WERE PART OF THE ABENAKIS NATION AND PASSAMAQUODDYS. THE WORD MADAWASKA IS OF MICMAC ORIGIN. MADOULS MEANS "PORCUPINE" AND KAK MEANS "PLACE". THEY LIVE IN IN THE LAND OF THE PORCUPINE. THE ABORIGINES OF THE VALLEY COULD BE THE MICMACS.

THE MALICITES WERE A NOMADIC PEOPLE. THEY FISHED, HUNTED DEER AND MOOSE, AND THEY ALSO CHASED MOHAWKS. THEIR VILLAGE WAS ALMOST DESERTED. THE TRIBE OF THE MADAWASKA OCCUPIED ALL OF THE ST. JOHN VALLEY FROM THE GRAND FALLS, NEW BRUNSWICK TO QUEBEC. THEIR CAPITAL WAS THE MOUTH OF THE MADAWASKA RIVER. THIS VILLAGE WAS SURROUNDED BY A THICK STOCKADE OF TREES THAT WAS IMPENETRABLE. THE INDIANS FROM LOWER ST. JOHN VALLEY AS WELL AS THOSE OF THE KENEBEC TOOK REFUGE IN THESE TREES DURING ENEMY INCURSIONS.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF WARS IN THE AREA AND SEVERAL MASSACRES WHEN THE IROQUOIS ARRIVED AT THE VILLAGE OF THE MADAOVESKAKS. THEY FOUND THEIR GREAT CHIEF OF THE MALICITES HAD ORGANIZED A DEFENSE OF HIS FORT WITH 100 WARRIORS. THE MALECITES GAVE UP THE STRUGGLE. THERE WAS CONSTANT DISASTER. THE IROQUOIS ORDER THE CHIEF OF THE MADOUESKAKS TO SURRENDER THE FORT . HE SAID YOUR EVIL MASTER TO SHOW HIMSELF ON MY FIELDS. THEY WERE AGAIN DEFEATED. THEY ATTRIBUTED THEIR BAD LUCK TO THE EVIL ONE. THEY HAVE MANY LEGENDS.

ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGISTS THEY HAD WEAPONS 400 YEARS BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF THIS TERRITORY. BY 1787 IN MADAWASKA RIVER THE SURVEYOR GENERAAL FOUND AN INDIAN VILLAGE OF 60 FAMILIES. THEY ARE VISITED BY PRIESTS.

ARCADIAN.ORG

ART SHOW AT CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

2011-10-31T12:51:00.000-07:00

I WENT TO THE ART SHOW AT THE CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE. I SAW A NUMBER OF GREAT PAINTINGS, JEWELRY, PHOTOS, QUILTS, AS WELL AS WEAVINGS. I MET MY FRIENDS FROM HEALDSBURG. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ARTISTS. SOME OF THE SALES MONEY OF THESE PROJECTS GOES TO THE CHURCH. I SPOKE TO THE OLDER FOLKS AND MET SOME YOUNGER PEOPLE ALSO. ONE 17 YEAR OLD WAS DOING SOME MAGIC SHOW WITH COINS AND WITH CARDS. I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS DOING AS THERE WERE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME. HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO MOVE TO SAN FRANCISCO TO GET HIS ACT GOING.I MET A MAN WHO HAD SAND BLASTED SMALL AND LARGE STONES WITH CELTIC DESIGNS. I KNOW HE HAS BEEN COMING TO THIS CHURCH A LONG TIME. I ALSO REMET A LADY WHO LED ANIMAL MINISTRIES FOR THE CHURCH. I MET AN INTERESTING 22 YEAR OLD BLACK YOUNG MAN AND HIS FATHER. THEY WERE INTERESTED IN MY STORY OF MY MANY ETHNICITIES AND MY BACKGROUND AND HOW I MET MY HUSBAND. HE WAS THE SAME AGE AS MY SON AND HAD HEARD OF PAT LIVES. HE WAS INTERESTED IN MEETING MY SON. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE FOUR FLUTE PLAYERS WHO PLAYED FOR HOURS UPSTAIRS. IT WAS ALSO WELL SUPPLIED WITH GREAT FOOD TRAYS AND THEY HAD MANY ART PIECES FOR AUCTION.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

2011-10-31T09:10:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THIS CHURCH AND THERE WAS AN ENERGETIC YOUNG MINISTER FROM COLORADO. HER MESSAGE WAS HOW YOU CAN HEAL YOUR PAST. THERE WAS A GREAT SINGER AND BAND ALSO. SHE SAID OUR THOUGHTS ARE OFTEN THAT WE ARE NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE ALL WHOLE JUST AS WE ARE. FORGIVE EVEYONE. WHENEVER WE LOVE OURSELVES EVERTTHING WORKS. SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE CAME FROM AN ABUSIVE FAMILY. HEAL VENGEFUL WAYS OF THINKING - NO ONE WINS. HEAL PHYSIOLOGICAL PATTERS - MOST OF OUR BELIEFS ARE ENCODED BY 3 YEARS OLD. SAFETY IS AN ISSUE AS MANY OF US HAVE FEARS - LEARN TO RELEASE THEM AND FEEL SECURE. LOVE YOURSELF - NO ONE HAS POWER TO MAKE US FEEL GOOD. JUDGEMENT OF PEOPLE IS DETERMINED FROM WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ON THE OUTSIDE. BUT WE SHOULD NOT PREJUDGE PEOPLE. ANGER IS FEELING THE CREATES EATING DISORDERS. LEARN WHO YOU CAN TALK TO TO RELEASE YOUR ANGER. TO BE HEALTHY WE CAN SHIFT OUR THINKING AND LET THE GOOD ENTER. NOTHING CAN STOP YOU, EVERY MORNING IS A NEW ARRIVAL. DO NOT LET YOUR PAST DEFINE WHO YOU ARE. SHE WAS ALSO A GREAT SINGER.

MY EXPERIENCE SAVING THE LIFE OF A GIRLFRIEND

2011-10-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

WHEN I WAS A MOM TAKING CARE OF OF MY SON, I GOT A CALL FROM ONE OF MY GIRLFRIEND'S WHO LIVED NEARBY US. SHE DID NOT KNOW SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BUT WAS IN PAIN AND ASKED ME TO TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS AN UNLIKELY EXPERIENCE AS MY CAR WAS IN MY GARAGE AND IT DID NOT OPEN WITH MY BUTTON. I HAQD A NEIGHBOR FIGURE IT OUT. MY SON WAS IN SCHOOL. AFTER I GOT TO HER HOUSE ANOTHER GIRLFRIEND WAS THEIR AND BOTH OF US HAD TO HELP HER GET INTO MY CAR TO TAKE HER TO THE NEARBY EMERGENCY ROOM. I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE DID NOT CALL AN AMBULANCE. IN ANY CASE THEY CALLED HER HUSBAND WHO WAS IN A NEARBY TOWN. HE CAME THERE SOON. SHE HAD A MINOR HEART ATTACK AND THEY MOVED HER TO THE MAIN HOSPITAL WHERE SHE HAD OPEN HEART SURGERY BY A VERY RELIABLE SURGEON. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME TO HEAR ABOUT THIS SINCE SHE WAS YOUNG AND VERY THIN. I GUESS SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNDER STRESS WITH FOUR KIDS..?

IN ANY CASE SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT A WEEK OR SO. I FOUND OUT THAT HER HUSBAND DID NOT KNOW HOW TO COOK! I MADE THEM A MEAL OR TWO. I GUESS HE LEARNED AFTER THAT. I ALSO WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO VISIT HER AND BRING HER SOME ROSES FROM OUR GARDEN. IT TOOK HER SEVERAL MONTHS TO RECOUPERATE WITH SOME SETBACKS AS USUAL. I VISITED HER AND CHATTED WITH HER AS I WAS MAKING A FOUNTAIN BUSINESS AS I RAISED MY SON. I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS EXPERIENCE. I HAD SOME OF HER FRIENDS OVER FOR A SMALL BRUNCH DURING HER RECOVERY PERIOD. COOKING MAKES ME HAPPY. AND I'M ALSO A PEOPLE PERSON. I REALIZED THAT RAISING A CHILD WITHOUT ANY RELATIVES NEARBY IS A LONELY EXPERIENCE. SO I JOINED A MOM'S GROUP IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS AND JOINED A CHURCH. WE ALL HAD SIMILAR ISSUES TO DISCUSS.

SLAVEY INDIANS IN CANADA

2011-10-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

THESE FOLK LIVE IN FORT NELSON IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. THEY HAVE MANY DEPARTMENTS. THEY SPEAK DENI THA, AN ATHABASKAN LANGUAGE. ABOUT 2500 PEOPLE SPEAK THIS LANGUAGE. THEY LIVE IN A BOREAL FOREST OF THE SUBARCTIC. THEY HAVE MANY LAKES. THEY ARE CULTURALLY RELATED TO THE HARE, GUNRICHIN, IN DOGRIB. THE ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR AT LEAST 3000 B.C., OR 5000 YEARS. THEY USED TO FISH A LOT, HUNT SMALL GAME, MOOSE, CARIBOU, AND GATHER BERRIES. IN WINTER THEY CAMPED IN GROUPS OF 30 RELATED FOLKS. DURING SUMMER THEY ALL CAME TOGETHER BRIEFLY WITH 300 FOLKS.

BY 1789 MACKENZIE WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO MEET THEM. AFTER 1821 HUDSON BAY COMPANY DEVELOPED FORT SIMPSON. THEY LIVED IN SMALL KIN BASED COMMUNITIES. THEY SPOKE THEIR OWN LANGUAGE, HARVESTED TRADITIONAL FOODS.

THEY NOW HAVE A WEBSITE WITH TRADITIONAL USE AREA AND A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS. THE DENEARE KNOWN AS THE SLAVEY, THE NORTHERNMOST TRIBE IN ALBERTA. THE NAME SLAVEY WAS DEROGATORY BY THEIR ENEMIES THE CREE. THEY HAD SMALL BANDS WITH NO LEADERSHIP. THEY WERE A PEACEFUL PEOPLE AND HAD A REPUTATION OF BEING POWERFUL SORCERERS. THEY WORE DECORATIVE CLOTHING, WERE PEACEFUL, AND HAD FEW ENEMIES. THEY USED PORCUPINE QUILLS TO DECORATE CLOTHING. THE WOMEN ARE RENOWNED FOR THEIR BEAUTIFUL BEADWORK.

WAYBACKARCHIVEIT.ORG

SARCEE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN CANADA

2011-10-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

THIS TRIBE IS A VIABLE TRIBE WITH TRAGEDIES AND STRUGGLES AND TRAGEDIES. THE SARCEE ARE AN ATHABASKAN OR DENE TRIBE AND MEANS "BOLDNESS OR HARDINESS. THEY CALL THEMSELVES "TSUUTINA" OR MANY PEOPLE. AFTER THE TREATY OF 1877 THE SARCEE MOVED TO THEIR PRESENT RESERVATION.

ACCORDING TO A LEGEND THEY SPLIT WITH THE NORTHERN TRIBES. PROBABLY THE BEAVER MOVED TO THE PLAINS WHEN THEY ARE IN CONTACT WITH THE BLACKFOOT, CREE, AND STONY TRIBES. THEY HAVE ATTAINED THEIR LANGUAGE. IN 1857 THEIR POPULATION WAS ABOUT 1400. IN THE 1830'S SMALLPOX, SCARLET FEVER AND OTHER DISEASES, AS WELL AS WAR REDUCED THEM TO TO 450. HOWEVER, THEY INCREASED TO 1990. EACH BAND CAMPED IN TIPIS AND HUNTED DURING THE WINTER. DURING THE SUMMER ALL BANDS MET TO HUNT BUFFALO, COLLECT BERRIES, AND HAVE FESTIVALS AND DANCES. THEY BELIEVED THEY HAD A SUPERNATURAL POWER ATTAINED THROUGH A DREAM, AND IT WAS ENSHRINED IN A MEDICINAL OBJECT OR TIPI PAINTING. THE QUEST FOR SUPERNATURAL POWER WAS HIGHLY VALUED.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

CREE INDIANS IN CANADA - PART 2

2011-10-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

THE MOTHERS MADE CRADLEBOARDS SO THEY COULD HAVE FREEDOM WITH THEIR HANDS. MEN WERE HUNTERS AND FISHERS AND WENT TO WAR TO PROTECT THEIE CHILDREN . THE WOMEN CARED FOR THE FAMILY , BUILT THE HOUSES, GATHERED PLANTS AND MEDICINALS. BOTH DID STORYTELLING, ART, AND MUSIC, AND FESTIVALS. IN THE PAST THE CHIEF WAS ALWAYS A MAN. TODAY A WOMAN CAN ALSO BE ONE. THEY MADE CLOTHING FROM DEERSKIN WHEN COLD. MEN WORE BREECHCLOTHES WHEN WARM. THEY LATER WORE ANGLO CLOTHES WITH BEADWORK, EMBROIDERY, AND RIBBON FOR COSTUMES.

THEY WORE FUR AND LEATHER CAPS WITH FEATHERS. THE CHIEFS WORE LONG FEATHER HEADRESSES. BOTH SEXES WORE THEIR HAIR IN LONG BRAIDS AND PAINTED THEIR FACES FOR CEREMONIES AND WORE TRIBAL TATTOOS. THEY MADE MOCCASINS.

THEY BUILT BIRCHBARK CANOES THAT THEY WERE WELL KNOWN FOR. AFTER ANGLOS CAME THEY BUILT THEM WITH CANVAS. IT IS STILL POPULAR TODAY. THEY USE DOGS FOR PACK ANIMALS FOR SLEDS FOR WINTER TRAVEL. THEY ALSO MAKE AND WEAR SNOWSHOES.
THEIR FOOD WAS PRIMARILY CARIBOU WHO CAUGHT CARIBOU, ELK, MOOSE, AND SMALL GAME. THE PLAINS CREE HUNTED BUFFALO. THE EASTERN CREE FISHED AND HUNTED SEALS WITH CANOES.

WHEN HUNTING BUFFALO THEY USED CONTROLLED FIRES AND HERDED THEM OVER A CLIFF. THEY MADE A FLUTE-LIKE SOUND TO LEER HE MOOSE. THEIR ARTS AND CRAFTS ARE LIKE QUILLING CRAFTS, WOOD CARVING, AND COLORFUL BEADWORK. THEY MADE WAMPUM BEADS AS A CURRENCY BUT THEY WERE A KIND OF CURRENCY. THE DESIGNS TOLD A STORY ON THEIR BELTS. THEIR SPIRITUALITY WAS COMPLEX.

HERE IS A MYTH THAT IS CALLED "COYOTE CREATES THE EARTH". WHEN THERE WAS NO EARTH,ONLY WATER, COYOTE WAS FLOATING ON A SMALL RAFT WHEN HE MET DUCKS. THEY WERE THE ONLY OTHER CREATURES. HE SAID NO ONE ELSE WAS THERE EXCEPT HIS BRTHERS. YOU MUST GET US SOME EARTH TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT. COYOTE SAID TO RED MALLARD - DIVE BENEATH THE WATER TO BRING UP SOME EARTH. WE NEED IT FOR LIVING. HE DOVE DOWN AND REMAINED THERE WITHOUT BRINGING UP ANY EARTH, COYOTE ASKED THE PINTO DUCK TO DO THE SAME THING. HE DOVE UNDER THE WATER AND DID NOT BRING UP EARTH.

GREBE SPOKE UP AND AND SAID YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED ME TO GO BEFORE YOU. HE TOOK HIS TURN DIVING. AFTER SOME TIME HE CAME UP WITH SOME LITTLE DIRT. COYOTE SAID "TO EVERY UNDERTAKING THERE ARE FOUR TRIAL. YOU HAVE ACHIEVED IT. THEN HE TOOK THE MUD AND SAID I WILL TAKE THIS INTO THE EARTH. YOU WILL LIVE ON THE STREAMS AND BUILD YOUR NESTS. I AM GOING TO BUILD THE EARTH. COYOTE TOOK THE MUD AND SAID PLENTY OF ROOM. AS HE TRAVELED ALONG THE SPREAD AND THE MUD HE MADE THE EARTH. HE TRAAVELED FOR A LONG TIME. WHEN HE FINISHED HE SAID,"NOW WE HAVE THE EARTH, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WANT TO BE HERE". THEY HEARD WOLF HOWLING ..THERE HE IS. COYOTE POINTED TO THE SUN AND SAID LISTEN, THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OUT THERE NOW. "THAT COYOTE HAS ATTAINED LIFE BY HIS OWN POWERS", COYOTE SAID. THEN THEY WENT FOR A WALK ON THE PLAINS THEY SAW SOME SHINING OBJECTS. THEY SAW THEY WERE MEDICINE STONE.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

CREE INDIANS IN CANADA

2011-10-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

CREE INDIANS SPEAK ALGONQUIAN LANGUAGE AND THERE ARE 45,000 PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CANADA AND INTO MONTANA. THEY HAVE 5 MAJOR DIALECTS,SOME ARE CLOSE TO THE INNU LANGUAGE. THE CREE UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE CLOSE TO THEM BUT NOT FURTHER AWAY. THE CREE LANGUAGE HAS THE BEST SURVIVAL CANADIAN LANGUAGES. THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL OF AMERICAN INDIANS. MOST OF THEIR CHILDREN ARE RAISED BILINGUALLY IN CREE AND ENGLISH OR FRENCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.

THE CREE ARE THE LARGEST AND NATIVE GROUP IN CANADA WITH 200,000 MEMBERS AND SELF GOVERNED NATIONS. CREE COMES FROM FRENCH NAME FOR TRIBE 'KRISTENAUX AND AN ALGONQUIN WORD MEANING "FIRST PEOPLE". THEY ARE ALSO MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE KNOWN AS METIS OR MIXED BLOOD OF CREE, FRENCH, AND CANADIAN ANCESTRY. THE MANY CREE REGARD THE METIS AS THEIR BRETHREN AND INDEED THEY SPEAK THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. THE ATIKEMENK AND IMMU ARE RELATED CREE BUT CONSIDER THEMSELVES DISTINCT.

CREE HISTORY IS VERY HARD TO SUMMARIZE BECAUSE THE CREE TRIBE SPANS A BROAD TERRITORY ACROSS THE EAST. CREE HISTORY IS VERY HARD TO SUMMARIZE BECAUSE THE CREE TRIBE SPANS SPANS A BROAD TERRITORY ACROSS THE EAST. THEIR COMMON CULTURE AND LANGUAGE BINDS THEM TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE. THE PEOPLE WEATHERED ANGLO DISEASES WELL AS THEIR NAME NUMBERS AND BROAD RANGE HELPED TO KEEP THE DISEASES FROM SPREADING TOO MUCH. THEY PRACTICED INTERTRIBAL MARRIAGES.

THE ENGLISH TRIED TO MOVE GROUPS FURTHER FROM THEIR LANDS WHILE LANDS WHILE THE FRENCH TRIED TO MOVE GROUPS FURTHER FROM THEIR LANDS AND ENGULF THEM. THE FRENCH AND CREE GOT ALONG WELL. THE CREE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MOST NATIVE AMERICANS DO - SELF DETERMINATION AND LAND CONTROL. BUT THEY ARE BETTER MAINTAINED TO FACE THEIR PROBLEMS.

TODAY THERE ARE 200,000 CREE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE COMMUNITIES OF CANADA AND THE NORTHERN U.S. ALSO THERE ARE 100,000 METIS IN CANADA. THE PLAINS AND WOODLAND CREE ARE THE SAME. EACH CREE COMMUNITY HAS IT'S OWN RESERVE. INDIAN LANDS ARE CALLED FIRST NATIONS. THEIR POLITICAL LEADER IS CALLED A CHIEF WHO CAN BE EITHER A MAN OR A WOMAN. THE CREE SPEAK ENGLISH OR FRENCH AND SOME SPEAK CREE. IT IS A MUSICAL LANGUAGE. THE CHILDREN LEARNED FROM THE PAST BY WATCHING THEIR PARENTS. THEY HAD TO HELP AROUND THE HOUSE. THE KIDS HAD MORE CHORES THAN TODAY. THE BOYS PLAYED LA CROSS.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

CHIPEWYAN INDIANS IN CANADA

2011-10-25T12:41:00.000-07:00

CHIPEWYAN IS AN ATHABASKAN LANGUAGE OF NORTHERN CANADA, MANY PEOPLE HERE ARE BILINGUAL IN CHIPEWYAN AND CREE. ABOUT 400 NATIVE PEOPLE SPEAK CHIPEWYAN IN CANADA.

THEY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FUR TRADE, THEY HAVE FEW PLACE NAMES OF THE 17 TRIBES LINKED TO CHIPEWYAN. TWELVE COMMEMORATE THE TRIBE BUT APPEAR TO COME INTO USE BECAUSE OF THE CREE.

EIGHT NAMES ARE LINKED TO CHIPEWYAN ONLY BECAUSE THE FORT CHIPEWYAN BAND AROUND LAKE ATHABASCAN HAS 8 SEPARATE BODIES OF RESERVATION LAND. MOST ARE LESS THAN 55 ACRES. TWO NAMES COMMEMORATE A CHIPEWYAN PERSON - PICHE LAKE AND SAINT PICHE RIVER. THESE FEATURES ARE NAMED AFTER A CHIPEWYAN PERSON WHO LIVED AT HEART LAKE RESERVATION. THEY SHOULD HAVE MORE PLACE NAMES THAN THEY DO. WE HAVE LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR ORIGIN.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

BEAVER INDIANS IN CANADA - PART 2

2011-10-25T10:21:00.000-07:00

THE MOTHER'S BROTHER MIGHT TAKE A STRONG ROLE IN A BOY'S TRAINING WHILE GIRL'S LOOKED TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER'S FOR INSTRUCTION. KINSHIP NETWORKS CONTINUE TO BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSES AND ARE SUPPLEMENTAL WITH FORMAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOL.

IN 19TH CENTURY THE MISSION SCHOOLS WERE INTENDED FOR THE CHILDREN OF TRADERS AND ORPHANS, LATER CATHOLICS AND OTHER FOLKS OPERATED RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS0 FOR NATIVE POPULATIONS. MANY KIDS WERE TAKEN LONG DISTANCES FROM THEIR HOMES AND CONFINED FOR YEARS WITHOUT USING TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES.

UP UNTIL THE 70'S THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS WHEN THEY WERE CLOSED AND NATIVES ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ADMINISTERED BY THE TERRITORIAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. THE LEVEL OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF NA DENE STUDENTS IS BELOW THE NATIONAL NORMS.

THE 'T SET SAUT' IS A SMALL GROUP OF FOLKS ORIGINALLY LOCATED SOUTH OF THE TAHLTAN IN NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA. SCHOOL PROGRAMS IN NA DENE LANGUAGES HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE. ENGLISH IS IN SCHOOLS, NATIVE LANGUAGES ARE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SOME SECONDARY AND COLLEGE LEVELS. THE ONLY COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE FLUENT ARE THOSE WHERE THE NATIVE LANGUAGE IS STILL SPOKEN OF. THERE IS A SLOW RATE OF NATIVE LANGUAGE LITERACY. MANY MISSIONARIES USED NATIVE LANGUAGES IN THE CHURCH SERVICES.

THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HAS DECLARED THE 5 ATHAPASKAN LANGUAGES TO BE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ON AN EQUAL STANDING WITH ENGLISH AND FRENCH.

THE TREND TOWARD THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF ENGLISH HAS NOT BEEN REVERSED. THE DOMINANCE OF ENGLISH AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT IS USED TO HAVE ALL CONSPIRED TO WEAKEN THE NATURAL LANGUAGE. THEIR RELIGION IF THE NADENE BEAVER INDIANS RECOGNIZE OR SPIRITS OF NATURAL FORCES, ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND FORMS, AND INANIMATE OBJECTS. THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS INSURED THAT ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF FOOD, ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND INANIMATE OBJECTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE SPIRIT OF POWERS WERE WERE DIRECTED TO THE INJURED OR SICK. SOME NA DENE BELIEVED IN REINCARNATION.

TODAY THEY HAVE REVERENCE FOR THE LAND AND NATURAL WORLD EVEN IF THEY DO NOT MAKE OFFERINGS TO THE SPIRITS. NATIVE SPIRITUAL LEADERS SUCH AS SLAVE DOGRIB PRACTICE TRADITIONAL HEALING FORMS. SOME NA DENE ACCEPT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL. IN 1844 A MUSEUM WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE BEAVER TRIBES. THEY STILL ORGANIZE POTLATCHES AND ARE REGULAR CHURCH GOERS.

WAYBACKARCHIVE.ORG

BEAVER INDIANS IN CANADA

2011-10-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

BEAVER NATION IS KNOWN AS THE DENNE-ZA OR DWELLERS AMONG THE BEAVERS. AS COUSINS TO THE SLAVERY AND CHPEWYAN. THEY ALL SPEAK ATHAPASKAN ROOTED LANGUAGES. THEY ORIGINALLY INHABITED A VAST TERRITORY BETWEEN THE PRESENT DAY BORDER AND PEACE RIVER. THE CREE DROVE THEM WEST AS THEY HAD GUNS FROM THE ANGLOS. THE BEAVER BEGAN TO HUNT GAME THROUGHOUT PEACE RIVER AND THE TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THEY WERE KNOWN AS EXCEPTIONAL HUNTERS AND PEACEFUL. THEY LIVED IN SMALL FAMILY BANDS OF 1000. BY 1800 THEY WERE REDUCED TO 500 DUE TO DISEASE SUCH AS SMALLPOX, MEASLES, ETC.

THEY FINALLY SIGNED THE TREATY IN 1900. THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE THE ATHAPASKAN SEKANI AND THE CREE. TRADING POSTS WERE ESTABLISHED ALONG THE PEACE RIVER IN 1790'S. MANY ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONARIES CONVERTED SOME BEAVER FOLKS. THEY WERE NOMADIC HUNTERS AND GATHERES. BEAVERS WERE THEIR IMPORTANT GAME AND WERE THEIR FUR TRADE ITEM. WAGE LABOR COMPETES WITH HUNTING AND TRAPPING AS THE MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME.

MANY OF THE KIDS DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL OR JUNIOR HIGH BECAUSE OFTHE DIFFICULTY WITH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

WAYBACKARCHIVE.ORG

NASKAPI INDIANS IN CANADA

2011-10-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

NASKAPI IS AN ALGONQIAN LANGUAGE SPOKEN BY ABOUT 800 FOLKSIN EASTERN CANADA. THE NESKAPIAND MONTAGNAIS ARE ACTUALLY PART OF SOME INDIAN NATIONS. NASKAPI IS SPOKEN BY INNU COMMUNITIES IN QUEBEC AND LABRADOR. EVERY CHILD IS FLUENT IN THEIR TRADITIONAL TONGUE.

NASKAPI MEANS 'INTERIOR PEOPLE'. BOTH MONTAGNAIS AND NASKAPI WERE ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE SAME INDIAN NATION. THERE ARE ABOUT 14,000 INNU IN LABRADOR AND QUEBEC. EVERY CHILD IS FLUENT IN THEIR TRADITIONAL TONGUE.

NASKAPI MEANS INTERIOR PEOPLE. BOTH MONTAGNAIS AND NASKAPI WERE ACTUALLY MEMBERS OF THE SAME TRIBE, THE INNU, THERE ARE ABOUT 14,000 INNU IN LABRADOR AND QUEBEC TODAY, OF WHOM 800 ARE NASKAPI.

EARLY INNU RELATIONS WITH EUROPEANS WERE FRIENDLY. THE INNU TRADED FURS WITH FRENCH AND ALLIED AGAINST THE IROQOUIS CONDERACY. THE EUROPEANS DEFEATED THE FRENCH, INNU, AND ALGONQUIAN AND BETWEEN WAR AND DISEASES THEY WERE DECIMATED. THE SURVIVORS SETTLED IN VILLAGES BY WELL INTENDED EUROPEANS. TODAYTHE INUIT AND THEIR NEIGHBORS STRUGGLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF LAND.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

HURON/ WYONDAT TRIBE

2011-10-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

WYONDATS MEANS PENNISULA PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE IN OKLAHOMA USE THE SPELLING WYANDOTTS. HURON WAS THE FRENCH NAME FOR WYONDAT, AND IT MEANS 'WILD BOAR'. THEIR LANGUAGE IS RELATED TO THE IROQUOIS. THEY WERE ENEMIES THOUGH. THEY ARE ORIGINAL RESIDENTS ORIGINAL RESIDENTS OF SAINT LAWRENCE VALLEY IN QUEBEC. MANY FLED TO OHIO AND MICHIGAN. OTHERS FLED TO OKLAHOMA TO KANSAS DURING INDIAN REMOVAL OF THE 1800'S.

THEY HAVE TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE U.S. ONE IN KANSAS AND ONE IN OKLAHOMA.EACH TRIBE HAS LAND THAT IS MOSTLY FOLKS WHO SPEAK ENGLISH. IN CANADA THE HURONS SPEAK FRENCH. THE LAST FLUENT HURON WYANDOT SPEAKER DIED IN THE 1960'S. SOME ELDERS REMEMBER THEIR LANGUAGE.

THE KIDS GO TO SCHOOL AND HELP THEIR PARENTS AND THEY HELPED IN HUNTING AND FISHING. IN THE PAST THEY HAD MORE CHORES. THE TEENS PLAYED LA CROSS. THE MOTHER'S MADE CRADLEBOARDS AND CARRIED THE BABIES ON THEIR BACKS TO HAVE THEIR HANDS FREE. THE MEN HUNTED, WERE WARRIORS, AND DIPLOMATS. THE WOMEN WERE IN CHARGE OF FARMING, PROPERTY, AND THE FAMILY. THE MEN AND WOMEN HAD EQUAL DIVISIONS OF POWER. MEN MADE POLITICAL DECISIONS, FOR THE CLANS. TODAY WOMEN CAN BE COUNCIL MEMBERS ALSO .

THE HOMES THEY MADE FROM WOOD POLES COVERED WITH SHEETS OF BARK. EACH HOUSE WAS 150 FEET LONG. UP TO 60 PEOPLE LIVE IN A CLAN AND COULD LIVE IN LARGER HOUSES. THE VILLAGES WERE PALLISADED FOR PROTECTION. TODAY LONGHOUSES ARE BUILT FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSES ONLY.

IN THE PAST THEY WORE DEERSKIN LEGGINGS AND BREECHCLOTHS. THE WOMEN WORE DEERSKIN DRESSES AND WRAPPED AROUND SKIRTS. WITH MOCCASINS. THEY DIDN'T WEAR LONG HEADDRESSES. THE WOMEN AND MEN USUALLY WORE THEIR HAIR LONG. SOME MEN SHAVED THEIR HAIR IN MOHAWK STYLE. MEN PAINTED THEIR FACES AND WORE TRIBAL TATTOOS. WOMEN DID NOT.

THEY USED TO MAKE BIRCH BARK CANOES TO TRAVEL IN. OVER LAND IN PREHISTORIC TIMES THEY USED DOGS AND PACK ANIMALS. THEY WERE FARMING PEOPLE. THE WOMEN HARVESTED CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, AND SUNFLOWERS. THE MEN HUNTED DEER, TURKEYS, SMALL GAME, AND FISHED.

THEIR ARRT INCLUDED POTTERY, WEAVING, BEADWORK, AND MAKING WAMPUM BELTS. THEY CONTROLLED THE TRADE ROUTES HERE. ALMOST ALL THE EASTERN ALGONQUIAN TRIBES USED THEM AS TRADING MIDDLEMEN. THEY FOUGHT WITH THE POWERFUL IROQOUIS CONFEDERACY AND SENECA. STORY TELLING IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT TO THEIR CULTURE. THEIR SPIRITUALITY IS VERY COMPLEX. DURING THE 16TH CENTURY THERE WERE 16,000 FOLKS. HOWEVER, BY 2009 THERE WERE ONLY 3000 REGISTERED HURON IN CANADA.

BIG-ORRIN.ORG
NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

Attikameku in Quebec

2011-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Attikameku speak algonquian language that is similar to Cree. Their name means "white fish". Their language is similar to Cree. The tribe has 4000 to 5000 folks who speak this language. French is their second language of choice. They have three communities in Quebec.. The Attikameku are an allies with the Innu and adversaries of the Inuit. There are 5,000 folks on reservations today. They had little direct conflict with Europeans. They had little direct conflict with Europeans, and no conflict with them. From their allies the Innu they caught several diseases - smallpox and syphilis. The fur trade brought the Montagnais and French with Attikameku - in a war between the Innu and Iroquois. However, the Attikameku are affected from mercury poisoning from hydroelectric plants and contamination of the water supply. They are on their ancient land. They still practice their traditional culture and are on their ancient land.

They have many legends, myths, and mythological figures. One is Wisakejek who is a good cultural hero of the Attikameku and Cree tribes. It is pronounced wee zuh kay jock. Tickabis is a trickster figure, who has magic powers to protect him from harm.
Witiko is an evil man eating spirit folk like the better known Windigo. He is a monster and a boggyman.

Once Tickabis wanted to visit the sky. His sister said he should not, but he had his mind set on it. He climbed the highest tree. But once up there he saw sky above him. So he used his medicine and blew on a tree until it was twice as tall. He climbed to the top of it and still saw sky. Finally he used his medicine a fourth time and at the tree it was so tall he stepped off onto a road leading across the sky.

He was tired from all of this so he laid down to sleep. A loud noise woke him up. It sounded like something big was coming. All he could see was a big light getting brighter. It was the sun. "Get out of my way", said the sun. No you go around me said the Tickabis If I go around you, I'll set the tree on fire.. Tickabis just laughed. He said I don't intend to get up. So sun stepped over him. His clothes caught on fire and if it wasn't for his medicine. he would have been burned to death. He was naked, angry, and wanted revenge.

When he went home to his siter she asked what happened. The sun burned me, as i was minding my own business, He forgot about being a troublemaker. He said I'm going to get revenge on the sun. His sister said no, you'll cause more trouble. He didn't listen to her and he worked on making magic net, big enough to catch the sun. He went up the tree again and set a trap on the sun's path. When the sun came there, he was caught in the net and darkness covered the entire world.

Tickibis was happy, but his sister said nothing good will come of this. The darkness lasted aqnd lasted . People started to starve. No plants would grow and there was no light to hunt by. Everyone bothered him to let the sun go and he finally agreed. He brought several animals up the tree but they were all too big and they got burned. Finally he brought a little mouse which knawed through the rope and the sun escaped!

Native-languages.org

A Concert at the Santa Rosa Junior College

2011-10-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last night I watched and listened to a concert from teenagers. One Symphonic Band was directed by a conductor from Mario Carillo High School. This band has flutes, oboes, violins, clarinets, trumpet, horns, trombones, picola, saxaphones and percussion. I had heard at another concert before. This one had a theme 'Music for a Rainy Day'. One boy looked like my son whoknows how to play the trombone.
It was great to hear them again. They had about 46 members.

The SRJC symphonic Band has about 44 members who play flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, basson, trumpet, horns, tuba, euphonium,percussion, and various saxaphones. one of their tunes was in honor of the tragedy that occurred on 9/11/2001. another one was a vibrant cloudbursy song. Finally both bands combined and played a familiar tune "Ave Maria" and a sea song.

Abenaki Indians in Canada

2011-10-20T15:37:00.000-07:00

Abenaki- Penobscat speak Algonkian. It was once spoken by two related tribes. Today only a few speak the western Abenaki language. The last fluent speaker has about died. Some elders are working to revive it's use.This is a complex language. This tribe with the Maliseets , Passamaquoddys and the Micmaqs were members of the of old Wabanaki Confederacy. These allies spoke related related languages and Abnaki have the same Algonquin root. Today there are 12,000 Abnaki in New England, and Quebec, and 3000 in Maine.

Today 2000 Abenaki and Wabanaki live on two reserves in Quebec. They have 2000 people , and 10,000 Abenaki descendants are descendants are throughout New England. There are three bands of Abenaki in the U.S.

During the 1500's about 75% Native Americans in New England died of Anglo diseases. After these tragedies the survivors merged together. They retreated to Canada and never received federal recognition. They were originally from New England. They settled on the Odanak and Wolinak River after 1600's.

The Abenaki warrior was required to protect his family clan and band. The bulk of heavy work was done by the the women who foods, kept the household running and raised the children. Their farmed the corn, beans, squash. The men hunted, fished, cleared trees and built wigwams. They made birchbark canoes. They built towers. The warriors traveled long distances without resting, but ate ground cornmeal with strips of dried smoked meat. They gave the French meat and trapped and exchanged goods with them.

Special ceremonies would be likely for a marriage, a death, a planting, the Harvest, warfare, and trading. They kept their ceremonies with certain prayers for the gatherings - the Creator, Mother Earth, Father Sky, and the Four Directions and all our relations to bless the gatherings. They sing songs and dance various dances.

They lived a spherical lodge about 8 to 14" in diameter for healing and sweats. They built their lodges with poles covered with bark and buffalo hides. They also built a long house lodge to accommodate men on the eastern end and women on the western end. They had a division of labor based on a philosophy. The men hunted and fished. The women picked berries and nuts, gathered lily roots, wild rice, onions and garlic, mushrooms, nut, wild cabbage, and herbs. medicinal plants were yarrow, burdock, foxglove, catnip, and licorice.

They planted corn using a method called companion farming. The 3 sisters were planted on a big mound. All were harvested at the same time and were dried for winter. They also grew snow peas., cucumbers, and gourds.

The Indians had trout, turkey, salmon, clam chowder, cornbread, and turtle soups.

Native-languages.org

Algonquians in Ontario

2011-10-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

These folks call themselves "The People". Their language is related to Abenakis, Ojibway, the Pequot and others. The Algonkian language is the widest First Nation Language in the Americas. They were forced to settle in the Outaouais region: the Algonquins lived a nomadic life through fishing and hunting in nature. Before the anglos came here, they had a large system of trade between Algonquians and other nations. They had a large system of trade between Algonquins and other products for exchange for tabacco, corn, beans, and squash with the Iroquois. They traded with the Huron, and exchanged pelts, game for corn. and fishing nets. After the anglos came here they traded tools, utensils, and clothes.

During the 19th century, forest operations, reduced their hunting grounds with the Ottawa and Gationeau Rivers. This trend resulted in confiscation of what was left of their their trap lines. Many villages moved north.

The Algonquins became prosperous with acquiring fire arms and iron traps. Hunting was easierand fur trade brought them money. Their lifestyle changed. Their lifestyle changed. They wore fabric clothing vs pelts and fabric tents. They became dependant on trade with anglos.

Today 4500 of 7800 Algonquians live in nine communities in 9 communities in Ouitaouais and Abitibi regions. They Have health, education, social service and small businesses are operating in the construction, forestry, transport sectors among others. The band administers police under an agreement.

In 1980 their their council was founded to protect their interests. The Algonkian Association provides financial support and advice to the Algonquins for businesses.

Indianmarketing.com

Sonoma County Museum Lecture on a Coastal Bike Trip

2011-10-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to a lecture and exhibit of old and new bicycles. Evelyn Gibb wrote a short book about her father's unusual bike trip in 1909 from Santa Rosa to the Yukon. He brought a good friend who he knew from grade school. They had little money but both were determined to make this trip work. It was after the 1906 earthquake and many schools had to close to undertake repair. Children helped their families rebuild communities. Evelyn was given information about this trip when she and her father had a couple of hours for several year when he was 87. There were no TVs. The first world's fair was in Seattle in 1909.

The boys had helped out in the hops fields here and got money to buy saddle bags for their old style bikes, headlamps, and cycloniper. They were 19 years old and encountered all types of problems - sickness, flat tubes, roads turned into dirt trails, no clear maps, they got hurt, had girl problems, rain, had to carry bikes in some places. They used railroad maps and tunnels which were dangerous. they would stop every so often to do jobs in hop fields to get some food and money. Whenever farmers saw them they invited them in for a meal. They had no tents, only a blanket and tarp. They carried a bilican or budda of clay which illustrated
'three things that ought to be'. They met the Igorot tribe from the Philippines in Washington state. In Oregon Greek immigrants invited them to dinner.

It took them 54 days to travel about 1000 miles. Oregon State University has published the book which was adapted into a stage play. It was an award wining book and she also wrote some stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul. In 2009 12 people reenacted this trip.

The Museum had an interesting exhibit about many varieties of historic bikes and described their component and how old they were. Charlie Cunningham wrote" I've seen mountain bike rides transform people not just their bodies, but their way of thinking-their spirit".

Homeshow Weekend of October 17

2011-10-20T08:10:00.000-07:00

This weekend I went to a homeshow and discovered an artist' exhibition. They had all kinds of paintings, photography and various sculptures, and quilts. One indoor hall had various companies represented in kiosks. One lady demonstrated a new group of cookware. She gave us a free salad and good information pertaining to the use of teflon cookware. She said to throw it out as well as any iron skillets since they leave poisonous residuals. The cookware that she used did not require water or oil and cooks very fast and it outlasts any other cookware. She developed good rapport with the audience by asking them questions and opinions. She passed around the meat, potatoes,yams, broccoli and carrots that cooked for less than 1/2 hour. They were great without fat.

There were people speaking about air quality in your house, how to seal under your house so mold isn't a problem. Solar heating, wall insulation, solar light vents, kitchen remodels, jewelry, pet supplies, a nonprofit for helping African children, and various food vendors. I also met people from a restore outlet store where you can donate used materials or get recycled home improvement materials.It wasn't that crowded as people were watching a ball game that day. They also had some motor homes that I didn't have time to look at.

For the last three years there have been train shows here. One man sold Thomas the Tank trains which are getting more expensive. They had two main halls which were filled with children's toys, trains, and a clown. And the large main hall was filled with about eight model train exhibits! These were new to me. There even was a computerized miniature train with 10 cars that was operated by a small phone computer! the people here were both young and old. one exhibitor sold drawings of trains. Most just exhibited various landscapes. One model railroad had an outdoor theatre which apparently worked at one time. Most others just exhibited various landscapes and sold tracks, cars, and plants.

Ojibway Indians in Canada

2011-10-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Ojibway were anglicized as Chippewa or Ojibway. They spoke Anishinabe, an Algonquian language. This language is spoken by 50,000 people in the northern US and southern Canada. Ojibway is the healthiest of the native languages, with many children raised to speak it as a native language.

The people are widely distributed in northern central us and in southern Canada. Ojibwe means puckering such a the moccasin style. The Saulteneaux and Mississauga are subtribes of the Ojibway. Today there are 20,000 Ojibway Indians in their traditional territories. There are members of an alliance including the Potawatami tribe. This alliance was powerful and clashed with the Iroquois Confederacy and Sioux. They conquered both of the above. Many of their lands were appropriated by the Americans and Canadians. Today nearly all Ojibwe reservations are in their original lands.

Native-languages.org

Cree Indians in Manitoba

2011-10-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

The Cree are Algonquian language spoken by more than 45,000 people in Canada and Montana. They have major dialects. Some Cree consider them distinct dialects. The most divergent is eastern Cree. They are a close relative to Innu language and Naskapi. The3y can understnd their neighbors even though they have different dialects. The Cree dialects use shapes to represent consonants and rotate them in four directions to represent vowels.

The Cree are the largest native group in Canada, with 200,00 members. Cree comes from the French name for tribe or "Kristenaux". This word means Christian. The Cree call themselves Ayisiniwok meaning True Men. There are more than 100,000 people known as metis or mixed blood Cree and French.

Their history is so hard to synopsize because it spans a large territory from the Rocky Mountains to Atlantic Ocean. Their culture and language keep them together as a people. The Cree in Canada did not have a shared history with the anglos in Quebec and CANADA. Because they didn't share much with the anglos the Cree ddn't get much of teh European diseases. As they were a large tribe they had an affinity for intertribal marriage, as their oral history described earlier. The English tended to move indian groups further away from their villages. The French tried to engulf them. The result was metis - a race of mixed French -Cree folks. They lived happy together. Since Canada became a nation the Cree faced the same problem of self determination and land contributions that every aboriginal group has, but they are better equipped to face them. The Cree language is one of the few languages surviving into this century.

native-languages.org

Assiniboine Indians in Canada

2011-10-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

The Assiniboine are speakers of a Siouan language of the Plains. So despite it's similarity to Stony language they can't understand each other. They have about 200 people in Montana and Saskatchewan. Their name is received from an Ojibwa word. for their practice of boiling food by dropping heated rocks into water. Prior to 1640 they split off from the Sioux prior to 1640. From a homeland around the Mississippi river they moved north to the Lake of the Woods to Winnepeg. At the peak of their territory they ranged around Saskatchewan in Canada.

They were first contacted by settlers called Henry Kelsey in the 1690's who hunted the buffalo. Kelsey met Assiniboine trading parties from the trading parties from the James Bay Post west along the canoe route into present day Saskatchewan. They ensured that the fur pelts went to the Hudson Bay company in trade for metal utensils, fires, arms, beads and cloth, tobacco and liquor.

In 1730's other traders confirmed the location of the Assiniboine throughout the western plains their cultural perspective was recorded by the early settlers. Their trails became major trade routes. The anglos valued them for their ability to trap fur bearing animals. Their traditional campsites became centers for the distribution of trading posts on the network of rivers from the Rocky Mountain to the Hudson Bay.

By late 17th century they were noted for pemmican production. They traded European goods to distant Plains groups. After 1730's when they got horses the Assiniboine also had access to guns and metal trade goods and enhanced their role in the fur trade economy. They were allied with the Cree in the 1800's.

They were intermittently in conflict with the Blackfeet, Gros Ventura, and their Sioux relatives. They suffered from European diseases and smallpox. They had a population of over 10,000 in the late 18th century. Their numbers declined catastrophically to 2100 by 1890. By the 1920's they began to increase because of improved health.

Their culture exhibited most of the Plains native traits. Their expertise was in constructing buffalo pounds. They made a greater use of dogs to load their tipis, hides, and personal possessions as they followed the buffalo, deer, elk, moose, and small tanned hides.

Their most sacred ceremony was the sun dance. It was held in early summer after the spring buffalo hunts. They also hunted the other furry animals. The men and women honored the Great Spirit through sacred ceremonies - praying, singing, drumming, dancing, fasting, and they had a feast. Young men would goon a vision quest to sacred grounds. in order to observe their guardian spirits and sacred songs.

On special occasions they had leaders who were chosen for a war chief to lead a battle , or a hunting chief for buffalo hunts. People of wisdom or talent were heard at council to reach consensus on on issues. Today these nations are of aboriginal self government through elected Band Councils., but within the constraints of an Indian Act.. The Constitution of 1982 makes decisions. The Assiniboine reserve is located near Regina and covers 41,000 acres. Their population in 1996 numbered about 981.

NATIVE-LANGUAGES.ORG

HUICHOL INDIANS IN MEXICO

2011-08-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

HICHOL INDIANS IN MEXICO ARE INDIGENOUS TO WEST CENTRAL MEXICO AND LIVE IN SIERRA MADRE OCCIDENTAL ALL RANGE NEAR JALISCO. IN THEIR LANGUAGE THEY CALL THEMSELVES 'WIXARITARI'. THEY ORIGINATED SAN LOUIS POTASI AND MIGRATED WEST TO NAYARIT. ANNUALLY THEY JOURNEYED BACK TO SAN LOUISE TO PERFORM THEIR PEYOTE CEREMONIES. ONLY ABOUT 7,000 HICHOL LIVE IN THEIR HOMELAND, WHILE 13,000 HAVE MIGRATED TO OTHER PLACES WITHIN MEXICO.

ACCORDING TO ORAL HISTORY THEIR REGION HAD ANOTHER ETHNIC GROUP,THE TEPECANO. THE HUICHOL MIGRATED FROM SAN LOUIS MIGRATED MIGRATED FROM SAN LUIS POTOSI TO BOLINOS CANYON. CENTRAL TO THEIR RELIGION IS THE GATHERING OF A HALLUCINOGENIC CACTUS FROM POTASI. IT IS LIKE PEYOTE.

IN 1587 ALONSO PONSE WRITINGS DATE FROM THIS YEAR, AND THE TEPEQUE ATTACKED SPANISH SETTLEMENTS. THE SPANISH BROUGHT EPIDEMICS TO THE INDIGENOUS FOLKS. THOSE WHO DID NOT GET ANY DISEASES WERE FORCED BY SPANIARDS TO WORK IN THE MINES AS DOCUMENTED BY ORAL HISTORY.

HUICHOL SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME WORKING IN TOBACCO, WHICH IS DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH. OWNERS OF THESE PLANTATIONS NO LONGER USE PESTICIDES ON THEIR CROP. THE INDIANS LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS ABOVE MAZATLAN AND SELL THEIR CRAFTS TO TOURISTS. IN SUMMER WHEN THE RAINS COME THEY LIVE ON THEIR RANCHOS IN HAMLETS AND MAKE CHEESE FROM THEIR MILK. THEIR DIET IS PRIMARILY TORTILLAS, BLUE, RED, YELLOW OR WHITE CORN, BEANS AND RICE AND PASTA AND AN OCCASIONAL CHICKEN. THEY GATHER WILD FRUITS, VEGETABLES, OF THE REGION SUCH AS LEGUMES WERE GATHERED FROM THE TREES AND PLUMS.

MARRIAGES ARE ARRANGED BY PARENTS WHEN CHILDREN ARE YOUNG. THEY MARRY WHEN THEY ARE 14 OR 17. EXTENDED FAMILIES LIVE TOGETHER. THEIR CRAFTS ARE EMBROIDERY, SOMBREROS, ARCHERY EQUIPMENT, WEAVINGS, EMBROIDERY, AND BEADWORK. FRICTION EXISTS BETWEEN CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANS AND FOLLOWERS OF OLD RELIGION.

THEIR RELIGION HAS FOUR DEITIES - CORN, BLUE DEER, PEYOTE, AND THE EAGLE - ALL FROM THE SUN GOD. ACCORDING TO A MYTH THE SUN CREATED EARTHLY BEINGS WITH HIS SALIVA AND IT APPEARED AS RED FOAM IN THE OCEAN. NEW THINGS ARE BORN FROM HEARTS AND ESSENCES WHICH THE HUICHOL SEE IN THE RED FORM. THEY BELIEVE IN A MAIZE GODDESS, ONE OF MIDWIVES, A MOTHER GIRL, A GOD DEPICTED AS A HEADED EAGLE, AND QUETZALCOATL, A FEATHERED SERPENT.

THE PEYOTE USED IS A PRECOLUMBIAN TRADITION, LIKE MANY INDIGENOUS NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS. THEY INVOLVE SINGING, WEEPING, AND CONTACTING ANCESTOR SPIRITS. BEFORE COLLECTING PEYOTE, THEY PASS A SACRED SPRING CALLED "WHERE MOTHER LIVES", OR HOUSE OF THE EASTERN RAIN GODDESS!

THEY HAVE A CEREMONY OF SEPARATING THE THE UMBILICAL CORD FROM A NEWBORN BABY AND PLANTING AN AGAVE PLANT THERE. THE HUICHOL KEEP SOULS OF ANCESTORS WHO HAVE RETURNED TO THE WORLD IN THE SHAPE OF ROCK CRYSTALS.

AN IMPORTANT ARTIFACT IS THE NIEIKA, A SMALL SQUARE OR ROUND TABLET WITH A HOLE IN THE CENTER. IT IS COVERED ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES WITH BEESWAX AND FINE RESIN INTO WHICH THREADS OF YARN ARE PRESSED. THEY ARE KEPT IN SHRINES. URBANIZED HUICHOLS HAVE MIGRATED TO CITIES AND DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR RICH RICH CULTURE THROUGH ART. THE SYMBOLS THEY USE IN THEIR YARN PAINTINGS ARE FROM SHAMANISTIC TRADITIONS. THEY USE PSYCHEDELIC COLORS AND EACH IS RELATED TO A TRADITION . BEADED ART IS RELATIVELY NEW . A WOODEN FORM IS CREATED AND COVERED WITH BEESWAX. BEADS ARE PRESSED INTO FORMS THEY MAKE MASKS, BOWLS, AND FIGURINES. THE HUICHOL REJECT CATHOLIC INFLUENCES OVER THEIR CULTURE.

NATIVELANGUAGES.ORG
WIKIPEDIA.ORG

TOTONAC INDIANS IN MEXICO

2011-08-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

TOTONAC PEOPLE RESISTED THE EASTERN COASTAL AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS OF MEXICO AT THE TIME OF SPANISH ARRIVAL IN 1519. THEY RESIDED IN THE STATUS OF VERACRUZ, PUEBLA AND HILDALGO. THEY ARE ONE OF THE POSSIBLE BUILDERS OF PRE COLUMBIA EL TAJIN. THEY FURTHER MAINTAINED QUARTERS IN TEOTIHUACAN. UNTIL 19TH CENTURY THEY WERE THE WORLD'S MAIN PRODUCERS OF VANILLA.

THEY DO THE DANCE OF THE FLYERS. IT IS A CEREMONY THAT THE TOTONAC INDIANS PERFORMED TO END SEVERE DROUGHT. I SAW THIS CEREMONY IN A SMALL TOWN WHEN I TRAVELED TO MEXICO AT 18. IT HAS ROOTS IN PREHISPANIC PERIOD. THEY HAVE A 5 MEN CLIMB A 90 FOOT POLE WITH COSTUMES WITH FOUR PEOPLE ATTACHED TO ROPES TO DESCEND TO THE GROUND. THE TOP MANPLAYS A FLUTE AND DRUMS AND DANCES ON THE POLE. IT IS HELD IN AND AROUND PAPANTIA.

WIKIPEDIA.COM

ESKIMO INDIANS IN ALASKA

2011-08-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

ESKIMOS OR INUIT,AND YUPIK ARE INDIGENOUS ORIGINALLY FROM RUSSIA. THEY CROSSED THE BERING STRAIT TO ALASKA AND CANADA. THERE ARE THREE GROUPS - THE INUIT, YUPIK, AND ALEUT. THE YUPIK LANGUAGE DEVELOPED DIALECTS AND CULTURES IN ALASKA AND EASTERN SIBERIA HAVE EVOLVED SINCE THE ORIGINAL ESKIMO CULTURE. ABOUT 4000 YEARS AGO THE UNAGAM BECAME DISTINCTLY SEPARATE AND EVOLVED INTO NON ESKIMO.

THE EARLIEST ESKIMO CULTURES WERE PRE DORSET TECHNOLOGY THAT DATES TO 5000 YEARS AGO. TODAY THE ESKIMO HAS BEEN REPLACED BY INUIT. THE YUPIK AND INUIT ARE NOW CALLED INUIT AND THERE ARE 150,000 PEOPLE. THEIR TRADITIONAL DIET IS FISH, SEA MAMMALS, LAND ANIMALS, AND THEY USE THEM FOR FOOD, HEAT, LIGHT, CLOTHING AND TOOLS. THEIR CULTURE IS UNIQUE.

YUPIK CULTURE ARE ABORIGINALS WHO LIVE ALONG THE COAST OF WESTERN ALASKA, ESPECIALLY ON THE YUKON. THEIR ECONOMY HAS BEEN STRONG IN THE HARVEST OF MARINE ANIMALS - SEALS, WALRUS AND WHALES. ALUETIANS ARE CALLED PACIFIC YUPIK. THEY LIVED ON COASTAL LANDS AND HARVESTED SALMON, HALIBUT, AND WHALES, AND RICH LAND RESOURCES SUCH AS BERRIES AND LAND MAMMALS. THEY LIVE IN FISHING COMMUNITIES. THEY HAVE 3000 FOLKS WITH ONLY SEVERAL HUNDRED SPEAKNG THE LANGUAGE.

ALL OF THE ESKIMOS USED TI LIVE IN IGLOOS BUT NOT TODAY. THE IGLOOS WERE MADE FROM WHALE BONE AND HIDES WITH SNOW BLOCKS FOR INSULATION. IT GETS -45 DEGREES F THERE.

SOMETIMES THEY BUILT SMALL IGLOOS WITH SNOW ON THE OPEN SEA ICE FOR FISHING. SOME OF THE LARGEST IGLOOS COULD HOLD UP TO 20 PEOPLE. IT IS A DOME SHAPED HOUSE. HEAT IS GENERATED BY A STOVE, LAMP OR BODY HEAT.

WIKIPEDIA.ORG

CHACO CANYON

2010-10-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

I VISITED CHACO CANYON WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER WHEN I DECIDED TO EXCAVATE AT SALMON RUINS. SOME OF THE CREW TOOK A DAY TO VIEW CHACO CANYON. WE VIEWED THE WAY THE RUINS WERE BUILT AROUND A SEMICIRCLE AND ENJOYED THE KIVAS AS WE COULD ENTER SOME VIA A WOODEN LADDER.

I REMEMBER READING ABOUT SOME OF CHACO CANYONS PETROGLYPHS THAT WERE IN A CAVE AND WERE ALIGNED TO THE SUNRISE DURING THE SUMMER SOLSTICE. ALSO I HAD READ ABOUT THE TRAILS IN THIS PARK THAT LED TO MEXICO.

WE MET SOME ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO WERE WORKING THERE AND THEY WERE SURVEYING AND MAPPING IN SOME OF THE RUINS DURING THE 70'S. IT WAS A HOT SUMMER BUT WHEN I WAS 20 I DIDN'T MIND THE HEAT.

APPARENTLY THEY HAD SOME VALLEY CROPS IRRIGATED FROM THE HILLTOP CLIFF RUNOFF DURING THE SPRING AND OCCASIONAL SUMMER SHOWER. OTHERWISE THE AREA LOOKED FAIRLY BARREN.

BUT AS I LEARNED FROM MY WORK AT SALMON RUINS THESE NATIVES WERE ADEPT AT USING EVERY NATIVE GRASS AND BUSH AVAILABLE TO THEIR AREA FOR FOOD OR MEDICINE. THERE WAS SATURDAY CLASS DELIVERED TO US DURING OUR VOLUNTEER WORK AT ANOTHER SITE. THE INSTRUCTOR SHOWED US THE VARIOUS NATIVE PLANTS AND GRASSES THAT THE PREHISTORIC PUEBLOANS USED AND PREPARED FOR FOOD.

I DON'T REMEMBER MANY OF THESE AS I HAVEN'T LIVED IN THE DESERT FOR MANY YEARS.
BUT WE DID HAVE FUN EXCAVATING THE SMALL RUIN NEAR SALMON RUINS AND TRAVELING TO NEARBY SITES.

ZION NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

OUR FAMILY VISITED THIS PARK DURING A SUMMER WHEN WE TOOK TWO WEEKS OFF AND WENT TO ABOUT SIX NATIONAL PARKS THROUGHOUT THE WEST. IT HAD A PLACE TO PARK YOUR VEHICLE AND THEN THEY REQUIRE YOU TO CATCH A BUS TO GO TO THE TRAILS AND ATTRACTIONS. THE PART OF THE PARK WE VISITED WAS IN A NARROW AND STEEP CANYON OF SANDSTONE WITH RED, PINK, AND BLACK HUES.

I REMEMBER CATCHING THE BUS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND HIKING ALONG TRAILS THAT WOVE UP AND AROUND THE THE CANYON LANDS AND THROUGH SOME MAN MADE TUNNELS. WE SAW SOME SNAKES AND SOME DEER HERE. OUR SON WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TOOK A LOT OF MOVIES OF THE CANYON, NARRATING AS HE SHOT THE FOOTAGE.

THE PARK TRAILS HAD A NUMBER OF BRIDGES OVER THE SMALL DRAINAGE THAT RUNS THROUGH THIS CANYON. THE COLORS OF THE CLIFFS ARE MAGICAL. I DON'T REMEMBER CAMPING HERE, BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN.

I REMEMBER A NEAT TOWN NEARBY THE PARK THAT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE TV SHOW CALLED GUNSMOKE. WE TOURED THE TOWN A LITTLE CHECKING OUT SOME OF THE SCENERY.

DINOSAUR NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

AT DINOSAUR NATIONAL PARK WE CAMPED AND HIKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WE SPENT TIME GOING THROUGH THE VISITOR CENTER WHICH HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE EXPLAINING HOW THE LARGE DINOSAUR FOSSILS WERE EXCAVATED ONCE THEY WERE FOUND. THEY DEMONSTRATED WITH TOOLS AND PICKS HOW THEY REMOVED SOME OF THE BONES. THEY ALSO HAD DRILLS WHICH WERE USED TO REACH SOME OF THE DINOSAUR BONES AS THEY EXCAVATED. THE PARK IS FILLED WITH HISTORIC SITES AS WELL AS WITH PREHISTORIC SITES, ESPECIALLY PETROGLYPHS.

WE SPENT A DAY HIKING TO ALL THE ATTRACTIONS AND READING ABOUT THE TYPES OF ROCKS ON THE TRAILS. WE ALSO WENT TO AN HISTOPRIC CABIN WHICH HAD A SPRING WITH DRINKABLE WATER. IT WAS IN A VERY NICE WELL SHADED CANYON AND THERE WERE SOME NICE TRAILS THERE. THE VIEWS OF THE DESERT AND INTERESTING BOULDERS AND STRIATED CLIFFS LEAVE A LASTING MEMORY.

OUR OTHER JOURNEY WAS UP TO A TRAIL AGAINST A SANDSTONE CLIFF WHICH HAD MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF PETROGLYPHS AS WELL AS SOME PICTOGRAPHS. WE DID NOT NOTICE OTHER ARTIFACTS THERE. THIS AREA HAD A NICE VIEW OF THE OVERLYING VALLEY. WE TOOKMANY PHOTOS HERE.

FINALLY WE DECIDED TO CAMP IN AN ISOLATED PART OF THE PARK CALLED ECHO PARK. IT IS ACCESSABLE BY ABOUT 18 MILES OF RUGGED AND ROCKY TRAILS. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR BIKE CARRIER WHICH BROKE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THIS ROAD. FINALLY WE REACHED THE CAMPGROUND AND IT IS ALONG A HUGE RIVER WHERE RAFTORS STOP FOR A MEAL. WE RODE OUR BIKES A BIT AROUND THE DESOLATED TRAILS THERE AND ENJOYED THE VIEW OF THE NIGHTIME SUNSET AGAINST THE 1000' CLIFFS SURROUNDING THE CAMPGROUND. THUS THE NAME ECHO CAMPGROUND. THE CLIFFS FORM A SEMICIRCLE AROUND THIS FLAT CAMPGROUND AREA. WE NOTICED A HOUSE BUILT NEARBY HERE THAT WAS PROBABLY USED AT ONE TIME BY THE PARK PERSONNEL.

OREGON CAVES

2010-10-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

OREGON CAVES IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARKS AS WE HAVE STAYED OVERNIGHT THERE IN THEIR HISTORIC LODGE. OUR ROOM OVERLOOKED A SMALL FOUNTAIN AND WATERFALL THAT THEY MADE WITH IN THE FRONT OF THE CAVE. IT IS A STRANGE LODGE AS THE HALLWAYS ARE VERY NARROW.

MY SON REALLY LIKES TO GO INTO CAVES. THIS ONE HAS A LONG TOUR OF ABOUT TWO HOURS. THE TOUR LEADER TELLS ABOUT HOW THE CAVE WAS FORMED AND ABOUT HOW THEY FOUND A PIECE OF A MASTODON IN THE CAVE. THEY ALSO EXPLAIN HOW THE CAVE HAS BEN EXPLORED BY COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEY HAVE FOUND SOME ALBINO FISH IN THE SMALL STREAM IN THE CAVE.

WE HAVE HIKED ABOUT THE TRAILS ABOVE THE CAVE AND AROUND THE LODGE AND IT IS QUITE AN INTERESTING PLACE TO VIEW DEER AND SEE MANY BIRDS. THE LODGE AGAIN IS AN HISTORIC BUILDING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER AND IN THE BASEMENT THEY HAVE FIXED UP A SMALL BREAKFAST CAFE TO LOOK LIKE ONE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE 1960'S OR SO. ACROSS THE STREET IS A VISITOR CENTER WITH SOUVENIERS AND BOOKS.

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN TO CRATER LAKE A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THE CENTER OF OREGON. WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR TENT AND HAVE CAMPED IN SEVERAL CAMPGROUNDS. WE HAVE HIKED THE ENTIRE RIM OF THE CRATER. AND IT IS A VERY STEEP DROP DOWN INTO THE CRATER WHERE THERE IS A BLUEISH-GREEN PURE ICE COLD LAKE. WE HAVE ALSO HIKED DOWN TO THE LAKE WHERE YOU CAN TAKE A SPEED BOAT TRIP ON THE LAKE SEVERAL TIMES. AND THE INTERPRETERS TELL YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PARK. THE LAKE IS THE DEEPEST IN THE U.S. - 2000 FEET! THEN YOU CAN EXPLORE THE SMALL ISLAND IN THE LAKE AS WELL.

THE SOILS IN THIS PARK ARE PUMICE, ASH AND CINDER AND DO NOT HOLD WATER WELL. THE HIGHEST PEAK IS ABOUT 9000 FEET HIGH. THE MOUNTAIN WHERE THE LAKE IS NOW ERUPTED 8000 YEARS AGO. THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN IN THE PARK IS 9000 FEET HIGH. THERE ARE FIERCE WINDS THERE EVEN DURING THE SUMMER. AND THE NIGHTS ARE VERY COOL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH BEARS WHEN WE HAVE CAMPED HERE. THE TRAILS HAVE A NUMBER OF WATERFALLS THAT ARE RUNNING DURING THE SUMMER AS WELL AS THE WINTER.

THEY HAVE A REALLY NEAT HISTORIC LODGE HERE WITH A BIG FIRE PLACE AND RESTAURANT WHERE YOU CAN GET WARM.

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

OUR FAMILY HAS VISITED THIS PARK DURING THE SUMMER AND MY HUSBAND AND I VISITED IT DURING OUR TIME WHEN WE WORKED AS ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS IN THE DAKOTAS. IT HAS A NUMBER OF GLACIERS AND SEEMS THAT THE PEAKS ALWAYS HAVE SNOW. THERE ARE MANY BEARS IN THE PARK SO IT IS BEST TO MAKE NOISE AS YOU WALK OR HIKE OR BRING A PARTNER.

THE TERRAIN IS RUGGED AND IT IS HOME TO THE BLACKFOOT INDIANS. THEY HUNTED THE BISON WHICH BECAME EXTINCT IN THE 1880'S. SO THEY HAD TO ADAPT TO A COMPLETLY DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE. THE DEVELOPED RANCHES AND FARMS AND GREW CORN, BEANS, SQUASH AND OTHER VEGETABLES, AND LEARNED TO HUNT SMALLER MAMMALS FOR FOOD.

THE ROADS ARE GOOD AND AT THE TOP OF THE ROAD IS A GREAT VISITOR CENTER. WE HAVE ENJOYED HIKING ALONG SOME OF THE RIDGE TRAILS. WE HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THIS PARK AND I THINK WE CAMPED HERE WITH OUR WINNEBAGO YEARS AGO.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST RUGGED PARKS IN THE COUNTRY WITH MOUNTAIN PEAKS REACHING OVER 12,000 FEET HIGH. IT WAS DESIGNATED A WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN 1995. BY 1880 PRESIDENT TAFT DESIGNATED IT AS A NATIONAL PARK.

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

THIS PARK IS A VALLEY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE THE SHOSHONE NATIVES LIVED SINCE THE LAST ICE AGE. THERE WERE MANY MINING CAMPS AND TOWNS THAT HARVESTED MINERALS AND DEVELOPED THE VALLEY FOR TOURISM.

THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE WAS 134 DEGREES IN 1913. THE VALLEY WAS KNOWN FOR ITS TWENTY MULE TEAMS IN 1881. THESE MINERS DUG FOR BORAX A MINERAL THAT WAS USED FREQUENTLY IN HISTORIC TIMES FOR MAKING SOAP, KEEPING MILK SWEET, MAKING CERAMICS, AS A WATER SOFTENER, AND FOR CURING EPILEPSY!

THERE IS AN 11,000 FOOT HIGH PEAK. MY FAMILY DROVE THROUGH DEATH VALLEY DURING THE HEAT OF SUMMER AND OUR AIR CONDITIONER OVERHEATED SO WE EXPERIENCED SOME VERY HOT TRAVELS THERE. THE SAND WAS SO HOT THAT YOU COULD HARDLY BREATHE IN ONE SMALL TOWN. LUCKILY WE HAD PLENTY OF WATER. WE WENT ON A SHORT HIKE AND COULD HARDLY BEAR THE HEAT- VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE HEAT IN PHOENIX.

WHEN I WORKED FOR THE FOREST SERVICE OUR GROUP HAD A MEETING IN DEATH VALLEY AND I CAME DOWN WITH MY SON'S ILLNESS. WE EXPLORED THE TOWN OF RHYOLITE WHICH WAS BUILT @ 1902 FOR MINING RHYOLITE AS WELL AS GOLD. AT ONE TIME IT HAD ABOUT 12,000 PEOPLE THERE. THERE WERE TWO RAILROADS BUILT TO THE TOWN AS WELL AND THEY PROBABLY SHIPPED THE MINERALS OUT TO LARGER CITIES.TODAY IT IS JUST A RUINS IN THE DESERT.

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

OUR FAMILY HAS CAMPED HERE SEVERAL TIMES. I REMEMBER GOING TO THE LARGEST TREE IN THE WORLD, THE GENERAL SHERMAN SEQUOIA AND SEEING UP CLOSE A BLACK BEAR AND HER TWO CUBS. LUCKILY NONE OF US WERE APPROACHED BY THE BEARS. THIS TREE IS 275 FEET HIGH! WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE SOME PHOTOS OF THE BEARS AND GROVE OF SEQUOIAS HOWEVER. THE PARK ALSO HAS AN UNUSUAL DIVERSITY OF CLIMATES, SO IT IS GOOD TO CHECK FOR A MAP OF THE PARK AND HIKE WHERE YOU WILL FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE.

THE PARK ALSO IS HOME TO THE ERLUSIVE BIGHORN SHEEP AND HAS MANY TRAILS ALONG STEEP GRANITE ESCARPMENTS. SOME DROP 1000' AND IF YOU ARE DARING ENOUGH YOU CAN GO THE TOP OF SOME ROCKY MOUNTAINS. THE PARK HAS BIOLOGISTS WHO COMPLETE SURVEYS OF THE EXOTIC PLANTS AND SOME PATHOGENS AS WELL AS STUDY OTHER ANIMAL BEHAVIOR.

OTHERS SURVEY THE PARK FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF NATIVE PLANTS AND RECORD THEIR SPECIES. I REMEMBER GOING TO A CAMPGROUND WHERE WE STAYED OVERNIGHT AND THEN RODE OUR BIKES THE NEXT DAY ON THE ROAD WHICH HAD FEW CARS TO A WATERFALL. OUR SON WAS A YOUNGSTER THEN AND ENJOYED GOING CAMPING.

THIS PARK IS LOCATED EAST OF FRESNO AND THERE ARE MANY LARGE FARMS THAT SELL THEIR PRODUCE TO TOURISTS ON THE ROADS BACK TO SONOMA COUNTY.

LASSEN NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-19T15:10:00.000-07:00

THIS PARK IS IN NORTHEASTERN CALIFORNIA AND IT HAS MANY VOLCANIC ROCKS. IT IS A PARK THAT HAS MANY INTERPRETERS FOR THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE CAMPED HERE SEVERAL TIMES. THERE ARE HYDROTHERMAL GEYSERS THERE WITH HOT POOLS SO THEY REQUEST EVERYONE STAY ON THE TRAILS. YOU CAN GO TO A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE MANY GEYSERS AND IT SMELLS LIKE SULPHUR.

THE PARK WAS HOME TO FOUR NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES. THE PEAK VOLCANO ERUPTED LAST IN 1915. IT IS QUITE AN UNUSUAL PARK FOR THE AREA. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TRAILS THAT WE HAVE HIKED BUT WE HAVE NOT GONE UP TO THE MOUNTAIN. IN WINTER IT DOES GET QUITE A BIT OF SNOW AND WAS STILL OPEN WHEN THEY DECIDE TO PLOW THE ROADS.

IT IS VISIBLE AS WELL AS MOUNT SHASTA FROM HIGHWAY 5 MANY MILES SOUTH OF THE PARK. THE INTERPRETORS TALK ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT FREQUENT THE PARK AND GIVE CAMPFIRE SLIDE SHOWS AS WELL ABOUT NATURE AND THE PARK.

MUIR WOODS NATIONAL PARK

2010-10-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

OUR FAMILY HAS ALWAYS VISITED MUIR WOODS WHENEVER WE CAN. IT IS SUCH A NEAT PLACE WITH RUNNING CREEKS AND TRAILS OF RAISED WOOD WITH RAILINGS FOR THE BLIND. THEY HAVE A CUTE INTERPRETIVE CENTER AS WELL WHERE YOU CAN BUY POSTCARDS OF THE WOODS AND FIND SOUVENIRS OF ALL KINDS.

THEIR INTERPRETERS TELL ABOUT HOW OLD THE REDWOOD TREES ARE AND HOW THIS FOREST DEVELOPED. THERE ARE MANY TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. MANY HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A REDWOOD FOREST BEFORE. THERE ARE GROVES NAMED AFTER IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND BENCHES AS WELL AS GROVES IN MEMORIAM OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THE PARK IS NAMED AFTER JOHN MUIR, EARLY EXPLORER FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

IT HAS MANY BIRDS AND BLACK TAILED DEER AROUND THE REDWOOD GROVES AS WELL AS BUTTERFLIES. IT IS A PEACEFUL SANCTUARY IN A HEAVILY POPULATED AREAS OF MARIN COUNTY.

THE PORTUGUESE HASD MANY FARMS NEAR THIS PARK WHERE THEY RAISED CATTLE AND SHEEP AND MADE GOAT CHEESE.

I REMEMBER RECORDING A HISTORIC RANCH THAT WAS OWNED BY THE STATE PARKS IN THIS AREA.

SINKYONE WILDERNESS STATE PARK

2010-10-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

SINKYONE PARK IS WHERE I WENT WHEN I FIRST WORKED FOR THE STATE PARKS TO SURVEY THE COASTAL AREA NEARBY THE OLD HOUSE AT WHALE GULCH. I MET THE RANGER THERE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE THERE OF PREHISTORIC USE BUT RECORDED THE AND MAPPED THE HISTORIC HOUSE.

ON ANOTHER TRIP THERE WE SURVEYED THE COASTLINE OF THE PARK - ABOUT 17 MILES FOR A NEW TRAIL. A NUMBER OF STAFF FOLKS CAMPED OVERNIGHT IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY. OF COURSE SINCE THE TRAIL IS IN DENSE TIMBER AND REDWOOD FOREST WE FOUND NO PREHISTORIC ARTIFACTS. NEVERTHELESS THE SINKYONE INDIANS HAD ANCESTORS THAT DID LEAVE REMAINS IN THE PARK. THEIR PRIMARY ACTIVITY WAS FISHING, EATING CLAMS, OYSTERS AND MUSSELLS; AND HUNTING SEALS AND SEA LIONS AS WELL AS EATING AN OCCASIONAL WHALES THAT BEACHED ON THE SHORE.

THE PHOTO ON MY WEBSITE WAS TAKEN ON OUR FAMILY CAMPING TRIP TO THE NORTHERN END OF THE 17 MILE LONG PARK. THE TRAILS ARE STRENUOUS AND THERE IS NO DRINKING WATER EXCEPT FOR DRAINAGES. MANY PEOPLE CAMP AT THIS END OF THE PARK EVEN THOUGH THE ACCESS IS ALONG MANY TWISTY MILES OF DIRT ROAD.

STANDISH HICKEY STATE PARK

2010-10-19T10:56:00.000-07:00

AT THIS PARK OUR FAMILY USUALLY HAS CAMPED EACH SUMMER IN THE REDWOOD AND DOUGLAS FIR FOREST ALONG THE EEL RIVER. IT IS A FUN PARK AS IT HAS A GREAT PLACE TO SWIM ALONG THE EEL IN THE SUMMER AND IF YOU HIKE UP THE RIVER A BIT FURTHER YOU CAN SWIM IN A DEEPER POOL OF WATER AND EITHER FLOAT ON A BLOW UP TUBE DOWN TO THE CAMPGROUND OR JUST SWIM DOWN THIS SHALLOW RIVER. THEY OCCASIONALLY HAVE CAMPFIRE TALKS ABOUT STORIES OF NATURE AND DETAILS OF THE ANIMALS, INSECTS THAT LIVE HERE OR PERHAPS ABOUT THE NIGHT SKY.

THE PARK HAS TRAILS EVEN TO THE EAST OF HIGHWAY 101 WHERE WE HAVE HIKED AS WELL. THIS AREA IS HOTTER THOUGH AND THERE ARE NO DRINKING FOUNTAINS. THE TRAILS GO THROUGH THE THICK REDWOOD AND DOUGLAS FIR FOREST AS WELL AS ALONG THE EEL RIVER. THERE ARE FEW ANIMALS ABOUT; THERE ARE MANY BIRDS HOWEVER. AND YOU CAN STAND ON SOME OF THE FALLEN GIANT REDWOOD TRUNKS THAT HAVE FALLEN.

OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN TRADIONALLY CAMPING AT THIS PARK EACH FOURTH OF JULY. IT IS RELATIVELY COOL THERE. WE ALSO HAVE CAMPED WITH OUR FRIENDS THERE. THERE IS A LOT OF POISON IVY. THE PEOPLE THERE ARE USUALLY FRIENDLY AND BRING FLOATING DEVICES TO USE IN THE DEEPEST PART OF THE RIVER. WE TOOK A FLOATING RAFT TO RIDE THE CURRENT FOR ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE RIVER. THERE ARE TRAILS ALL ALONG THE RIVER. IF YOU TAKE THE TRAIL UP TO THE FARTHEST POINT THERE IS A BIG LAKE WHERE TEENS DIVE IN, EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS,

THE FUN THING ABOUT THIS REDWOOD COUNTRY IS THAT IT COOLS OFF AT NIGHT! WE HAVE GONE INTO TOWN, GARBERVILLE, WHICH HAS MARKETS AND SOME NICE RESTAURANTS, AS WELL AS ART STORES.

WE HAVE ALSO SWAM AT BENBOW PARK NEAR GARBERVILLE. THE WATER QUALITY THERE IS NOT AS NICE AS AT STANDISH HICKEY. WE HAVE ALSO WALKED AT SOME OF THE OTHER REDWOOD PARKS WHERE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TRAILS IN LARGER FLAT REDWOODS WITH AN UNDERGROWTH OF OXALIS CLOVER.

THE LOCALS LIKE THE AREA'S COOL REDWOODS IN THE SUMMER AND THEY HAVE FAVORITE SWIMMING AREAS.

RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK

2010-10-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

AT RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK OUR FAMILY USED TO CAMP AND RIDE OUR BIKES AS WELL AS SWIM DURING THE SUMMER. IT USED TO HAVE A NICE INTERPRETIVE CENTER WHERE YOU COULD SEE GRIZZLEY BEAR, BOBCATS, BIRDS, AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER MAMMALS THAT LIVED IN THE FOREST. THERE ALSO WAS A PLACE THAT SHOWED THE FISH IN THE EEL RIVER. THE BIRDS WERE STUFFED AND THEY USED TO HAVE NIGHTTIME CAMPFIRE PROGRAMS.

WE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD TIME THERE AND BUILT A FIRE AS THE OTHER CAMPERS DID. HIKING IS A GREAT ACTIVITY AT THIS PARK AS THERE ARE MANY TRAILS UNDERNEATH THE CAANOPY OF THE REDWOODS AND MIXED OAK FORESTS. THERE IS A REDWOOD TREE BY THE INTERPRETIVE CENTER WHICH HAD BEEN BURNT THROUYGH THE CENTER. IT NOW STILL LIVES AND HOUSES A HUGE FAMILY OF BATS.

IT IS A WELL KNOWN STATE PARK AND LARGE GATHERINGS OCCUR HERE AS THEY HAVE A BIG CAMPGROUND WITH LONG PICNIC TABLES.

CHINA CAMP STATE PARK

2010-10-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

AT CHINA CAMP STATE PARK THERE IS AN OLD FISHING HOUSE AND A SHORE WHERE PEOPLE FREQUENTLY SUNBATH AND SWIM. IN HISTORIC TIMES DURING THE 1880'S ABOUT 500 CHINESE PEOPLE STAYED HERE AND THEY HAD THREE GENERAL STORES AND A MARINE SUPPLY STORE. THE MEN CAUGHT SMALL SHRIMP FROM THE BAY - THEY THEN DRIED THEM ON NETS. THEY THEN SHIPPED MANY OF THEM BACK TO CHINA AND SOME WENT TO SAN FRANCISCO CHINESE SHOPS.

THERE ARE STILL FAMILIES WHO OPERATE THIS FISH HOUSE WHO ARE RELATED TO THE HISTORIC FAMILIES. I INTERVIEWED SOME OF THEM WHILE WORKING FOR THE STATE PARKS.

IN PREHISTORIC TIMES IT WAS A PLACE WHERE THERE WERE COASTAL MIWOK MIDDENS AND VILLAGES. THE EARLY ARCHAEOLOGISTS IN THE 1920'S FOCUSED THEIR EXCAVATIONS ON THESE MIDDENS SINCE THEY WANTED TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS IN THE LARGER VILLAGES. YOU CAN STILL SEE THE MIDDENS ALONG THE TRAILS.

ARMSTRONG WOODS STATE PARKS

2010-10-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

ARMSTRONG WOODS STATE PARKS IS IN GUERNEVILLE AND IT CONSISTED OF SOME OF THE MOST DENSE VEGETATION IN THE WORLD BEFORE THE LOGGING INDUSTRY CAME INTO THIS AREA IN THE 1800'S. IT HAS A NUMBER OF NICE TRAILS THAT I HAVE HIKED BOTH ABOVE THE CANYON AND IN THE CANYON. SOME OF THE REDWOOD TREES ARE OVER 300 YEARS OLD AND HAVE SURVIVED FIRES. THEY ARE INCREDIBLE TO LOOK UP UPON. THE WOODS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE A PLACE TO FEEL COOL FOR MANY SUMMER VACATIONERS AS WELL AS FOLKS COMING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO ENJOY A PEACEFUL HIKE OR A PICNIC DURING THE HOT SEASON. THEIR ARE TRAILS ABOVE THE CANYON FOR BOTH HIKERS AND HORSEBACK RIDING. MY SON'S SIXTH GRADE CLASS HAD A FIELD TRIP THERE AND UNFORTUNATELY THE TEACHER TOOK US OUT TO THE HOTTEST TRAIL - A STEEP FIRE TRAIL WHICH BURNT SOME OF THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS OUT. OH WELL SUCH IS LIFE. WE ALSO WENT ON ANOTHER SCHOOL HIKE THROUGH THE BOTTOM CANYON WHICH WAS MUCH MORE DELIGHTFUL FOR YOUNGSTERS.

WHAT MAKES THIS PARK SPECIAL IS THAT IT IS ALONG THE RUSSIAN RIVER AND IN THE PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE COOL BREEZES FILTER IN DURING EVEN THE HOT SUMMERS. I HAVE HIKED HERE DURING THE WINTER AND HAVE LED COACHING RETREATS HERE AS IT IS A VERY SACRED PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SEEM TO RELAX ONCE HERE.

I HAVE CAMPED AT THE UPPER FROG POND DURING MY PARK SURVEY THERE. I DID NOT FIND ANY HISTORIC OR PREHISTORIC SITES THERE. HOWEVER, BACK IN THE 80'S THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE EVEN HIKING THROUGH THE PARK.

SALT POINT STATE PARK

2010-10-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

SALT POINT STATE PARK IS A BEAUTIFUL PARK ON THE COAST WHERE I SURVEYED FOR THE PARKS AND FOUND SEVERAL CUPULE SITES. IT ALSO HAS SOME WONDERFUL FISHING CAMPS OF THE KASHAYA POMO. ON THE SEA CLIFF YOU CAN SEE THE SEALS AND SEA LIONS AS WELL AS PELICANS WHICH INHABIT THE COASTAL SHORE. THE INLAND PART OF SALT POINT IS COVERED WITH MIXED OAK, FIRS, PINE AND CEDAR TREES. IT HAS MOSTLY SHADE ALONG THE DRAINAGES. I SURVEYED SOME OF THE COASTLAND FOR THE PARKS. THIS PARK ALSO HAS A LONG SHADY TRAIL TO THE NORTH OF THE PARKING LOT ON THE COAST. IT HAS SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF THE OCEAN.

MY HUSBAND AND I CAMPED OVERNIGHT HERE IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPSITE WHEN WE MOVED TO SANTA ROSA.

THREE SISTERS

2010-10-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

SYLVIA (76), NETTIE (91), AND MATILDA (87) WERE THREE CLOSE SISTERS WHO LIVED IN HOUSES SIDE BY SIDE. THEY ARE QUIET BUT USE THEIR TRADITIONS BY WHICH THEY WERE RAISED. MATILDA IS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND TEACHES CHILDREN THE CEREMONIAL SONGS AND CHANTS IN HER ANCIENT LANGUAGE. SYLVIA TRAVELS TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR CULTURE AND ATTEND MEETINGS WITH ELDERS FROM OTHER TRIBES. THEY ARE ALL WARM SPRING INDIANS FROM A LAND ABOUT 100 MILES SOUTH OF PORTLAND.

THEY USED TO LIVE IN A SMALL HOUSE THEIR FATHER BUILT THEY RAISED ALL TYPES OF VEGETABLES IN THEIR GARDEN - WHEAT, RYE, CORN, CARROTS, POTATOES, MELONS, AND SQUASH. SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A SUMMER AND THEIR GARDENS DON'T DO WELL.

THE LADIES PLAYED STICK GAMES AND HAD SOME REAL FUNNY SONGS AND WORDS IN THEM. THEIR FATHER WAS A CHIEF, AND HEADS OF THE RESERVATION OF THREE TRIBES. NOW THEY HAVE THREE CHIEFS. THEIR LONG HOUSE OR COMMUNITY HOUSE HAD A FIRE OR TWO BURNING FOR WARMTH. DURING INDIAN NEW YEAR, DECEMBER 21, ALL THE PEOPLE WOULD SLEEP THERE AND CELEBRATE THROUGH CHRISTMAS TO NEW YEARS. THEY HAD WORSHIPPING DURING THE EVENING. WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE GIRLS THEY WOULD HAVE DANCES AND THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN THE WAY OF THE ADULTS.. THE DANCERS DIDN'T WEAR FANCY THINGS. THE WOMEN WORE DRESSES AND THE MEN WORE REGALIA. THEY USE A DRUM AND THE ELDER WOMEN SANG TO THE DRUM. DURING WINTER MONTHS, I DON'T REMEMBER TOO MANY STORIES. THEIR MOM WOULD BRING OUT SOME GOOD THINGS TO EAT.

THEY COLLECTED MANY SIMNASHO BERRIES IN THE MEADOWS. YOU COULD ONLY EAT A FEW OR THEY'D MAKE YOU ILL. THEIR MOM WOULD GRIND THEM ALL DAY UNTIL SEEDS WERE POUNDED. SHE'D MAKE LITTLE PATTIES AND DRY THEM IN THE SUN. THEY USE THE SAME PROCEDURE WITH BLACKBERRIES AND SERVICE BERRIES. IN WINTER THESE BERRIES WERE MIXED UP WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF ROOTS.

CAMAS WAS ALSO POPULAR AND WAS BARBECUED AND THEN PUT IN JARS. THEIR MOM WOULD DIG A ROUND PIT AND BUILD A FIRE FIRST TO GET IT REAL WARM. THEN SHE WOULD PUT HOT ROCKS INTO THE PIT. SH COVERED THE CAMAS WITH LEAVES, COVERED IT UP WITH A STICK IN THE MIDDLE AND POURED WATER ON IT. IT TOOK THREE DAYS TO COOK THEM.

TODAY THEY HAVE CEREMONIES LIKE THE ROOT FEAST AND WATER CEREMONIES. THEY ARE THANKFUL FOR THE EARTH THAT GIVES THEM PLANTS AND TREES.

THEIR SONGS DO NOT HAVE TEACHINGS ABOUT REINCARNATION BUT THEY TEACH ABOUT WHAT'S COMING AND HOW TO LIVE. ON A SPECIAL SIDE OF MOUNT HOOD IS A PLACE WHERE THEY TOOK THE CHILDREN FOR 5 DAYS. A SPIRIT ANIMAL WOULD LIVE AND BECOME PART OF THAT CHILD AND LIVE WITH THEM THROUGHOUT ALL THEIR LIFE.

THAT CHILD COULD BE A MEDICINE PERSON AND HEAL WITH THAT SPIRIT. TODAY THEY ALL HAVE WHITE DOCTORS. SOME ARE CALLED MAKE BELIEVERS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HEAL ANYONE. BUT NOW THERE'S NO POWER.

THE SONGS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE ARE THEIR HEALING. SHE DOESN'T THINK IT WILL GO BACK TO THE SAME WAY WE WERE RAISED. SOME CHILDREN GO TO THE LONGHOUSE AND WE TEACH THEM WHAT OUR SONGS ARE ABOUT. THERE ARE SO MANY THAT WANT TO LEAD OUR LIVES LIKE THEIR WHITE FRIENDS. THEY'RE HOPING THAT THE FUTURE LEADERS WILL BRING A CHANGE.

METTIE WAS BORN IN 1902. HER HOUSE WAS MADE OF POLES. THEY LIVED IN THESE HOUSES FOR 12 YEARS, THEN HER FATHER BUILT A WOODEN HOUSE. HER GRANDFATHER HAD FIVE WIVES. HE HAD A BIG OLD HOUSE WHERE THE CHILDREN SOMETIMES SLEPT. SHE WENT TO A BOARDING SCHOOL

SHE REMEMBERS THE HAPPY TIMES WHEN WE WENT TO PICK HOPS.SHE WENT WITH AUNTIE ON HORSEBACK.THEY MADE 25CENTS FOR A BASKET. EVERYONE WOULD MAKE SOME MONEY BY PICKING HOPS, CHERRIES, AND BERRIES. THEY DANCED IN LONG HOUSES FOR ONE WEEK. AT SCHOOL SHE LEARNED TO FOXTROT AND TURKEY TROT. WHEN SHE THEY LOVED TO DANCE. HER FIRST HUSBAND GOT TIRED OF HER AND SHE CRIED AND WAS BY HERSELF FOR SEVEN YEARS. THEN SHE FOUND ANOTHER BETTER HUSBAND. THE PARENTS ORGANIZE THE WEDDINGS AND TRADE BLANKETS AND GIFTS.

HER PARENTS TOLD HER NOT TO POUTS OR GIGGLE TOO MUCH. GET UP EARLY AND COOK BREAKFAST - DON'T BE LAZY AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOTHER IN LAW.

HER SISTER TOLD HER STORIES OF THE ANCIENTS WHO LIVED IN ANOTHER VALLEY. THE SOLDIERS DROVE OUT OUR PEOPLE TO THIS RESERVATION.THEY KEPT MAKING OUR RESERVATION SMALLER. HER GRANDFATHER HAD A LONG HOUSE AND THEY USED TO DANCE EVERY SUNDAY AND WORSHIP. THE WASCO PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED CHRISTIAN OR PRESBYTERIANS.

MATILDA WAS RAISED ON THE WARM SPRING RESERVATION. SHE REMEMBERS A WHIP MAN WHO CAME TO THEIR WEEKLY GATHERINGS. IF THE CHILDREN DID NOT DO AS THEY WERE TOLD, HE WOULD USE A WILLOW STICK AND WHIP ON THEIR LEGS THROUGH OUR CLOTHES. HE WOOULD SAY NOT TO STEAL, LIE, OR DRINK. SHE SAID SHE TRIED TO BE GOOD ALL HER LIFE.

MATILDA'S PARENTS DID NOT WANT HER TO MARRYA WASCO. AT 19 SHE WAS A BIG WOMAN AND SHE WENT WITH HER SISTER TO WARM SPRINGS TO CASH HER FATHER'S CHECK. SHE MINDED HER PARENT'S SHE HAS MANY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND SHE SAYS IT'S OK TO GO TO WHITE PEOPLE'S CHURCH. BUT SHE ALSO WANTS THE CHILDREN TO GO TO THEIR TRADITIONAL SERVICES IN LONGHOUSE CEREMONIES.

SANDY JOHNSON

LEGGETT BROTHERS AND OTHER BANDS

2010-10-18T11:14:00.000-07:00

THIS LAST WEEKEND I WENT TO HEAR AN UPBEAT CONCERT THAT WAS FREE TO ANYONE. THERE WERE NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE IT WAS HELD AT A CHURCH AND THEY HAD A MINISTER PRAY FIRST. HE INTRODSUCED A SOLOIST WHO WAS KNOWN AS BROTHER JEREMY.

THEN ANOTHER BAND OF ABOUT 6 FOLKS PLAYED AND SUNG SPIRITUAL SONGS. THEY HAD FROM THE CHURCH A GROUP OF FOUR CHILDREN WHO HAD WHITE GLOVES ON AND THE DANCED RTHMICALLY TO SOME JAZZ TUNES.

FINALLY THE LEGGETT BROTHERS CAME ON STAGE AND THEY PLAYED ELECTRIC GUITARS, DRUMS, TAMBORINES, AND KEYBOARD AND SANG JAZZ AND SOME BLUES SONGS. WE STOOD UP AND CLAPPED AND SWAYED TO THEIR MUSIC. THE MUSIC GOT TOO LOUD FOR ME AFTER AWHILE, SO I LEFT EARLY.

CENTER FOR SPIRITURAL LIVING

2010-10-18T10:35:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY AT THE CHURCH THERE WAS A DIFFERENT REVEREND WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE MYSTERIES OF LIFE THAT ARE UNFOLDING. REVEREND DAVID ALEXANDER IS ONE OF THE YOUNGEST METAPHYSICAL MINISTERS IN THE US. HE CAME FROM PORTLAND AND HAD A FUN WIT ABOUT HIM TELLING US ABOUT HOW HE BUILT HIS CHURCH FROM SCRATCH. HE LEARNED AT A YOUNG AGE THAT THE METAPHYSICAL CHURCH IS ONE OF OPENING THE HEART. HE SAID TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EMOTIONS AND SAY THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE ALIVE EACH DAY.
HE SAID HE SPOKE TO A GROUP OF LESS THAN 100 IN A SMALL HALL. THEN IT STARTED TO TAKE OFF AND THEY FOUND A LARGER ROOM TO LEASE. THEY HAD ABOUT 300 ADULTS AND 100 CHILDREN. HE FOUND A LARGE CHURCH THAT SOME KOREANS HAD USED FOR A CHURCH. THEN THEY WERE GIVEN THE OPTION TO EITHER VACATE THE BUILDING OR BUY IT. THEY HAD A MEETING AND RAISED 1.5 MILLION TO BUY THE CHURCH. WHEN HE PRESENTED THIS TO THE KOREANS HE SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT. HE DID NOT KNOW WHY. IN ANY CASE HE WAS SPELL BOUND AND THAT WAS LAST WEEK SO HE IS NOW LOOKING FOR ANOTHER PLACE TO USE FOR HIS CHURCH.

HIS MESSAGE WAS INSTEAD OF WORKING ON OUR INNER SELVES SO MUCH JUST DO WHAT YOU WANT OR NEED TO DO AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW EVERYTHING. HE SAID IF PEOPLE ARE MAKING YOU FEEL DEPRESSED GO TO NATURE AND IDENTIFY THE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS THAT IS THERE.

HE TOLD US A JOKE ABOUT THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN HELL - A BAPTIST, A METAPHYSICAL SPIRITUALIST, AND A CATHOLIC. THE CATHOLIC SAID I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE HERE. THE BAPTIST SAID THIS IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED. AND THE SPIRITUALIST SAID THIS MUST BE A DREAM.

HE HAD A GREAT MANY JOKES ABOUT GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY AND LETTING SPIRIT HAPPEN. THERE WAS A GREAT CHOIR OF ABOUT 40 PEOPLE WHO ENTERTAINED US FOR THREE OR FOUR SONGS. THEY WERE VERY GOOD.

SRJC FUTURE OF FOOD MOVIE

2010-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:00

LAST NIGHT I WENT TO A MOVIE CALLED THE FUTURE OF FOOD DIRECTED BY DEBORAH GARCIA. YOU CAN RESEARCH THIS MOVIE BY GOING TO THE FUTURE OF FOOD.COM.THE CREW DID RESEARCH THROUGHOUT AMERICA, CANADA AND MEXICO. THEY EXPLAINED THAT LARGE CORPORATIONS SUCH AS MONSATO ARE RULING THE FARMERS AS TO HOW TO SPRAY THEIR CROPS WITH CHEMICALS THAT KILL OF THE INSECTS AND MAKE OUR FOODS LESS DESIRABLE TO TASTE AND AFFECT OUR HEALTH.

IN ABORIGINAL AMERICA THERE WERE 5000 TYPES OF POTATOES AND TODAY IN THE US THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 4 TYPES! IN THE 1950'S THE GREEN REVOLUTION BEGAN TO ENCOURAGE THE US POPULATION TO CHOOSE ORGANIC FARMING AND PRODUCE. THERE ARE OVER 1.4 BILLION FARMERS IN THE WORLD AND ONLY 20% OF THEM SAVE SEED. THE RESEARCH OF GENETICALLY ENGINEERED WHEAT IS OF MOST IMPORTANCE SINCE SO MANY PEOPLE EAT WHEAT PRODUCTSTHROUGHOUT THE WORLD. EATING GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS DECREASES OUT IMMUNE SYSTEM. THEY PRODUCERS ENVISION THAT WE WILL IN THE FUTURE ONLY HAVE 4 CLUSTERS OF SEED COMPANIES. TODAY MOST OF OUR FOOD TRAVELS 1500 MILES TO THE CONSUMER! THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE WASTE OF GAS AND FUEL, AND FRESHNESS IS DECREASED.

ORGANIC FARMERS ARE INCREASING AND MOST CITIES IN MY AREA HAVE ORGANIC FARMERS MARKETS WITH LOCAL FOODS. ORGANIC FOODS ARE ABOUT HAVING A HUMAN RELATIONSHIP TO THE FOOD AND BELIEVING IN A SUSTAINABLE FITURE FOR OUR NEXT GENERATIONS. IN 1990 ORGANIC FARMS WERE BELIEVED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF EVERYONE INVOLVED. IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND NEBRASKA WHERE THEY GROW LARGE AMOUNTS OF SOYBEANS AND WHEAT THE FOARMERS ARE RALLYING AGAINST GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS.

AFTER TAKING HIS CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT SO THAT HIS LARGE FARM IN CANADA COULD STILL USE NON GENETICALLY MODIFIED SEEDS, PERCY SCHMEISNER AND HIS WIFE WON THEIR CASE AGAINST MONSANTO AS DID A FARMER IN THE DAKOTAS. IT TOOK MANY YEARS HOWEVER.

IN ADDITION TO THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM SEEDS IS THE PROBLEM OF LABELING OF FOODS IN CANS, BOXES, AND GLASS IN THE SUPERMARKETS. DR. CHRIS WEGE IS PRESIDENT OF THE TRUTH IN LABELING COALITION SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS IN THEIR FOOD AND IF IT HAS ANY GENETICALLY MODIFIED SUBSTANCES.

ROSE AUGER - CREE FROM EDMONTON CANADA

2010-10-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

MEDICINE COMES FROM GRANDMOTHER SPIDER WHO WAS PART OF HER LIFE SINCE SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE ALWAYS PLAYED WITH SPIDERS AND WHEN SHE'S IN A MEETING SPIDER'S WILL GATHER. ROSE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF HER PEOPLE. SIX CHILDREN WHO FOLLOW "THE WAY"

BUFFALO MEDICINE LODGE IS PART OF HER HOUSE. SHE'S HEALED ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE FROM CANADIANS TO THOSE IN THE U.S. OSAKA BOUSKO CREE WOMAN WHO STANDS STRONG FROM CANADA. HE ANCESTORS WERE NOMADIC. HER GRANDFATHER, A TRAPPER, GOT VERY SICK. HER FATHER RODE BY HORSE TO GET A MEDICINE MAN TO DO A HEALING. I REMEMBER THE ROOM WAS DARK AND THERE WAS SINGING. SHE WAS ABOUT 4. THE MEDICINE MAN TOOK A BLOODSUCKER OUT OF GRANDFATHER'S ARM. SHE WAS SCARED AT THE AGE OF 4. SHE SAW SPIRITS FLYING IN. AFTER WHILE HE SAT UP AND FELT OK.

AS SHE GOT OLDER SHE BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND MORE. HER MOM WAS RAISED CATHOLIC AND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE OLD WAYS.

ONCE WHEN SHE WENT OUT TO THE RIVER, BEAVERS WOULD SWIM AROUND; BIRDS WOULD LAND ON HER HEAD. ONE DAY WHILE PICKING BERRIES WITH HER GRANDFATHER THERE WERE MANY BEARS. HER FATHER JUST TOLD THEM TO GO AWAY AND THEY DID. SHE WAS NO LONGER AFRAID OF THE ANIMALS AS SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT THEY WERE PART OF THEM.

HER OTHER GRANDFATHER WAS A MEDICINE MAN AS WELL. AND HE HAD TO HIDE IN THE HILLS TO HEAL PEOPLE. THE TB EPIDEMIC WAS COMING AND SAW THIS IN THEIR DREAMS. HER GRANDFATHER KNEW HE COULD HELP AND HE DID. BUT THEY HAD TO GO AND HIDE IN THE HILLS TO CURE PEOPLE.- THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY KNEW. AFTER HE CURED PEOPLE WITH TB IT BAFFLED THE DOCTORS AND EVERYONE ELSE.

AS A SMALL CHILD SHE HAD POWER TO TAKE PEOPLE'S PAIN AWAY BY RUBBING HER HANDS OVER THEM. THEN SHE WOULD CARRY THE PAIN AND I CRIED TOO MUCH BECAUSE OF IT. SO HER ELDERS DID A CEREMONY AND ASKED THE SPIRIT PEOPLE TO HOLD OFF THESE GIFTS UNTIL SHE GOT OLDER. HER GRANDMA TOLD HER STORIES OF RELATIVES AND THE GIFTS THEY HAD AND THEY KNEW ABOUT HERS. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HER GIFTS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED. SHE LIVED AS A HOLY OF A LIFE AS POSSIBLE. HER GRANDMA SAID OTHERS COULD BRING RAIN AND ASK FOR THEIR SPIRITS BY RUBBING THEIR HAIR.

PEOPLE NEED TO LISTEN TO THEIR OWN INNER SELF, THEIR GUARDIAN SPIRIT. IF YOU'VE LIVED YOUR LIFE SERVING AND LOVING THEN YOU'LL ALWAYS BE TAKEN CARE OF.

TRY TO EMPOWER EVERYONE AROUND YOU - BE IT IN THE GARDEN, OR GETTING A JOB, OR MAKING A NEW RECIPE.

TO BE HUMBLE IS GIVING, AND TO REMEMBER THAT IT ISN'T YOU WHO DID THE CURING. SOMETIMES I LAY ON MOTHER EARTH AND GIVE THANKS IN TEARS FOR THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR ALL OF US.

MANY OF US ARE RUNNING AROUND IN THE WORLD ASKING WHAT S MY DESTINY? THEY SAY DURING THE LAST STAGE OF PURIFICATION SPIDER WILL COME TO CORRECT THINGS.

PEOPLE KNOW I WORK WITH SPIDERS. THERE WAS AN ELDERS COUNCIL AT SANTA CLARA PUEBLO. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE CAME AND A SPIDER HOPPED ONTO THE LAP OF A HOLY MAN. THE ELDER NEXT TO HIM SAID IT BRINGS A MESSAGE. SHE WAS SICK ONE MORNING AND THE MAN WITH THE SPIDER CAME UP TO HER AND SAID ARE YOU THE ONE WHO WORKS WITH SPIDERS AND SHE SAID YES. HE SAID HE HAD GOTTEN A MESSAGE FROM THE SPIDER WHEN YOU WORK WITH SPIRIT YOU HAVE THAT GIFT. SHE WORKS WITH 126 SPIRITS. THEY ARE HER ANCESTORS, HER PEOPLE. THERE'S ONE GRANDMOTHER WHO HAS BEEN COMING TO ME CALLED EARTH BLANKET WOMAN. SHE SAID ONE WINTER WE HAVE TO MAKE SPECIAL TEAS AND MEDICINES IN ORDER TO BE HEALTHY.

SHE BELIEVES SHE HAS TO WE HAVE TO CLEANSE OURSELVES MENTALLY PHYSICALLY SPIRITUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HIV SHE TELLS PEOPLE WHO ARE AT THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY THAT LIFE CONTINUES AND DOESN'T END.IT'S VERY HARD FOR THEM IN THE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND IT BUT SHE PUTS THEM IN CEREMONIES AND THEY ARE AT PEACE.

SHE WANTS TO BUILD A LARGER LODGE IN ORDER TO HOUSE TERMINALLY ILL PEOPLE AND TEACH THEM THAT THERE IS LIFE AFTER DEATH AND THAT WE ALL ARE HERE TO HEAL AND SHE WANTS TO TEACH YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT HAVING A CLEAN MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT.

SANDY JOHNSON

VERNON HARPER - A CREE OF THE 8TH FIRE

2010-10-12T16:54:00.000-07:00

THE CREE NATION HAS 180,000 UNREGISTERED MEMBERS AND 30,000 REGISTERED MEMBERS.
VERNON IS A NORTHERN CREE AND HIS GRANDFATHER WAS A WAR CHIEF. HE HAS FOUGHT HIS BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS AND ALCOHOL LIKE SO MANY INDIANS. HE WON THAT BATTLE AND IS NOW A HIGHLY RESPECTFUL MEDICINE MAN AND SPIRITUAL LEADER.

HE RUNS SWEAT LODGE CEREMONIES INSIDE CANADIAN PRISONS. HIS MESSAGE - CLEAN UP THE POLLUTION OF YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL, THEN CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CREE TRADITION TEACHES THAT LISTENING MEANS MORE THAN ANYTHING. LISTEN TO NATURE, LISTEN TO THE WIND, LISTEN TO THE ROCKS, LISTEN TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

SOME ELDERS SAY THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO GET BACK TO LISTENING. THIS IS WHY I TALK TO THE GROUP YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR BOOK. SO THEY CAN GET A GUIDE BACK TO THIS WAY OF BEING. OUR YOUNG HAVE FORGOTTEN THERE IS NO RESPECT UNLESS WE LEARN HOW TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. THE CREE PHILOSOPHY IS ABOUT SOBRIETY. TODAY OUR INDIAN NATION IS SO LOST SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN AWAY FROM SOBRIETY. WHEN THEY'RE ALCOHOLICS THEY ARE SLAVES.

OUR PURPOSE IS TO BE CARETAKERS OF MOTHER EARTH. THIS INCLUDES THE ANIMALS AND THE MOUNTAINS. BEAR IS MEDICINE OF THE NORTH HE'S SPIRITUALLY STRONG. THE CREES HAVE A MAJIC NUMBER - 4. FOUR DIRECTIONS, FOUR SEASONS, FOUR COLORS, FOUR RACES OF THE SACRED HOOP. WHEN A CHILD IS FOUR THEY TAKE ON OUR KARMA.

HE AND HIS BROTHER AT AGE 4 WERE HELD BY THEIR MOTHER WHEN SHE DIED. SHE GAVE THEM HER LAST BREATH. THEY WERE SENT TO FOSTER HOMES. THEY BOTH BECAME DRUG ADDICTS. HE FELT HER LAST BREATH WHEN HE WAS READY TO GIVE UP. THEN TOLD HIS AUNT I MADE IT THROUGH. SHE TOLD HIM ALL THAT HEALING HE HAD TO DO WAS NOT A WASTE OF TIME, IT WAS TRAINING FOR THE WORK YOU ARE GOING TO DO . HE SAYS HE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF THE UNIVERSE WHERE EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS CONNECTED.

I DON'T INSULT PEOPLE - I LISTEN TO THEM AND I WALK MY TALK. TALK IS CHEAP DOING IS THE LEARNING AND BLESSING. HUMOR IS IMPORTANT TO OUR HEALING. THE CREE LOVE TO TEASE AND AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT - IT IS OUR WAY OF COPING. THEY CALL IT DEVIL CRAZY. THEY ARE TAUGHT THAT WOMEN ARE COMPLETE AND MEN ARE NOT. WOMEN HAVE THEIR FIRE OF LIFE IN THEM AND MEN DON'T. THEY SEE THE WOMEN AS SUPERIOR. SHE IS THE CALLER OF LIFE.

BEFORE MAKING A DECISION THEY ASK HOW IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT OUR NEXT GENERATION. WE ARE NEVER IN 8TH FIRE - IT IS NOW WHEN MOTHER EARTH IS REBALANCING. THEY BELIEVE MOTHER EARTH WILL CLEANSE HERSELF FROM ALL THE POISON. ALL OF LIFE IS A CEREMONY COMING OUT OF DREAM WORLD IS A CEREMONY. EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE HERE FOR. YOU MUST MEDITATE AND PRAY - IT TOOK ME 40 YEARS TO FIND THIS OUT. CREE MEN CANNOT DO COMMUNITY WORK UNTIL THEY WERE OVER 50. THEY BELIEVE IN REINCARNATION - YOU GET FLASHES OF THE OLD AND NEW SOULS HERE.

MANY YOUNG COMMIT SUICIDE FROM A SENSE OF LOSS OF CULTURE AND LOSS OF IDENTITY. WE COME HERE FOR THE LESSONS OF LIFE. VERN SUFFERED ALL HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIMSELF. WHEN HE GOES INTO THE SWEAT LODGE HE THINKS ABOUT HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND HE SUFFERS AND PRAYS IN THERE. WE MUST ALL PREPARE OURSELVES SO WHEN OUR TIME COMES OUR SPIRIT JOURNEY IS GOOD. HE'S HERE TO TEACH THE CHILDREN AND IT'S SIMPLE BUT NOT. IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE ALIVE.

A WALK AT BISHOP'S RANCH IN THE FALL

2010-10-12T12:19:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY I WENT TO BISHOP'S RANCH TO CELEBRATE COLUMBUS DAY WHICH IS ALSO CANADA'S THANKSGIVING DAY. I WALKED ABOUT FIVE MILE IN HOT TEMPERATURES WEARING A HAT AND BRINGING PLENTY OF WATER AND A WALKING STICK. NO ONE ELSE WAS HIKING. IT WAS A VERY PEACEFUL TIME AS I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE TRAIL. HOWEVER THE RANCH HAS CHANGED SOMEWHAT SINCE I WAS THEIR IN THE SUMMER. THEY HAVE SEVERAL NEW PEOPLE ON STAFF AND THEY HAVE PUT SOME NEW UMBRELLAS AROUND THE POOL AND HAVE PUT SOME OUTDOOR PLANTS AROUND THEIR PAVILION. THEY ALSO HAVE BUILT A NUMBER OF NEW BENCHES ALONG THEIR TRAIL WHICH IS HELPFUL TO FOLKS SO THEY CAN SIT AND LISTEN TO NATURE IN A PEACEFUL SURROUNDING. THIS RANCH IS MORE LIKE A PRIVATE STATE PARK WITH TRAILS KEPT MOWED. FEW PEOPLE EXCEPT THE MORE AMBITIOUS FOLKS WHO STAY HERE FOR RETREATS WALK THE TRAILS. ALSO THE LARGE TREE HOUSE THAT WAS BUILT BY THE FRANCISCAN'S IN THE
1970'S HAS BEEN REMOVED SINCE THE 150 PLUS YEAR OLD OAK TREE HAS DETERIORATED DUE TO BARK BEETLES AND THE 2009 DROUGHT. SO THEY ARE PLANNING TO PLACE A NEW TREE HOUSE IN A NEARBY TREE. APPARENTLY THERE IS A PAIR OF GREAT HORNED OWLS NEARBY THE CHAPEL

I SPENT SOME TIME REFLECTING HOW EACH SEASON ALONG THE TRAIL BRINGS ME NEW INSIGHT AS TO HOW THE DIFFERENT WILDFLOWERS AND NATIVE PLANTS BLOOM AND CHANGE THE LOOK OF THE LANDSCAPE. SURROUNDING THIS 400 ACRE RANCH ARE VINEYARDS AND A DAIRY FARMER. ONCE YOU ARE ABOUT A MILE INTO THE TRAIL YOU CAN ONLY HEAR NATURE AND IT IS QUITE PEACEFUL. I ALWAYS BRING A PLASTIC BAG TO SIT UPON SO I CAN ENJOY A SNACK OR JUST REST IN THE SHADE. ABOUT 1/2 OF THE TRAIL IS IN THE SHADE WHICH IS GREAT SINCE DURING THE SUMMER THE TEMPERATURES HERE CAN BE OVER 100 DEGREES.

YESTERDAY I SAW A COVEY OF QUAILS AS THEY HEARD ME ALONG THE PATH. A FEW MALE ROBINS AND A FLICKER WOODPECKER WERE FLYING AMONG THE WILLOWS NEARBY KEEPO CREEK. ONLY SEVERAL PLANTS WERE IN BLOOM - ONE WAS PENNYROYAL. IN ANCIENT EUROPE WHERE IT CAME FROM IT WAS USED TO HEAL HEADACHES AND MANY OTHER ILLS AS WELL AS HYSTERIA. THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF TARWEEDS SEEDS WHICH THE POMO'S USED TO CATCH BY USING A BASKET LIKE BATON AND A LARGE OTHER BASKET TO HOLD THE SEED HEADS. THE WOMEN WORKED THE FIELD ALL DAY LONG CATCHING DIFFERENT TYPES OF TARWEED SEEDS. THEY WERE THEN PARCHED BY PLACING HOT ROCKS INTO THE BASKET - AND THEN THEY MADE A FLOUR OR THE COULD BE USED IN A GRANOLA LIKE FOOD CALLED PINOLE. I SAW THE DROPPINGS OF COYOTE AND RACCOON. I TASTED SOME RIPE BLACKBERRIES (EUROPEAN VARIETY) AND SAW NO WILD BOARS THIS TRIP, BUT DID SEE THEIR HOLE WHERE THEY HAD DUG FOR ROOTS. THERE WERE MANY DRIED STALKS OF NATIVE FOODS - YAMPA, SOAPROOT, HARVEST LILIES, MULES EARS AND OTHERS. THE CEONOTHUS FLOWERS WERE IN BLOOM WHICH WERE USED AS A SOAP TO WASH HAIR DURING POMO WEDDINGS!

LOWER LAKE WAS FULL AND THEIR WERE MANY TULES WHICH WERE USED FOR RAIN CLOTHING, FOR BOATS, AND FOR BUILDING THE POMO WIKIUPS. THERE ALSO WERE A FEW JUNKOS AND SMALL SPARROWS FLYING ABOUT KEEPO CREEK WHICH WAS DRY.

IT WAS A VERY CLEAR AND HOT DAY AS I FINISHED THE TRAIL AND CHANGED MY CLOTHES AND WASHED DOWN MY HOT FACE AND BODY IN THEIR FACILITIES.

I STOPPED TO GET SOME COLD WATER AND ICE CREAM IN TOWN AND SAY HI TO SOME OLD FRIENDS WHO WERE WORKING IN THEIR SHOP.

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

2010-10-12T12:03:00.000-07:00

LAST SUNDAY THE MESSAGE FROM REVEREND VILJOEN WAS THAT SPIRIT IS EXPRESSING POSITIVE LOVE. AND HE GOT HIS INFORMATION FROM A POSITIVE NEWS WEBSITE. HE ASKED DID YOU KNOW THAT THEIR IS AN ABUNDANCE OF POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING WORLDWIDE? FOR INSTANCE, A 6 YEAR OLD SAW A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL FALL INTO A POOL, AND SHE DOVE IN TO SAVE HER LIFE. AFTER BRINGING HER UP TO THE MOTHER SHE REFUSED A REWARD SAYING THAT SAVING HER LIFE WAS HER REWARD. AND DID YO9U KNOW THAT SOME CEO'S OF COMPANIES ARE NOT PAYING THEMSELVES ANY EARNINGS AND ASKING THEIR EMPLOYEES TO REDUCE PAY CUTS OF 20% INSTEAD OF LOOSING THE COMPANY? AND DID YOU KNOW THAT MANY BILLIONAIRES ARE GIVING 1/2 OF THE EARNINGS TO NONPROFITS? AND DID YOU KNOW THAT SOME AFRICAN DOCTORS ARE DONATING THEIR TIME TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THEIR ILL CHILDREN?

THESE FOLKS ARE PLACING THEIR VALUES ON COOPERATION VERSUS DISAGREEMENTS. AND GOD IS LOVE AND ALL OF US ARE PART OF GOD.

AMEN

WILLARD RHOADES - PIT RIVER STORYTELLER

2010-10-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

SARA WAS PICKED UP AT THE REDDING AIRPORT BY FRIENDS OF WILLARD. HER INTERVIEW WAS IN AND AROUND HIS TRAILER. HE WAS UNDER ONE OF THE SIX CARS IN HIS DRIVEWAY. HE IS A SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE 11 BANDS OF THE PIT RIVER NATION. HIS WIFE WORKS AT THE RANCHERIA PIT RIVER NATION'S CENTER FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS, AND SHE HEADS A CENTER THAT BRINGS FOOD TO THE ELDERLY TRIBAL MEMBERS AT HOME. SHE IS WINTU. CRAIG WHO CONNECTED SARAH WITH WILLARD SAID THAT THE HOPI ARE THE LEAST CORRUPTED NATION - HE IS A TRADITIONAL MESSENGER.

WILLARD TOLD HIS FAVORITE COYOTE STORIES. OLD COYOTE WAS A SMART FELLOW. IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS A THERE WAS ANOTHER WORLD WHERE WE HAD EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE EVEN MORE THAN YOU HAVE TODAY. IN THE OTHER WORLD YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO WORK. THERE WAS EVERYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT. THEN THEY SAID I FORGOT THE OLD MAN AND WE DON'T NEED HIM NOW. THE OLD MAN GOT MAD.I FIXED ANOTHER WORLD, HE TOLD HIS HELPER- THE SILVER FOX. FOX SAID TO GATHER ALL PEOPLE , BUILD A WEB WITH A POUCH IN IT AND PUT THE PEOPLE IN IT. THE WEB WILL TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD. BUT COYOTE BEGGED TO COME. HE THOUGHT THEY WOULD DESTROY THIS WORLD. THE OTHERS SAID WE CAN'T TAKE YOU BECAUSE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE. YOU HAVE CAUSED PEOPLE TO DO BAD THINGS. COYOTE'S FINAL ARGUMENT WAS THAT YOUR FATHER SAID YOU CAN'T KILL YOUR OWN BROTHER SO THEY BROUGHT HIM. THEN THEY SAID IF YOU DO THE WRONG THINGS AGAIN WE'LL HAVE TO DESTROY THE PEOPLE AGAIN AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED. THE OLD MAN FROZE THEM AND REBUILT THE WORLD. THEY KEPT DOING THE SAME BAD THINGS AND ALL OVER AGAIN. THEY ARE FORGETTING.

SO THIS TIME HE FLOODED THEM; BUT BEFORE THE FLOOD HE TOLD HIS HELPER TO BUILD TWO BOATS AND GET THE SEEDS OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND THE ANIMALS SO THAT HE COULD REBUILD THE WORLD AGAIN. COYOTE BEGGED AGAIN AND THE OLD MAN GAVE IN AND BROUGHT HIM. WHEN THEY LANDED HERE COYOTE JUMPED OFF AND SAID WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT. THE OLD MAN SAID YOU TEACH THEM THE WAY YOU DID BEFORE. THEY DID THE SAME THINGS TO REBUILD THE WORLD THEY DID THE THINGS TO REBUILD THE EVENT WORLD. AND WHATEVER YOU DO I WILL NOT DESTROY YOU BECAUSE YOU CANNOT HELP WHAT THEY DO. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH THIS WORLD IS THAT THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN. THEY ARE THEY ARE GOING TO THE MOON AND TO THE STARS AND THEY DON'T NEED THE OLD MAN ANYMORE.

AND IT CONTINUES ABOUT HOW THEY PLANTED A DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. THEY WERE TOLD HOW TO PRAY. HE SAID THAT HIS PEOPLE GOT UP IN THE MORNING AND PRAYED ONCE AND THAT WAS IT.

THE WOMEN OF OUR TRIBE TEACH THE CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT THEIR CULTURE IS ABOUT UNTIL AGE 10-12. THEN THE MEN TEACH THEM CERTAIN THINGS. WHEN A MAN MAKES A DECISION HE HAS TO GET THE WOMEN'S APPROVAL. THEY'D MEET IN A BIG SWEAT HOUSE. AND TALK OVER THINGS. MOSTLY THE DOCTORS SMOKED AND RARELY THE OTHERS DID. WILLARD IS MOSTLY A TEACHER AND AN ADVISOR.

COYOTE SAID "I'LL RUN AND JUMP ACROSS ACROSS FALL RIVER AND HE HIT THE BANK!

WILLARD'S MOM WAS A DOCTOR. HE HAD A CUT ON HIS EYE AND SHE PUT A PATCH OVER HIS EYE AND TOLD HIM TO GO TO BED. ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG CLOUD CAME DOWN AND IT FELT HEAVY WHEN IT HIT ME. SHE TOOK THE PATCH OFF AND HIS EYE WAS HEALED.

ANOTHER CHILD HIT HIS HEAD ON A BIG ROCK AND HIS MOM BROUGHT HIM OVER. SHE PUT SOMETHING ON HIS HEAD AND TOLD HIM TO LIE DOWN. THE MOTHER WENT HOME FOR A FEW HOURS. WHEN SHE CAME BACK HE WAS COMPLETELY HEALED!

ONCE HIS MOM STARTED GOING TO CHURCH SHE COULDN'T HEAL ANYMORE. THE OTHER INDIAN DOCTORS DO NOT ASK FOR MONEY THEY JUST PREFER TO HEAL YOU

HE TOLD A SNAKE STORY - THERE WAS A SILVER AND A GOLD SNAKE. THE TWO SNAKES WERE ON A PIECE OF MOSS AND TWO INDIANS SAW THEM. SO THEY PICKED THEM UP AND TOOK AND BROUGHT THEM HOME. THEY FED THEM MOSQUITOS. WHEN THEY WERE BIG THEY TOOK OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE GOLD SNAKE WENT AND THE SIVER SNAKE WENT SOUTH. AS THE LEGEND GOES THEY ATE EVERYTHING IN THEIR PATH AND EVENTUALLY THEY DESTROYED THEMSELVES.

COYOTE IS STILL A TRICKSTER IN THEIR LAND. HE CAME BACK HUNGRY AND ASKED TO EAT A CHILD AND THEN HE WOULD LEAVE. IF YOU DON'T I'LL KILL YOU. SO THEY GAVE HIM A CHILD. AND HE CAME BACK HUNGRY. SO THAT'S WHERE THE TRIBE IS TODAY. HE IS STILL TRYING TO GET TO THAT NEXT CHILD.

SANDY JOHNSON

SIX NATIONS ELDERS

2010-10-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

THIS RESERVATION IS LOCATED IN ONTARIO. SARA SMITH ELDER WAS VISITED BY SANDY JOHNSON WHO INTERVIEWED HER THE EARLY 1990'S. SHE HAD A GUEST ROOM AVAILABLE AND OFFERED SANDY SOME TEA ONCE SHE GOT THERE. SHE SLEPT AND THE NEXT DAY AFTER BREAKFAST SHE BEGAN HER INTERVIEW.

SARA IS YOUNG FOR AN ELDER. SINCE SHE WAS YOUNG HER SPIRITUAL GUEST WAS HER FOCUS. SHE WAS BORN ON THE GRAND RIVER RESERVATION IN ONTARIO, OF THE MOHAWK TRIBE (IROQUOIS). HER GRANDPARENTS UNDERSTOOD THE LANGUAGE AND HER PARENTS DID NOT. SHE IS OF THE GREAT LEAGUE OF PEACE. SHE BELIEVES IN REINCARNATION AND SHE HAS HAD MANY LIVES. - SHE IS THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL THOSE PAST LIVES. SHE BELIEVES WE COME BACK
TO WORK TOWARD PERFECTION IN ORDER TO BECOME SPIRIT PEOPLE AGAIN. SHE WAS INSTRUCTED TO FIND A PEACE UNDER THE GREAT TREE, A SYMBOL OF THEIR TRIBAL CONFEDERACY.

MANY FOLKS ARE OFF THEIR PATH SAYS SARA. SHE THINKS IT'S MORE THAT THEIR LIVES COME INTO FULL CIRCLE RATHER THAN GO BACK TO HISTORIC TIMES. THERE'S SO MUCH CHAOS - AND IF WE WERE LIVING ACCORDING TO WHAT OUR CREATOR GIFTED US WITH, WE WOULD REDUCE TURMOIL. IT WAS A PROPHESY THAT WE WOULD BE IN TURMOIL. THERE ISN'T A FAMILY TODAY THAT HURTING AND NEEDING HEALING. THE CONTROVERSY HERE IS WHO IS THE ONE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT GOVERNING THE PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE USED TO BE BASED ON PEACE VS. POWER.

MANY FOLKS WORK 16 HOURS PER DAY AND REST FOR 5 HOURS. PARENTS DON'T SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH CHILDREN AND THEIR IS LITTLE INTERACTION BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND THE YOUNG. CHILDREN NEED THEIR PARENT'S DIRECTION AND ELDERS INFORMATION. ONE PRECIOUS THING DURING THE NIGHT IS THE DREAM TIME THAT IS A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE SPIRITUAL REALM. MATERIALISM BRINGS US OUT OF BALANCE. SARA ENTERED INTO THE "EARTH WALK" AS A DREAMER. SARA BELIEVES IN USING NATURE AS HER BEST TEACHER. HER FATHER ALWAYS GOT HER INTO NATURE AND TAUGHT HER LEGENDS, PICTOGRAPHS, ETC. THEIR TREE OF PEACE IS A WHITE PINE AND IT HAS FOUR ROOTS EXTENDED TO THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH TO LOVE ALL PEOPLE.

COLORS ARE A HEALING DIMENSION AS WELL. WE HAVE TO LET GO OFF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HELD ONTO FOR SO LONG. ALL THREE COUNTRIES NORTH, SOUTH, AND CENTRAL AMERICA ARE COMING TOGETHER TO BRING GOOD TO ALL PEOPLE.

ACCORDING TO HER GRANDSON SARA HAS LEARNED THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP STRIVING AND THAT WEWILL COME OUT STRONGER. SARA MEDITATES TO FIND DIRECTION. SHE FOUND HER DODAH - AN OLDER MAN, WHO GAVE HER INSPIRATION AND SHE SAT WITH HIM. SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS DREAMING. HE WAS PUFFING ON A PIPE. HER GRANDFATHER SAID BURNING TOBACCO IS SACRED AND A DIRECT CONNECTION TO THE GREAT MYSTERY. WE WORRK FOR THE NEXT 7 GERATIONS.

SANDY JOHNSON

THE OHLONES

2010-10-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

THE OHLONE IS NOT REALLY A TRIBE BUT IT INCLUDED THE BAY AREA OF SAN FRANCISCO AS WELL AS TO THE SOUTH TO MONTERREY. THEIR TRIBELETS HAD ABOUT 250 PEOPLE WE KNOW THESE PEOPLE HAD DIFFERENT MOREWAYS, VALUES, TECHNOLOGIES, AND WAYS OF SEEING THE WORLD. A FRENCH SEA CAPTAIN MADE NOTE THAT THERE IS NOT ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE WORLD THAT IS SO ABUNDANT WITH FISH AND GAME AND SEABIRDS. ALL THE CREEKS DURING THE PREHISTORIC PERIOD SPREAD OUT TO FORM LARGE MARSHES AND PONDS. WATER WAS MUCH MORE ABUNDANT . THEY WORSHIPPED ANIMAL SPIRITS.

IN THE WINTER ON A WARM DAY ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE OUTSIDE THEIR TULE HOUSES(MADE UP WITH WILLOW POLES). THEIR HOUSES ARE CROWDED WITH POSSESSIONS. WOMEN WEAVE BASKETS AND PREPARE THE VEGETABLE MATERIALS USED FOR BASKET MAKING . THEY MAKE BLANKETS OF DEERSKIN AND RABBIT SKIN. A FEW OF THE WEALTHIER MEN HAVE TWO WIVES, AND THE CHIEF HAS 3 WIVES.

WHEN GUESTS FROM ANOTHER VILLAGE BRING TRADE GOODS THEY PREPARE A FEAST FOR THEM . THE WOMEN SING AN ACORN GRINDING SONG AS THEY USE THEIR MORTARS AND PESTLES. THEY LEACH THE ACORN FLOUR WITH HOT WATER TO MAKE MUSH FOR THE FEAST. THE HUNTERS FOR TOMORROW ONLY EAT ACORN MUSH - AND NO MEAT. THE SWEAT IN THE SWEAT LODGE. THE ELDER MEN TELL STORIES BESIDE A CAMPFIRE. IF THE HUNTERS ARE SUCCESSFUL, EVERYONE WILL GET SOME DEER MEAT. THEY ALSO EAT MANY INSECTS - GRASSHOPPERS, YELLOW JACKET GRUBS, AS WELL AS LIZARDS! THESE ARE ENJOYABLE FOOD FOR THEM..

THE OHLONES LIKE OTHER PREHISTORIC HUNTERS IN CALIFORNIA SWEATED BEFORE GOING OUT TO HUNT AND HE LIVES APART FROM HIS WIFE. AFTER A MAN CAPTURES A DEER HE HAS PRESCRIBED WAYS TO BUTCHER AND DISTRIBUTE THE MEAT.

WATERFOWL THEY CAUGHT INCLUDED SALMON, STURGEON, MUSSELS, SHELLFISH, SMELT, BEACHED WHALES, BIRD EGGS, SEA LIONS, DUCKS, AND GOOSLINGS. THEY USED NETS AS WELL AS HARPOONS.

WOMEN GATHERED ALL THE PLANT FOODS SUCH AS GREENS, CLOVER, MULE EAR SHOOTS, MINER'S LETTUCE, SEAWEED, AND THEY DUG FOR ROOTS - CATTAIL, MARIPOSA AND HARVEST LILIES, AND BLUE DICKS. THEY COLLECTED FRESH STRAWBERRIES, WILD GRAPES, GOOSEBERRIES, ELDERBERRIES, TOYON BERRIES, MANZANITA BERRIES, AND AND HUCKLEBERRIES. OHLONE MEALS WERE DELICIOUS.

THEIR MEALS AND COMMUNITY LIFE ARE SHARED BY EACH TRIBAL MEMBER. THE CHIEF WAS EXPECTED TO BE MASTER OF CEREMONIES DURING THE YEAR AND TO ORGANIZE FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS AND DISTRUBUTE FOOD. HE ALSO WAS IN A STRANGE POSITION - IF THE TRIBE WERE TO BE SHORT OF ACORNS, MEAT BEADS OR OTHER GOODS, HE WAS CRITISIZED SEVERELY.

MALCOLM MARGOLIN

CHUMASH

2010-10-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

THE CHUMASH INDIANS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 75 TO 100 HUNTING AND FISHING AND GATHERING VILLAGES. THEY SPOKE EIGHT RELATED LANGUAGES AND THERE WERE 20 TO 30 THOUSAND CHUMASH WHEN THE SPANISH ARRIVED. THEIR VILLAGES WERE ALL POLITICALLY INDEPENDENT AND WERE CONCENTRATED IN 3 REGIONS THAT WERE SPREAD OVER ABOUT 7000 MILES.

COASTAL CHUMASH WERE ON THE SHORELINE OF 250 MILES OF SHORE LINE. THEIR ANCESTORS WERE CALLED THE MILLING STONE CHUMASH CULTURE. THEIR SACRED PEAK WAS 8,800' HIGH, MOUNT PINOS, JUST EAST OF SANTA BARBARA. THEY HAD INTERIOR SETTLEMENTS LOCATED 75 MILES INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE COUNTY.

THEY HAD A VERY COMPLEX HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETY WITH A CHIEF ASSIGNED TO EVERY VILLAGE. THEY MADE SURE CERTAIN SUPPLIES WERE SET ASIDE. FOR RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL FESTIVALS, A VILLAGE HAD ABOUT 15-50 TULE THATCHED HOUSES ALIGNED ALONG A STREET. INSIDE THE HOUSES WERE WOVEN MATS, FUR LIKE BLANKETS, AND HARDWOOD BOWLS, SOAPSTONE PIPES AND DECORATED SHELL BEADS.

THEY DAILY USED A TEMASCAL, A MUD COVERED DOME SHAPED SWEAT BATH THAT THE CHUMASH USE DAILY. THEY ALSO HAD A GRANERY FOR KEEPING FOODS FOR DISTRIBUTING TO NEEDY PEOPLE. THEY ARE MATRILINEAL SO THE MARRIED WOMEN COME FROM OTHER VILLAGES PRODUCING KINSHIP CONNECTIONS ACROSS VILLAGE LINES.

THEY HAD CRAFTSMEN, ASTROLOGERS, CHIEFS, AND PRIESTS. A KEY OFFICIAL OVERSAW THE ACORN HARVEST FESTIVAL - WHICH IN CALIFORNIA WAS REFEREED TO AS "BIG TIME". THEIR SHAMAN MEDIATED BETWEEN THE SICK, INTERPRETED DREAMS, AND GUIDED VISION SEEKERS TO MAKE CONNECTION WITH THEIR SPIRIT HELPERS. THEIR ROCK ART WAS UTILIZED DURING THESE MEDIATIONS.

THEIR PICTOGRAPH ROCK PAINTINGS WERE BOTH ASTRONOMICAL LOOKING AND ALSO FEATURED ANIMAL LIKE BEINGS, FISH, BIRDS AND GEOMETRICAL DESIGNS. THEY WERE LOCATED NEAR FRESH WATER. THEIR ROCK ART IS A VERY SPECIAL HEALING TOOL USING PULVERIZED COLORED ROCKS PRODUCING RED, WHITE, BLUE GREEN, GREY, BROWN AND BLACK COLORS.

THEIR FISHERMEN CAUGHT A VARIETY OF FISH, SEALS, AND SEAL OTTERS, USING NETS AND TRAPS, BASKETS AND PLANT POISONS, TO STUN THE FISH. THEY COLLECTED VARIOUS SHELL FISH THE INLAND VILLAGES HUNTED SMALL ANIMALS, DEER, BEAR, AND MOUNTAIN LIONS. THEIR STAPLE WAS LIKE MOST CALIFORNIAN INDIANS - ACORNS. THEIR WOMEN WOVE BASKETS USING COILING, TWINING, AND WICKER WORK.

THE FIRST EUROPEAN TO MEET THE CHUMASH WAS JUAN CABRILLO IN 1542. IN THE 1770'S CATHOLIC MISSIONS WERE ESTABLISHED. TODAY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CHUMASH COUNCIL AND THEIR POPULATION IS STEADILY INCREASING TO ABOUT 5000 PEOPLE.

.

FREDERICK HOXIE

OUR TRIP TO BARBADOS

2010-10-07T09:55:00.000-07:00

WHEN WE WERE IN OUR 30'S WE WE GOT A FREE TRIP TO BARBADOS VIA AN EMPLOYER. WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN AN AIRPLANE GOING FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO FLORIDA AND THEN GOT ON A SMALLER PLANE TO BARBADOS. ONCE THERE IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL HOTEL WHERE WE STAYED. WE ALL PARTICIPATED IN A GREAT EXPLORATION BY CAR TO LOCATE SOME BUILDINGS AND CHURCHES AS WELL AS HISTORIC SITES, SOME FOLKS HAD FLAT TIRES AND WE TRAVELED WITH A SMALL CAR TO THESE PLACES AND FOUND THE NEXT CLUE AS TO WHERE TO GO NEXT. IT WAS GREAT FUN TO EXPLORE THIS SMALL ISLAND WITH MOSTLY DIRT ROADS.

WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CULTURE BY INTERFACING WITH THE BARBADOS FOLKS AND BY HAVING THEM TRY TO SELL US JEWELRY AND VARIOUS CRAFTS THAT THEY MADE. THE TEMPERATURE WAS VERY HOT AND THEIR BEACHES ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL WITH WHITE SAND. WE GOT BURNT AS WE WERE ON THE BEACH MANY DAYS. THE RESORT WE STAYED IN WAS A GREAT ONE WITH LUAU TYPE MEALS THAT CAME WITH THE TRIP. WE EXPLORED SOME OF THE SMALL TOWNS AND MUSEUMS. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS AREA IS THAT THEIR SMALL HOUSES ARE PAINTED ALL KINDS OF BRIGHT COLORS. IT IS A FASCINATING PLACE TO VISIT. OF COURSE THERE ARE ENGLISH PEOPLE WHO TRY TO SELL THE TOURISTS SOME SHARE CONDOS.

THE BEACHES ARE NOT CROWDED AND THEY HAVE SMALL CAVE LIKE SHELTERS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A SCREEN FROM THE SUN. ON THE STREETS PEOPLE ARE VERY RELAXED AND PLAY GAMES SIMILAR TO CHECKERS AND STRUM GUITARS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS.

WE WENT ON A CATAMARANS BOAT AND SAT UP FRONT. IT WENT QUITE FAST AND WE WERE SPLASHED WITH THE COOL WATER AS WE WATCHED SMALL FLYING FISH JUMP OUT OF THE WATER. AT SOME PORT TOWNS THEY SELL ALL KINDS OF FISH WHICH ARE INTERESTING TO LOOK AT. APPARENTLY THE FLYING FISH ARE GOOD TO EAT AS WELL. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW SUCH FISH JUMPING OUT OF THE WATER.

THE RASTAFARIANS SPEAK WITH AN ENGLISH ACCENT AND THERE ARE MANY FOLKS WHO SLEEP ON THE BEACHES. THEY LIKE TO SELL COCONUT MILK AND JUST TAKE IT EASY MEETING AND CHATTING WITH EACH OTHER.

MANY OF THE ISLANDERS RIDE ON MOTORCYCLES AS THE ISLAND IS SO SMALL. IT REMINDED ME OF HAWAII EXCEPT THAT IT WAS MUCH HOTTER AND THEY HAD FEWER TOURISTS AT THE TIME WE WENT. WE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED OURSELVES.

NAVAJO

2010-10-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

THEIR ART AND RELIGION MERGE AS THEIR ART WAS USED DURING CEREMONIES. THEY EXISTED IN BOTH THE NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL WORLDS. IT WAS ALSO A WAY TO BE CLOSER TO ONE'S ANCESTORS AND HOW TO INFLUENCE THE SUPERNATURAL AND SPRITUAL BEINGS. I VISITED THEIR RESERVATION SEVERAL TIMES AND REALLY ENJOY THE DESERT SCENES AS WELL AS MEETING SOME OF THE CRAFT PEOPLE.

SAND PAINTINGS

THE SAND PAINTINGS ARE ONE PART OF ORAL CHANTING. THEY DID NOT USE THE WRITTEN WORD TO RECORD LEGENDS. THEIR CHANTS WERE VERY LONG AND THEY WERE RYTHMIC TO MUSICIANS WHO PLAYED DRUMS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS. THEY, LIKE MOST NATIVE AMERICANS, HAVE CREATION MYTHS. THEY ARE USED IN HEALING CEREMONIES. COYOTE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT PART IN NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY, COYOTE IS A CLEVER ONE. HE WAS A HOLY PERSON IN THE NAVAJO RELIGION. SPIDER WOMAN TAUGHT THE NAVAJOS WEAVING AND SPIDER MAN TAUGHT THEM OF COMING DANGER.

SAND PAINTINGS WERE USED AS ALTARS IN HEALING CEREMONIES. THEIR ANIMALS ALL HAD SYMBOLIC MEANING. THEY CREATED THE PAINTINGS BY TRICKLING THE SAND AND MINERALS INTO PATTERNS ON CLEAN SAND. PEOPLE NEEDING TO BE HEALED TOOK SOME OF THE SAND WITH THEM. NAVAJOS APPARENTLY LEARNED WEAVING FROM THE PUEBLOS. THEY GOT THEIR SHEEP AND WOOL AND GOATS AFTER THE SPANISH ARRIVED. THEIR WEAVINGS ARE TREASURED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE FINE JEWELERS AS WELL. THEY LEARNED IT FROM THE MEXICANS IN THE MID 1900'S. THEY BECAME FAMOUS FOR THEIR SILVERWORK. THE NAVAJO HOMELAND WAS ON A PLATEAU ON THE BANKS OF THE SANJUAN AND LITTLE COLORADO RIVERS. THEY SPEAK ATHABASKAN LANGUAGE AND CAME THEIR AFTER OTHERS SUCH AS APACHES. THE APACHES PROBABLY CAME THEIR FROM AD 825 AND THE NAVAJO CAME ABOUT AD 1025.

NAVAJOS REFER TO THEMSELVES AS DINE AND SURVIVED AS NOMADS. THEY WERE HUNTERS AND GATHERERS AND HAD RAIDS ON THE PUEBLO INDIANS FOR FOOD, PROPERTY, WOMEN, AND SLAVES. FROM THE GOATS THEY GOT MEAT, WOOL, AND MILK. DURING THE MID TO LATE
1600'S THEY ACQUIRED SHEEP AND HORSES.

THEY LIVED IN HOGANS, ORIGINALLY CONE SHAPED, AND LATER BUILT WITH 6 TO 8 SIDES. LOGS WERE USED FOR THE FRAMEWORK AND COVERED WITH EARTH AND BARK. THE DOOR FACED EAST. THEY MADE RAIDS ON EARLY TRAVERS AND COUNTER RAIDS ON MEXICANS WHO CAPTURED THEIR CHILDREN. THEY ESCAPED INTO CANYON DE CHELLY WHICH WAS THEIR SACRED AREA SO THE SOLDIERS WOULD NOT FIND THEM IN THE WINTER.

AFTER 1849 THE NAVAJOS SIGNED TREATIES SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ATTACKED. AFTER BEING CAPTURED IN THE CANYON DURING A RAID THEY STAYED AT A FORT IN NEW MEXICO FOR FOUR YEARS. A GROUP OF CHIEFS TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON TO GET BACK TO THEIR HOMELAND. THEY WERE GIVEN 3.5 MILLION ACRES OF RESERVATION LANDS AND REBUILT THEIR LIVES. THEY ARE THEY LARGEST TRIBE IN NORTH AMERICA AND HAVE NOW 16 MILLION ACRES IN ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, AND UTAH.

TODAY MANY STILL PRACTICE TRADITIONAL ARTWORKS , OTHERS RAISE ANIMALS, AND THEY USE MODERN IRRIGATION METHODS TO FARM. THEY HAVE SOLD SOME OIL, GAS, COAL, AND URANIUM ON THEIR LANDS. SOME SEEK WORK OFF THE RESERVATION.

THE NAVAJO LAND SURROUNDS THE HOPI AND TODAY MOST FEEL THAT THEYBEFRIEND THEIR NEIGHBORS. MANY STILL PRACTICE THE ANCIENT ART FORMS AND RELIGIOUS RITUALS.

FREDERICK HOXIE

CHEROKEE INDIANS

2010-10-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

THE CHEROKEE INDIANS OCCUPIED A LARGE TERRITORY IN THE SOUTHEAST OF NORTH AMERICA, INCLUDING THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, AND THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA. THEY SPOKE IROQUOIAN AND HAD THEIR VILLAGES ALONG THE RIVERS AND STREAMS WHERE THEY FARMED THE RICH BLACK SOIL.
THEY WERE SKILLED HUNTERS AND GATHERS. THEY HUNTED LARGE ANIMALS SUCH AS DEER AND BEAR WITH BOWS AND ARROWS, AND SMALLER GAME. THEY USED FEATHER DARTS WITH BLOW GUNS.

THEY DRESSED IN BUCKSKIN BREECH CLOTHS AND WOMEN WORE BUCKSKIN SKIRTS. IN COLD WEATHER THE MEN WORE LEATHER SHIRTS, LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. WOMEN WORE CAPES. THEY MADE CAPES FROM TURKEY AND EAGLE FEATHERS ALONG WITH STRIPS OF BARK. THEIR LEADERS WORE FEATHERS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

THEY BUILT 7 SIDED TEMPLES FOR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE BUILT ON TOP OF FLAT TOPPED MOUNDS. EACH FAMILY HAD TWO HOUSES LIKE OTHER PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHEAST - A LARGE SUMMER HOUSE AND A SMALL WINTER.

THEY WERE MADE FROM POLES, CANE, AND CLAY WALLS AND HAD BARK OR THATCHED ROOFS. THEIR WINTER HOUSES DOUBLED AS SWEAT HOUSES. THERE CRAFTS INCLUDED PLAITED BASKETWORK AND STAMPED POTTERY. THEY CARVED OUT WOOD AND GOURDS AND MADE WOODEN MASKS. THEY SHAPED ANIMAL FIGURES FROM STONE AND MADE STONE PIPES.

THE GREEN CORN CEREMONY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT RITUAL. THEY HAD MANY HUNTING AND HEALING. IT TOOK PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE LAST CORN CROP RIPENED AND WAS SHARED BY THE TRIBES IN THE U.S. THE RED CHIEF GAVE INFO AND DIRECTED INFORMATION AND WARFARE WHICH WAS LIKE A LITTLE WAR. ENGLISH TRADERS CAME INTO THE AREA AFTER 1600 AND PROVIDED SOME WARRIOR DURING CONFLICTS WITH THE FRENCH. BUT IN 1760 THE CHEROKEE REVOLTED AGAINST ENGLISH IN THE CHEROKEE WAR. IT WAS A BATTLE INVOLVING OWNERSHIP OF WILD HORSES. THIS WAR WAS 2 LONG YEARS. THEY HAD TO GIVE A PORTION OF THEIR EASTERN LANDS TO THE BRITISH. DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION THEIR TERRITORY WAS INVADED AND VILLAGES WERE DESTROYED. THEY ALSO EXPERIENCED OUTBREAKS FROM SMALLPOX DURING 1740-50.

THE CHEROKEES PLAYED A GAME LIKE LACROSSE. EACH VILLAGE HAD 2 CHIEFS. WHITE CHIEF HELPED VILLAGERS MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING FARMING, THE LAW, AND FAMILY DISPUTES. WHITE CHIEF AND A SHAMAN PLAYED A PART IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

IN 1820 THEY ESTABLISHED A REPUBLICAN TYPE OF GOVERNMENT SIMILAR TO THE U.S. A CHEROKEE, GEORGE GIST, MADE MUCH PROGRESS FOR THIS TRIBE! HE REDUCED THEIR LANGUAGE TO 85 CHARACTERS. REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT SOUNDS. HE IS THE ONLY PERSON IN HISTORY TO SINGLE HANDEDLY REINVENT A LANGUAGE. IN 1828 THE FIRST CHEROKEE NEWSPAPER WAS PUBLISHED!

THE TRAIL OF TEARS

THE SETTLERS FOUND GOLD IN GEORGIA AND THE CHEROKEE WERE RELOCATED ALONG WITH OTHER INDIANS. THEY WERE REMOVED TO A RESERVATION WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. THIS WAS CALLED THEIR TRAIL OF TEARS... THEIR HOMES WERE PLUNDERED AS WELL AS THEIR POSSESSIONS. ANGLOS ROUNDED UP THE CHEROKEE AND PLACED THEM IN INTERNMENT CAMPS IN PREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY WEST, BUT SOME ESCAPED TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THEY HID OUT FROM THE TROOPS. THEY WERE FORCED TO WALK AN 800 MILE TRIP IN 1838, AND ANOTHER FORCED TREK WAS THAT FALL. THE SOLDIERS DID NOT PROVIDE THEM WITH ENOUGH FOOD AND MANY DIED. OTHER TRIBES WERE SIMILARLY FORCED WESTWARD.

AFTER 1934 ALL NATIVES BEGAN TO GET VERY INTERESTED IN THEIR HISTORY AND REDISCOVER THEIR HERITAGE AND TO REORGANIZE THEIR GOVERNMENTS. THE CHEROKEES HOLD A PAGEANT EVERY SUMMER CALLED THE TRAIL OF TEARS.

SANTA ROSA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

2010-10-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

I WENT TO THIS CONCERT WHICH WAS FREE AND THEY HAD ABOUT 50 MEMBERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TALENT TO THE ORCHESTRA. EACH CONCERT COSTS THEM ABOUT A$18,000 TO PUT ON. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE TALENT. THEY ALL ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS. MANY VIOLINISTS, ABOUT 5 CELLO PLAYERS, A COUPLE OF BASS PLAYERS AND SOME CLARINETS, A TUBA, AND OTHER HORNS, AS WELL AS DRUMS AND CYMBALS. THE PLAYED SOME VERY ENCHANTING MUSIC THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT ALL AMERICAN MUSIC. THEY HAD A SOPRANO SINGER TO AND HER VOICE WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO HEAR OVER THE MUSIC. ONE OF HER SONGS WAS IN GERMAN AND OF COURSE VERY FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT LANGUAGE.

IN ANY CASE THIS SYMPHONY IS GOING TO GO TO CHINA NEXT JANUARY WHERE THEY WILL PLAY EIGHT CONCERTS. LUCKY FOR THEM TO BE SO BRILLIANT OF A GROUP WHO KNOW HOW TO PLAY IN ORCHESTRATED HARMONY.

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

2010-10-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE. THE MINISTER, EDWARD VILJOEN, SPOKE TO US ABOUT APPRECIATING ALL THINGS ON EARTH AND PRACTICING THE PRESENCE THROUGH GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT.

HIS LECTURE WAS TO CREATE WEALTH WHILE YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS. HE CHALLENGED US TO GO TO THINGS THAT ARE FREE AND TO HELP OTHERS SO THAT YOU ARE HAPPIER.

THE GENRE WAS THAT WEALTH IS NOT A MATTER OF HAVING MONEY BUT INSTEAD DOING THINGS IN LIFE THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY. ACCEPT ABUNDANCE OF LIFE IN ALL AREAS AND HAVE A WAY OF COMPLEMENTING PEOPLE FOR LITTLE THINGS. DO WHAT YOU CAN DO AND ENJOY WHAT YOU HAVE AND BLESS THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE FOR WHAT THEY CAN DO.

KEEP PROACTIVE AND BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF. KEEP PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND EAT WELL AND STAY POSITIVE ABOUT OUR ECONOMY, KNOWING THAT IT WILL FLUCTUATE AND WE CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL USE OF OUR TIME.

THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN HOW OUR ENERGY CAN MOVE THE ECONOMY TO A BETTER POSITION.

STAY CLOSE WITH THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND/OR YOUR CHURCH FREINDS. BRING THEM HAPPINESS. AND LET GO OF THE PAST AND AS YOU GO TO THINGS THAT ARE OF INTEREST TO YOU YOUR FEARS WILL VANISH.

HOPI

2010-10-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

THE HOPI TELLS HOW THEIR ANCESTORS CLIMBED UP THROUGH THREE CAVE WORLDS WITH ALL THE OTHER ANIMALS. TWO SPIRIT MASTERS WERE BROTHERS WHO FINALLY EMERGED FROM THE BROTHERS GRAND CANYON INTO A FORTH WORLD, THE EARTH.

COYOTE OPENED A JAR HE HAD FOUND IN ONE OF THE CAVE WORLDS. SPARKS FLEW OUT AND BECAME STARS. DIFFERENT CLANS FORMED WITH VARIOUS ANIMAL NAMES AND TRAVELED TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS BEFORE SETTLING INTO HOMES.

THIS IS ONE CREATION MYTH - THERE ARE SO MANY. THE PEOPLES MIGRATED FROM MANY AREAS TO FORM THE TRIBES. THE PEOPLE MIGRATED FROM MANY AREAS TO FORM THE TRIBE.

THEY HAD ELABORATE RELIGIONS RITES AND USED KIVAS FOR THESE PURPOSES. THEIR KIVAS WERE UNDERGROUND ADOBE CIRCULAR STRUCTURES WITH WOODEN FRAMES AND THEY WERE ACCESSED BY CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER. THEY DEPENDED UPON NATURAL SPRINGS AND RAIN FOR WATERING THEIR CROPS. THESE PEOPLE WERE COOPERATIVE PEOPLE AND WILLING TO WORK WITH OTHERS. THEIR NAMES MEAN PEACEFUL ONES. THEY SPOKE UTO AZTECAN LANGUAGE.

THEY HAD VILLAGES IN ON THREE MESAS, ALL PART OF BLACK MESA. THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR PEACEFUL NATURE. THEY PRACTICED THE HOPI WAY OR A VERY PEACEFUL CONNECTION TO NATURE AND OTHER PEOPLE. TO BUILD THEIR PUEBLOS THEY HAD TO TRAVEL TO FIND WOOD - PINE, JUNIPER, ETC. THEIR WOMEN HELPED SHAPE THE HOMES. THEY ENTERED THEIR HOMES THROUGH A DOOR IN THE ROOF. THE KIVAS WERE STRICTLY USED BY MEN FOR CHAPELS AND RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. WOMEN COULD BE INVITED IN. THESE FOLKS WERE PRIMARILY FARMERS WHO SUPPLEMENTED THEIR DIET WITH SOME HUNTING AND GATHERING. THE MEN FARMED AND HUNTED WHILE THE WOMEN COLLECTED WILD PLANTS AND COOKED THE MEALS. THEY OWNED THE CROPS AS WELL. THE HOPIS RELIED ON RAIN FOR THEIR CROPS AND HAD THEIR FARMS BELOW MESA TOPS SO RUNOFF COULD HELP IRRIGATE THE CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, COTTON, MELONS AND TOBACCO. THEY HAD MANY RECIPES FOR CORN, THEIR MOST IMPORTANT CROP. PIKI IS A THIN BREAD THEY MAKE USING GROUND CORN AND IT LOOKS LIKE SEAWEED WRAPPINGS THE CHINESE USE.

THEY DOMESTICATED TURKEYS, HUNTED DEER, ANTELOPE AND OTHER GAME.WOMEN MADE CLAY BOWLS WITH GEOMETRIC SHAPES. THEY WOVE WOOL AND COTTON BLANKET; MADE BASKETRY FROM VARIOUS REEDS; MADE RABBIT SKIN ROBES; AND FASHIONED TALL LEATHER MOCCASINS. THEY ARE ALSO FAMOUS FOR THEIR SILVERWORK.

THEY HAD CHIEFS AS WELL AS MEDICINE MEN. THEY ENGAGED IN CEREMONIES ALL YEAR LONG IN ORDER TO AFFECT THE WEATHER, FERTILITY OF CROPS, AND ENSURE PLENTIFUL HARVESTS. THEY BELEIVED KATCHINAS WERE SUPERNATURAL SPIRITS IN THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS. ON THE WINTER SOLSTICE THEY BELEIVED KATCHINAS TRAVELLED TO THE HUMANS AND ENTERED HUMAN BODIES STAYING THERE UNTIL SUMMER SOLSTICE. HOPI MEN IMPERSONATE THE KATCHINAS WITH ELABORATE PAINTED MASKS AND PERFORMED MANY DANCES.

NONE OF THE CURRENT HOPI MESAS ARE ON THE EXACT SITES OF THE EARLY 1950'S SITES. TODAY THEY HAVE MODERN DOORS, GLASS WINDOWS AND SOME HAVE ELECTRICITY. THE HOPIS LIVE CLOSEST TO THEIR ANCESTORS. IN FACT, OF ALL THE TRIBES THEY FARM TRADITIONAL CROPS ALONG WITH WHEAT. THEY PRODUCE THEIR CRAFTS FOR TOURISM TRADE. THEIR SILVERWORK IS NOW A SCHOOL ON ONE MESA.

THEY STILL USE THEIR TRADITIONAL RELIGION.THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THEIR TRIBE. ONE GROUP WANTS TO PRESERVE THEIR TRADITIONAL WAYS, WHILE ANOTHER GROUP WANTS TO JOIN MAINSTREAM AMERICA. IT IS AN INNER CONFLICT THAT MANY TRIBES HAVE.

THEIR TRIBAL COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE MONEY FROM THE OIL AND URANIUM OF BIG MOUNTAIN. THE NAVAJOS LIVE ON SOME OF THESE LANDS. HOWEVER THE HOPISWANT THE NAVAJO TO STAY ON THEIR LAND AND NOT BE RELOCATED.

FREDERICK HOXIE

PIMA AND PAPAGO

2010-10-02T17:24:00.000-07:00

PIMA INDIANS WERE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND NORTHERN SONORA AND THE NAME MEANS "I DON'T KNOW". THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE RIVER PEOPLE. THE PIMA AND PAPAGO SPOKE UTO AZTECAN LANGUAGES. THEY LIVED ALONG SALT AND GILA RIVERS AND IN SONORA THEY LIVED NEAR THE RIVERS. THE HOHOKAM ARE THE ANCESTORS OF THESE TRIBES AND IT IS A PIMA WORD = VANISHED ONES. THEY USED ADVANCED AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATED THEIR CROPS. THEY DIVERTED WATER FROM RIVERS TO THEIR CROPS BY BUILDING STONE LINED DITCHES. THEY PLANTED CORN, SQUASH, PUMPKINS, BEANS AND TOBACCO. THE ANGLOS BROUGHT WHEAT AND ALPHALPHA TO THEM. THE MEN WERE THE FARMERS AND FISHERMEN AND HUNTED GAME ANIMALS. THEY ALSO BUILT THEIR HOMES OF POLE FRAMED STRUCTURES COVERED WITH GRASS AND MUD. THEY ALSO HAD RAMADAS AND USED THEM AS CLUBHOUSES.

WOMEN GATHERED PLANTS AND AND SEEDS, THEY MADE CLOTHING OF SHREDDED BARK AND HIDE SANDALS AND SEWED RABBIT SKIN BLANKETS. MEN WOVE COTTON ON A BACKSTRAP LOOM.
EACH LEADER OF THE VILLAGE WAS THE KEEPER OF THE SMOKE. EACH VILLAGE HAD TWO CLANS WHO WERE ORGANIZED INTO CLANS AND OPPOSED EACH OTHER. EVERY FOUR YEARS THEY CELEBRATED A HARVEST OR A VIIKITA. AND THEIR THEIR GODS WERE ELDER BROTHER AND EARTHMAKER. THE GILA RIVER PIMAS ENDED UP SETTLING TO THE NORTH OF THE SALT RIVER. WHERE THEIR RESERVATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1879.

THE PIMAS SHARE THE SALT RIVER WITH THE MARICOPA AND YUMAN SPEAKING PEOPLE. THE PIMAS MIGRATED FROM THE WEST INTO THE 1700'S BECAUSE THE YUMANS MADE ATTACKS ON THEM IN THE 1700'S. THE PIMAS ARE SUBJECT TO DIABETES AND HAVE A HIGH RATE OF THIS DISEASE AS THEY ARE NOT VERY ACTIVE.

THE PAPAGO SPENT WINTERS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE NEAR MOUNTAIN SPRINGS WHERE THEY HUNTED DEER AND OTHER GAME. WHEN FOOD WAS SCARCE THEY MOVED TO PIMA VILLAGES TO WORK UNDER THEIR TRIBAL LEADERS FOR FOOD.

THEY MADE USE OF MANY WILD PLANTS AS THEIR CROPS WERE DEPENDANT ON RAINFALL. THEY ATE THE FRUITS OF THE SAGUARO CACTUS FRESH OR DRIED. THEY ONLY HAD CONTACTS WITH THE WHITES IN THE 1600'S. THE EARLY SPANISH ESTABLISHED MISSIONS AMONG THE PAPAGOS. THE PAPAGO EARN INCOME FROM FARMING, RAISING CATTLE, AND ARTS AND CRAFTS. THEIR BASKETS ARE WORLD FAMOUS.

FREDERICK HOXIE

CLIFF DWELLERS

2010-10-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

MOGOLLON
THE MOGOLLON CULTURE LIVED ALONG THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO BORDERS. THEY WERE DESCENDANTS FROM THE COCHISE CULTURE. THEY WERE THE FIRST TO FARM AND BUILD HOUSES, AND MADE POTTERY. THEIR CULTURE THRIVED FROM 300 BC TO AD 1300. THEY HAD CROPS NATURALLY IRRIGATED SUCH AS CORN, BEANS,, SQUASH, TOBACCO, AND COTTON. THEIR HOUSES WERE DESIGNED TO HAVE SEMI SUBTERRANEAN PITS WITH LOGS AND REEDS TO SUPPORT A MUD ROOF. THEY BUILT UNDERGROUND KIVAS AS THEIR CEREMONIAL CENTER. THEIR FIRST POTTERY TYPE WAS BROWN. IT WAS MADE COIL AND SCRAPE AND BAKED IT IN AN OUTDOOR OVEN. LATER IN HISTORY THEY PAINTED IT WITH INTRICATE NATURAL AND ANIMAL DESIGNS. THE MIMBRES IS A SUBGROUP OF THE MOGOLLON WHO PAINTED BEAUTIFUL BLACK ON WHITE POTTERY DURING ABOUT AD 900. THEY WOVE THEIR OWN CLOTHING.

ANASAZI
THIS CULTURE EXISTED AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME FROM ABOUT 100 BC TO AD 1300. THEY WERE LOCATED IN THIS NORTHERN AREA OF THE FOUR CORNERS.THEY WERE THE MOST WIDESPREAD OF THE CLIFF DWELLERS. THEIR BASKET MAKER PHASE PERIOD WAS FROM ABOUT 100 BC TO AD 750. THE ANASAZI MASTERED THE TECHNOLOGY OF FARMING, MAKING BASKETS AND WORKING CLAY INTO POTS. THIS GROUP LIVED IN PIT HOUSES LIKE THE HOHOKAM AND ANASAZI.

THEIR SECOND PHASE IS CALLED THE PUEBLO PERIOD WHICH WAS AFTER ABOUT 750 AD. THEY BUILT ABOVE GROUND STRUCTURES OF ADOBE CALLED PUEBLOS AND ALSO BUILT UNDERGROUND CEREMONIAL STRUCTURES CALLED KIVAS. THEY GROUPED THEIR ROOMS TOGETHER AND ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER AND INTERCONNECTED THEM WITH DIFFERENT LEVELS AND LADDERS CALLED CLIFF DWELLINGS. THEY HAVE BEEN PRESERVED AND RESTORED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INTO PARKS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SOME OF THEIR VILLAGES WERE BUILT ON TOP OF MESAS.

SOME OF THE MORE FAMOUS ARE CALLED CLIFF PALACE IN MESA VERDE AND MUMMY CAVE IN CANYON DE CHELLY. THEY DIVERTED CREEK WATER TO IRRIGATE THEIR FARMS AND SUPPORT LARGE VILLAGES. IT IS NOT KNOWN WHY THEY MOVED AWAY. HOWEVER, IN THE LATE 1200S A PROLONGED DROUGHT HIT THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST. THEY HAD TO BECOME GROUPS OF HUNTERS AND GATHERERS. OR THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BY NEIGHBORING TRIBES. THEY MAY HAVE LEFT BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF AVAILABLE WOOD.

I REMEMBER MESA VERDE TRAVELS AS A TEENAGER AND I WAS AMAZED AT THE ARCHITECTURE AND ALL THE INDIAN POTTERY THAT THEY HAD DON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUMS. OUR FAMILY TOOK MANY MOVIES OF THESE RUINS AS WE TOURED THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

MOST OF THESE SOUTHWESTERN INDIANS REMAIN TO BE FARMERS AND CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE PUEBLOS. VISITING THESE RUINS IS A POWERFUL AND DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE.

FREDERICK HOXIE

MIWOK

2010-10-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

THERE ARE THREE GROUPS OF MIWOKS - THE VALLEY MIWOKS, COAST MIWOKS, AND LAKE MIWOKS. THE MAIN GROUP, VALLEY MIWOKS, LIVED ON THE WESTERN SLOPE OF THE SIERRA NEVADA, ALONG THE SACRAMENTO RIVER AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES.

THE COAST MIWOKS LIVE IN MARIN COUNTY AND THEIR LEADERS ARE THE WOMEN. MIWOK MEANS "PEOPLE" IN THE PENUTIAN LANGUAGE OF THIS TRIBE. ALL THREE GROUPS LIFEWAYS VARIED WITH FOOD SOURCES. NEAR OVER 100 VILLAGE SITES. SIMILAR TO THE POMO THEY COLLECTED SIMILAR WILD PLANTS AND BUILT WICKIUPS WITH POLES AND TULE HOMES.

THEY MADE BEAUTIFUL BASKETSOF COILED SEDGEROOT AND WILLOW. THEY WERE PEACEFUL WITH THE SPANISH AND HAD INDEPENDENCE FROM MEXICO. BUT IT CHANGED AFTER MEXICO GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM SPAIN IN 1821 AND THEY TOOK CONTROL OF CALIFORNIA. IN 1848 THE TREATY OF GUADELUPE HILDALGO WAS SIGNED AND MEXICO THEN CEDED CALIFORNIA TO THE US.

WHILE THE ANGLOS CAME TO LOOK FOR GOLD IN CALIFORNIA, THE MINERS INTERBREDED WITH THW INDIANS AND CONTRACTED DISEASES FROM MANY OF THEM. THE VALLEY MIWOKS AND YOKUTS FOUGHT BACK A POWERFUL NEIGHBORING TRIBE. IN 1850 THE WARRIORS, UNDER CHIEF TENAYA ATTACKED TRADING POSTS AND LED SOME ATTACKS ON THE ANGLOSIN THE SIERRA NEVADA. THEY CURRENTLY LIVE ON THREE RANCHERIAS.

RED CLOUD (MAKHPYIA -LUTA)

2010-10-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

THIS OGLALA CHIEF WAS ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED SIOUX OF ALL TIMES. HE LIVED FROM 1821 TO 1909. SOME FACTS ARE OBSCURE BUT HE WAS BORN NEAR THE PLATTE RIVER IN 1821.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO DOCUMENT HIS EARLY LIFE. HE DEVELOPED LIFE AS A BRAVE AND CRUEL MAN ESPECIALLY AGAINST THE PAWNEES. BY THE MID 1860'S HE WAS A LEADING OGLALA WARRIOR AND WAS RECOGNIZED BY THE ANGLOS AS A CHIEF.

HE MADE FOUR TRIPS TO WASHINGTON TO VISIT THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TRIPS WERE COVERED BY THE PRESS. HE CRITICIZED THE GOVERNMENT INDIAN POLICY. HE WAS LIKED BY MANY REFORM GROUPS BUT WAS NOT LIKED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S PEACE POLICY. RED CLOUD WOULD NOT AGREE TO LET HIS PEOPLE RELOCATE AWAY FROM THE PLATTE RIVER VALLEY.

IN 1878 HE AGREED TO LOCATE ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. HE DID KEEP PEACE HE HAD AGREED TO AT FT, LARAMIE IN 1868. ON ONE TRIP TO WASHINGTON HE WAS APPRECIATED AS HAVING AMAZING POWER OVER THE ANGLOS. HE OPPOSED THE NUMEROUS MINERS IN THE BLACK HILLS. HE ALSO RETAINED AN INFLUENCE OVER CRAZY HORSE. HE PERSUADED CRAZY HORSE TO GO TO WASHINGTON. IN 1890 RED CLOUD DISCOURAGED HIS TRIBE TO DO THE GHOST DANCE AND TRIED TO AVERT TROUBLES THAT LED TO THE WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE. YOUNGER PEOPLE WERE REBELLIOUS AND THEY WANTED HIM TO LEAD THEM BUT HE WOULDN'T HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EROSION OF THE TRAD

RED CLOUD'S ACHIEVEMENT WAS IN FORCING THE NATIVE SIOUX TO ABANDON THE BOZEMAN TRAIL BETWEEN THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER AND MONTANA. IN 1866 THE FORT LARAMIE CONFERENCE WAS A FAILURE TO THE INDIANS. THEY SLOPPED ALL TRAVEL ON THIS TRAIL. IN 1866 THE SIOUX MASSACRED LT. COLONEL FETTERMAN AND EIGHTY MEN SENT OUT FROM FORT KEARNEY TO PROTECT A TRAIN SENT OUT FOR WOOD. RED CLOUD REFUSED TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE ANGLOS AND THE BOZEMAN FORTS WERE ABANDONED. IN 1868 IN NOVEMBER HE ARRIVED IN LARAMIE. AFTER THREE DAYS OF MEETINGS HE SIGNED THE TREATY. THIS TREATY MEANT THAT THE SIOUX HAD TO GIVE UP MAKING RAIDS ON ANY GROUPS.

HE ALSO HAD INFLUENCE OVER CRAZY HORSE. HE PERSUADED CRAZY HORSE TO GO TO FORT ROBINSON. IN 1890 RED CLOUD DISCOURAGED HIS TRIBE TO DO THE GHOST DANCE AND TRIED TO AVERT TROUBLES THAT LED TO WOUNDED KNEE MASSACRE. YOUNGER PEOPLE WERE REBELLIOUS
AND THEY WANTED HIM TO LEAD THEM BUT HE WOULDN'T. HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EROSION OF THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE, AND HE WAS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY.

FREDERICK HOXIE

FREDERICK HOXIE

ZUNI

2010-10-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

I HAVE OFTEN VISITED THIS PUEBLO MANY TIMES. IT IS LOCATED IN NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO. THEY CALLED THEMSELVES ASHIWI MEANING THE FLESH. THEY ORIGINALLY LIVED IN 7 PUEBLOS ALONG THE BANK OF THE ZUNI RIVER. THEIR LANGUAGE IS UNLIKE THAT OF THE OTHER PUEBLO INDIANS. THEY SPEAK PENUTIAN. ARCHAEOLOGISTS SUGGEST THAT TWO GROUPS UNITED FROM THE NORTH AND THE WEST TO FORM THE ZUNI OF PRESENT DAY. THEIR ANCESTORS MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE MOGGOLLON CULTURE. IN LATER TIMES THE INDIANS FROM MEXICO CAME TO THIS PUEBLO TO SETTLE WITH THEM.

THEY HAD SEVERAL STORY HOUSES CONNECTED BY LADDERS - PUEBLOS. BUILT OF STONE AND COVERED WITH PLASTER THEY LASTED LONG.

THEY FORMED SIMILAR CROPS OF OTHER PUEBLOS WHICH PROVIDED THEIR PRIMARY FOODS. THEY ALSO HUNTED, FISHED, AND FORAGED FOR WILD PLANTS. VARIOUS SPANISH EXPLORERS VISITED ZUNI FROM 1500 TO THE 1600S. SPANISH FOLKS BUILT THEIR MISSION HERE AT HAWIKAH IN 1629. THE ZUNIS KILLED THE MISSIONARIES. IN 1672 THE APACHES RAIDED THE MISSION AND IT WAS ABANDONED. THE ZUNIS KEPT THEIR TRADITIONAL RELIGION. THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR SILVER AND TURQUOISE JEWELRY. THEY ALSO MAKE POTTERY , PRACTICE WEAVING, AND BASKETRY. WE HAVE SEEN THE SHALAKO FESTIVAL WHICH IS HELD IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE TRIBE BUILDS A NEW HOME FOR A FAMILY. EVERY ONE'S HOME IS OPEN AND PEOPLE STROLL FROM ONE HOUSE TO ANOTHER EATING THEIR FOODS.

FREDERICK HOXIE

SACAGAWEA

2010-10-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

SACAGAWEA WAS BORN IN 1786-1812 IN A SHOSHONE VILLAGE NEAR LEMHI RIVER IN WHAT IS TODAY IDAHO. IT IS LIKELY THAT SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE AGAIDUKA OR SALMON EATER BAND OF THE SALMON EATER BAND OF THE SHOSHONE TRIBE. ABOUT 1800 WHILE HER TRIBE WAS ENGAGED IN A HUNTING WAR EXPEDITION EAST OF THEIR HOME TERRITORY IN THE THREE FORKS AREA OF THE MISSOURI RIVER IN MONTANA, SHE WAS CAPTURED. SHE WAS 12 TO 14 YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME. BY 1804 SHE WAS UNDER A FRENCH CANADIAN TRADER AND TRAPPER. DURING THE WINTER OF 1804 LEWIS AND CLARK WINTERED AT FORT MANDANA ON THE MISSOURI RIVER IN WHAT IS TODAY NORTH DAKOTA. HERE THEY MET SACAGAWEA. BEFORE LEAVING THE FORT IN 1805 THEY HIRED THE FRENCH TRADER AS AN INTERPRETER AND REQUESTED HE BRING ONE OF HIS SHOSHONE WIVES WITH HIM. HE BROUGHT SACAGEWEA WHO HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO A SON, JEAN AT THE FORT.

HER ROLE AS A GUIDE FOR THE EXPEDITION HAS BEEN EXAGGERATED. SHE WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA BUT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE HER HOMELAND ON THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. SHE GAVE LEWIS AND CLARK SOME DIRECTION THERE. HER ROLE HOWEVER, WAS IMPORTANT. SHE WAS AN INTERPRETER, COLLECTED WILD FOODS, BOOSTED MORAL AND POINTED OUT LANDMARK SAND POSSIBLE ROUTES. SHE SAVED SOME OF THE RECORDS FROM BEING LOST WHILE THEY WERE ON A BOAT ON THE MISSOURI. CLARK BECAME ATTACHED TO HER SON. MUCH OF THE SUCCESS WAS THAT SHE WAS A GOOD EMISSARY AND LIASON. IN 1805 IN UTAH SHE UNEXPECTEDLY REUNITED WITH HER BROTHER WHO WAS A SHOSHONE BAND CHIEF. HE GAVE HER PARTY HORSES AND GUIDES FOR THE JOURNEY ACROSS THE BITTEROOT MOUNTAINS AND THROUGH THE SALMON RIVER COUNTRY TO THE COLUMBIA RIVER. SACRAMENTO AND CHAUBONNEAU, THE TRADER AND HER SON LEFT THE LEWIS AND CLARCK PART YIN 1806. HE WAS PAID $500. SACAGAWEA WAS NOT GIVEN ANY MONEY.

LITTLE IS KNOWN WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM AFTER THE EXPEDITION. RECORDS SUGGEST THEY WENT EAST AND TO ST. LOUIS AND ACCEPTED 300 ACRES AND PAY FROM CLARK TO PAY FOR HER SON'S EDUCATION. CITY LIFE DID NOT SUIT THEM AND THEY WENT BACK TO THE MISSOURI COUNTRY TO WORK FOR THE MISSOURI FUR COMPANY. HISTORIANS BELIEVE SHE DIED FROM A FEVER AT FORT MANUEL ON THE MISSOURI RIVER IN SOUTH DAKOTA IN 1812.

OTHER RECORDS SUGGEST SHE LIVED TO BE 80 OR 90 AND WANDERED FROM TRIBE TO TRIBE AND FINALLY SETTLED BACK IN HER HOMELAND IN WIND RIVER SHOSHONE. SHE WAS AN ENDURING AND APPEALING FIGURE IN ARMY HISTORY AND MANY RIVERS, LAKES AND MONUMENTS HAVE BEEN NAMED AFTER HER. THERE ARE STILL MANY ARGUMENTS ABOUT THIS AMAZING INDIAN EXPLORER.

FREDERICK HOXIE

2010 RUSSIAN RIVER CLEANUP

2010-09-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

I WENT WITH ABOUT 12 INFLATABLE BOATS THIS WEEKEND TO CLEAN UP THE RIVER FROM HEALDSBURG TO WOHLER BRIDGE. WE ALL PARKED DOWN AT THE BRIDGE IN ORDER TO BE BROUGHT BY VAN BACK TO HEALDSBURG BELOW THE DAM. LUCKILY THE LEVEL OF THE RIVER WAS JUST ADEQUATE SO WE DRIFTED NICELY DOWN ABOUT 6 MILES OF THE RIVER AND MISSED THE WILLOWS THAT HUNG DOWN ON THE BANKS, IT WAS HARD WORK PADDLING AND WE GOT BLISTERS. IRIS, THE LADY I PAIRED WITH, WAS ABOUT MY AGE AND SHE REMINDED ME OF MY AUNT ROSEMARIE. SHE HARDLY ATE ANYTHING! I BROUGHT A COUPLE OF SANDWICHES AND A LOT OF WATER. THEY GAVE US SOME THICK BAGS AND LUCKILY WE FOUND TONS OF TRASH ON THE BANKS WHICH HAD BEEN FLOODED OVER THE WINTER. ONE BOAT UNEARTHED AN OVEN AND ABOUT 5 TIRES. WE DUG UO 2 TIRES, AN OLD CAMPSTOVE, MANY PLASTIC BOTTLES, OLD PIECES OF METAL AND MANY SODA CANS. SOME FOLKS FOUND TRUCK LINERS AND MANY TIRES AND OTHER METASL PIECES. WE ALL HAD TO PADDLE FAIRLY STRONGLY AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THE WEATHER WAS ABOUT 98 DEGREES WITHOUT ANY WIND. I FELL INTO THE RIVER SEVERAL TIMES AS WE DOCKED ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER AND PICKED UP PLASTIC BAGS. WE ONLY SAW DUCKS, AND SOME WOOD DUCKS, A WATER SNAKE AND SOME DRAGONFLIES, AND A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BLACK HEADED DUCK.

WE ALSO SAW MANY DIFFERENT SIZES OF TROUT. THE WATER WAS CLEAR. OUR BOATS WEAVED ALOT AS THEY ARE NOT BUILT TO STEER STRAIGHT. IN ANY CASE THEY CAN CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT.

MENOMONEE INDIANS

2010-09-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

MENOMONEES COLLECTED WILD RICE(ACTUALLY A SEED OF A GRASS) FROM CANOES IN SUMMER. WILD RICE HAD 60 DIFFERENT NAMES. WOMEN COLLECTED THESE SEEDS, MEN USED BOWS TO HUNT SMALL GAME OR FISHED FOR STURGEON WITH HOOKS, SPEARS, AND NETS /TRAPS. THEY BENT THE TALL GRASSES OVER THE CANOES AND BEAT THE GRASS HEADS INTO THE BOAT. THESE SEEDS WERE DRIED AND POUNDED AND THEN WINNOWED IN BASKETS TO SEPARATE THE HULL FROM GRAIN. IT WAS AN EASY FOOD TO COLLECT AND PREPARE. THEY DID NOT NEED CORN. THE GREAT LAKE TRIBES HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TERRITORIES AND RARELY KNEW PEACE. THEY COULD TRADE RICE FOR OTHER ITEMS. THEY TRADED FOR BUFFALO SKINS FROM THE PRAIRIES. RICE WAS INCLUDED IN THEIR MYTHOLOGIES. IN 1634 WHEN JEAN NICOLET, THE FIRST WHITE EXPLORER, CAME TO THE MENOMENEES, THEY CONTROLLED THE NORTHWESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MICHIGAN. THEY HAD YEAR ROUND VILLAGES. DURING WINTER THEY HAD DOMED WIGWAMS WITH SAPLINGS COVERED WITH CATTAIL MATS AND REEDS. THEIR LARGEST VILLAGE WAS AT THE MOUTH OF THE MENOMONEE WHERE IT ENTERS GREEN BAY.

THE MENOMONEE INDIANS WORE DEERSKIN SHIRTS AND LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. THE WOMEN WORE SHIRTS OF WOVEN NETTLES ALONG WITH ALONG WITH DEERSKIN NETTLES. WOMEN WERE FAAMOUS FOR THEIR WEOVEN POUCHES. THEY USED PLANT FIBERS, BASSWOOD TREES PLUS BUFFALO HAIRS. THEY DYED, SPUN, AND WOVE MATERIAL INTO LARGE SUPPLY BAGS WITH VARIOUS GEOMETRIC DESIGNS.

SMOKING TOBACCO WAS INCLUDED IN MOST OF THEIR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY WITH THE ANGLOS.

CARL WALDMAN

KLAMATH INDIANS

2010-09-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

THEY LIVED NEAR THE OREGON AND KLAMATH RIVER AREA. THEIR NAME MEANT MAKLAK PEOPLE OR COMMUNITY. THEY DEPENDED ON INLAND FISHING AND THEY HUNTED SMALL GAME, DEER, AND COLLECTED WILD PLANTS, ROOTS, AND WATER LILY SEEDS.

THEY ARE A PLATEAU TRIBE THAT SPEAKS THE PENUTIAN DIALECT. THEY WERE WARLIKE AND THEIR BOWMAN COULD SHOOT AN ARROW RIGHT THROUGH A HORSE. THEY HAD RAIDS ON MANY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBES, AND THEY TOOK CAPTIVES AS SLAVES. THEY WERE FRIENDLY TOWARDS THE WHTES. A CANADIAN, PETER OGDEN, FIRST ESTABLISHED TRADE RELATIONS WITH THE KLAMATH IN 1829. THEY SIGNED A TREATY IN 1864 AND AGREED TO GIVE UP SLAVERY. THEY WERE INDIRECTLY PART OF THE MODOC WAR IN 1872-1873. BECAUSE THE MODOCS DID NOT GET ALONG WITH THE KLAMATHS,THEY HEADED SOUTH, EVENTUALLY THEY FOUGHT THE MOST VIOLENT INDIAN WAR IN CALIFORNIAN HISTORY. IN 1954, THE KLAMATH LOST SOME OF THEIR LAND TO THE GOVERNMENT.

IN 1954 CONGRESS ENDED FEDERAL RECOGNITION OF THE KLAMATH PEOPLE AND THAT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF THE GROUP'S 862, 662 ACRE RESERVE. IT INCLUDED VAST STANDS OF PONDEROSA PINE. IT LEFT THEM LANDLESS, SOCIALLY RAVAGED AND DISENFRANCHISED.

TODAY THEY ARE ONLY NOW BEGINNING TO RECOVER . THE GROUP IS DESCENDED FROM THE KLAMATH, MODOC, AND YAHOOSKIN BANDS OF INDIANS. THE KLAMATH AND MODOC S SHARED A SIMILAR LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, BUT WERE QUITE DISTINCT. AMONG THE KLAMATH INDIANS THEY WERE QUITE DISTINCT. LEADERS WERE CHOSEN FOR THERE DEMONSTRATED ABILITY FOR LEADERSHIPAND OTHER ABILITIES WHICH AUTHORITY DID NOT EXTEND. PRIOR TO EUROPEAN CONTACT THEKLAMATH'S ANCESTRAL TRIBES WERE A SOVERNENTITY. THEY ALSO LIVED SOUTHERN OREGON. IN 1864 THE GOVERNMENT RESERVED 1.1 MILLION ACRES FROM THEIR ORIGINAL DOMAIN OF 20 MILLION ACRES. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT ENCROACHMENT ON THESE LANDS IN THE FUTURE BUT IT DID NEITHER.

IN 1872 CAPTAIN JACK AND 52 MODOC WARRIORS MOVED BACK TO CALIFORNIA IGNORING THIS TREATY THEY MOVED TO THE LAVA BEDS NEAR TULE LAKEWHERE THEY HELD OFF 1000 SOLDIERS AND 78 INDIAN SCOUTS. THE WAR COST 400 SOLDERS LIVES AND 13 MODOC WARRIORS. IN 1873 CAPTAIN JACK WAS HANGED.

IN 1954 CONGRESS TERMINATED THE KLAMATH INDIANS AND THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED ANY COMMUNALLY OWNED LAND OR ASSETS. BY THE 1970S TERMINATION WAS A DISASTER FOR THE KLAMATH INDIANS. FORTY PERCENT OF ALL DEATHS WERE ALCOHOL RELATED. IN 1985 CONGRESS PASSED A PETITION TO RESTORE FEDERAL RECOGNITION FOR THE TRIBE. IN 1994 THEY SIGNED A GAMING CONTRACT TO ENABLE THE TRIBES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

CARL WALDMAN/FREDERICK HOWIE

MOUND BUILDERS

2010-09-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

THE MOUND BUILDERS WERE IN THE FORMATIVE PERIOD IN THE MIDWEST FROM 1000 BC TO AD 1500. THEY WERE LOCATED ALONG THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPI RIVER VALLEYS. THERE WERE
1000'S OF MOUNDS SHAPED IN FORMS OF ANIMALS AND PEOPLE. THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS FORMED FORMED THESE MOUNDS -HOPEWELL, ADENA, AND MISSISSIPEAN.

THEY BUILT MOUNDS DURING THE FORMATIVE PERIOD FROM 1000 BC TO AD 1500. THEIR LIVELIHOOD INCLUDED BUILDING HOUSES, FARMERING WITHOUT IRRIGATION., POTTERY MAKING, WEAVING AND GATHERING FOR CEREMONIES AND FEASTS. ALONG WITH THE SOUTHWESTERN TRIBES, THE MOUND BUILDERS HAD A VERY COMPLEX AND ORGANIZED WAY OF LIFE.

ADENA

FROM 1000 BC - AD 200 THE ADENA WERE NAMED AFTER A LARGE MOUND NEAR CHILLICOTHE. THEY BUILT VILLAGES IN OHIO, KENTUCKY, WEST VIRGINIA, INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW YORK AND ALONG THE OHIO VALLEY. THE MOUNDS WERE BURIAL MOUNDS MADE TO HONOR THE DEAD. THEY WERE BURIED WITH VARIOUS CEREMONIAL OBJECTS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS. THE ADENA CONSTRUCTED THE SERPENT MOUND WHICH WAS NOT A BURIAL MOUND.

THEY HUNTED AND GATHERED AS WELL AS PLANTED CROPS. THEY LIVED IN POLE AND THATCH HOUSES COVERED WITH MUDAND THATCH. THEY GREW CROPS SUCH AS CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, AND TOBACCO. IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THE HOPEWELL INVADED THE ADENAS OR HOW THEY LEFT, HOWEVER THEIR ARE HOPEWELL SITES IN THE SAME AREA.

HOPEWELL

THIS CULTURE WAS CENTERED AROUND THE OHIO VALLEY FROM 300 BC TO AD 700. ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE DISCOVERED THEIR MOUNDS OVER A MUCH WIDER AREA COMPRISING THE ILLINOIS VALLEY, MISSISSIPPI AND OTHER VALLEYS IN THE MIDWEST.

CARL WALDMAN

PIMA AND PAPAGO

2010-09-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

PIMA INDIANS WERE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA AND NORTHERN SONORA. THEIR NAME MEANS - I DON'T KNOW. THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE RIVER PEOPLE. THE PIMA AND PAPAGO SPOKE UTO AZTECAN LANGUAGES.

THEY LIVED ALONG THE SALT AND GILA RIVERS AND ALONG THE RIVERS IN SONORA. THE PAPAGO LIVED TO THE WEST OF THE UPPER PIMAS. THE HOHOKAM ARE THE ANCESTORS OF THESE TRIBES AND THE WORD MEANS "VANISHED ONES". THEY USED ADVANCED AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATED THEIR CROPS. THEY DIVERTED WATER FROM RIVERS TO HAVE FIELDS OF CROPS SUCH AS CORN, SQUASH, BEANS, PUMPKINS AND TOBACCO. THE ANGLOS INTRODUCED WHEAT AND ALFALFA TO THEM.

THE MEN WERE THE FARMERS AND FISHERMEN AND HUNTED GAME ANIMALS. THEY ALSO BUILT THEIR HOMES OF POLE FRAMED STRUCTURES COVERED WITH GRASS AND MUD. THEY ALSO BUILT RAMADAS AND USED THEM AS CLUBHOUSES.

WOMEN GATHERED PLANTS AND SEEDS, THEY MADE BEAUTIFUL BASKETS, AND SHAPED RED AND BLACK POTTERY. THEY MADE CLOTHING OF SHREDDED BARK AND HIDE SANDALS AND RABBIT SKIN BLANKETS. MEN WOVE COTTON ON A HORIZONTAL TEAM, EACH LEADER OF A VILLAGE WAS THE KEEPER OF THE SMOKE. EACH LEADER OF AVILLAGE WAS THE KEEPER OF THE SMOKE. EACH VILLAGE HAD TWO CLANS WHO WERE ORGANIZED INTO CELEBRATING A HARVEST. AND THEIR GOD'S WERE ELDER BROTHER AND EARTHMAKER.

THE GILA RIVER PIMAS WERE ENDED UP SETTLING TO THE NORTH OF THE SALT RIVER WHERE THEIR RESERVATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1879. THE PIMAS SHARE THE SALT RIVER WITH THE MARICOPA AND YUMAN SPEAKING PEOPLE. THEY ARE YUMAN SPEAKING AND MIGRATED FROM THE WEST IN THE 1700S BECAUSE THE YUMANS MADE THE ATTACKS ON THEM AT THIS TIME. THE PIMAS HAVE A HIGH RATE OF DIABETES AS THEY ARE NOT THAT ACTIVE AND EAT TOO MUCH MODERN BOXED FOODS.

CARL WALDMAN

IMPROVE THEATRE

2010-09-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

I RECENTLY WENT TO THE BEST OF SONOMA COUNTY IMPROVE THEATRE. IT'S CALLED SIXTH STREET THEATRE. THERE WERE SIX DIFFERENT GROUPS OF IMPROVE ACTORS AND ACTRESSES. THEY ACTED OUT AND SPOKE ABOUTCLUES GIVEN TO THEM BY THE AUDIENCE. SOME OF THE GROUPS ASKED FOR WORDS AND THE GROUPS DID SILLY THINGS, GAMES, AND SONGS AROUND A WORD. IT WAS JUST PURE SILLINESS AT IT'S BEST AND EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME.

PEOPLE SHOUTED OUT WORDS WHEN THE NEXT GROUP CAME OUT AND THEY IMPROVISED SOME OTHER ACTS. THEY WERE QUITE INCREDIBLE. ONE GROUP IMPROVISED BEING ON AN ELEVATOR - THEY FOUND WAYS TO FEEL AS IF THE ELEVATOR WAS TAKING THEM TO TO DIFFERENT STORIES. AND THEY ACTED AS IF THEY WERE CROWDING INTO IT.

ONE GROUP ACTED OUT FEELINGS THAT THE AUDIENCE GAVE THEM. THEN WITH THESE FEELINGS THEY SANG THOSE FEELINGS THAT WERE LED BY A CONDUCTOR. IT WAS QUITE ENTERTAINING.

THE IMPROVE GROUPSWENT ON FOR 2 1/2 HOURS. I ALSO SAW A GROUP PERFORM ANIMAL SOUNDS AND MOTIONS. IT WAS QUITE INTERESTING. AND FUNNY. THE THING ABOUT IMPROV IS THAT IT'S NOT EASY TO DESCRIBE WHAT WENT ON AS THE ACTS GO ON AND ONVERY FAST. THE ACTORS MAKE COMMENTS THAT COME TO THEM EXTREMELY FAST.

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

2010-09-20T15:31:00.000-07:00

THE OTHER DAY I WENT TO SEBASTOPOL AT IVES PARK TO WATCH THE RENAISSANCE FAIR. THEY HAD MUSICALS AND PLAYS. EVERYONEWAS DRESSED UP IN COSTUMES TO THE TUNE OF THE RENAISSANCE DAYS. THEY HAD MANY TYPES OF CHARACTERS PLAYING IN MUSICALS OR IN DIFFERENT SINGING GROUPS WITH FIFES AND DRUMS, ACCORDIONS, AND OLDER TYPES OF INSTRUMENTS. I ATTENDED A SILLY PLAY WITH A CAST OF RENAISSANCE CHARACTERS THAT WERE ON A BOAT AT TIMES. SOME HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A WIFE. THEY WERE PLAYING SILLY GAMES WITH FOOD, NUTS AND BERRIES. A SMALL BOY WAS DRESSED AS A SUNFLOWER AND THEY PRETENDED TO EAT HIM. THERE WAS A LADY WHO NARRATED THE STORY.
THERE WAS A MAN TEACHING CHILDREN CALLIGRAPHY. THE CHILDREN WERE MAKING THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT TO USE A QUILL PEN AND INK AS THEY DID IN THE OLD DAYS.

THERE WAS A TYPE OF FIGHTING THAT WENT ON WITH CHILDREN ON A BALANCE BEAM - THEY TRIED TO KNOCK THE OTHER ONE OFF THE BEAM WITH A LARGE BAGS FILLED WITH SOME BALLS.

A WOMAN TAUGHT CHILDREN HOW TO WEAVE SYMBOLS FROM WHEAT AND OTHER STRAWS. ANOTHER WOMAN WAS SPINNING WOOL AND ANOTHER WOMAN WAS WEAVING WITH WOOL ON A SMALL LOOM. THAT WAS ON THE TABLE. CHILDREN HAD THEIR FACES PAINTED AS WELL.

THERE WERE KIDS LEARNING ARCHERY AND OTHERS LEARNING HOW TO MAKE HISTORIC SOAP - FROM IVORY FLAKES, PEPPERMINT, EUCALYPTUS, AND LAVENDER HERBS AS WELL AS OATMEAL AND WATER. IT WAS FUN TO WATCH THEM MAKE SOAP BALLS.

THEY HAD A CAMP OF GYPSIES WHO WERE PLAYING DRUMS AS WELL AND THEY HAD A TIPI NEARBY. ANYWAY, IT WAS MOSTLY SEBASTOPOL FOLKS HAVING FUN IN A DRESS UP COSTUME PARTY.

WATERCOLOR ARTISTS AT CODDINGTON

2010-09-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

THE OTHER DAY I WALKED AROUND CODDINGTOWN WHEN IT WAS RAINING AND MET SOME WATER COLOR ARTISTS WHO HAD A DISPLAY THERE. SOME WERE TEACHERS AT THE J C OTHERS WERE SELF TAUGHT WHILE OTHERS WERE JUST BEGINNING. SOME WERE EXTREMELY GOOD LOOKING AND SEEMED TO BE LIKE PHOTOGRAPHS WHILE OTHERS WERE MORE AMATUER LIKE.

THEY PAINTED LANDSCAPES, FLOWERS, CATS, SUREAL SCENES, AS WELL AS BUILDINGS AND SONOMA COUBTY RURAL SCENES. A NUMBER OF ARTISTS WERE WORKING ON PAINTINGS AND DISCUSSING HOW THE DID THEIR WORK.

THEY HAD FORMED AN ASSOCIATION THAT SHOWED THEIR WORKS AT VARIOUSMALLS AND OTHER VENUES TO BECOME BETTER ARTISTS. MOST OF THEM WERE RETIRED.

NAVAJO CEREMONY

2010-09-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

LUCI IS A POET AND PROFESSIONAL OF THE NAVAJO. SHE IS BORN IN SHIPROCK, NEW MEXICO.
MY COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A MAJOR INFLUENCE. SHE SPEAKS ABOUT THE MEANING OF HER CEREMONY AND THEIR FAMILY CONCERNS. LUCI SAYS THE HOLY PEOPLE GAVE GREAT POWER IN THE LIVES OF HER RELATIVES. IN THE ORIGIN STORY IN THE 'NIGHTWAY CEREMONY TALKING" GOD ASKED RED GOD 'DO YOU KNOW WHO THESE RED PEOPLE ARE?" GOD SAID NO.TALKING GOD SAID THE PEOPLE WERE THEIR KIN.THEIR IS AN ANCIENT CONNECTION, THIS IS ALIVE WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT. CEREMONY PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE.

THE HOPI PRESENT THEIR CHILDREN TO TAWA, THE SUN AND PLACE A SMALL AMOUNT OF CORNMEAL INTO THEIR BABIES MOUTHS, AND SAY " THIS IS WHAT WE EAT.?"

MANY NAVAJO PEOPLE INTRODUCE THEIR CHILDREN TO A LARGER COMMUNITY, AND ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND SPECIAL PLACES OF THEIR REGION. SOME WALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT NIGHT AND TELL THEM THEIR RELATIVES LIVE AMONG THE MILKY WAY.

EACH STAGE OF LIFE IS CELEBRATED AS IS THE CYCLE OF THE SEASONS. WHEN A NAVAJO BABY LAUGHS ALOUD THEY HOLD A FIRST LAUGHING CEREMONY. IT IS MEANINGFUL BECAUSE HER LAUGHTER SHOWED SHE HAD CONNECTED HER THINKING WITH HER EMOTIONS. IT IS RELATED TO A NAVAJO CONCEPT THAT THINKING IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEGINNING OF CREATION, CHILDHOOD AND SUNRISE.

THE CEREMONY IS HELD WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF THE FIRST LAUGH. OTHER GRANDCHILDREN WERE LAUGHING WITH DELIGHT AS THEY KNEW ABOUT THE CEREMONY. THE HOUSE WAS CHEERFUL AND PLANS WERE MADE TO ISSUE INVITATIONS TO OTHER FRIENDS. THIS CEREMONY WAS PERFORMED FOR WHITE SHELL GIRL WHO GREW UP TO BECOME CHANGING WOMEN, WHO WAS A DIETY WHO CREATED THE ANCESTORS OF THE PRESENT DAY DINE.

DURING THE MID 1990'S THE NAVAJO ECONOMY CHANGED FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL LIFESTYLE TO A WAGE ECONOMY THAT FORCED PEOPLE TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT AWAY FROM THE RESERVATION.

EACH TIME THEIR RITUALS ARE PERFORMED, SPECIFIC STORIES, AND SONGS AND PRAYERS ACCOMPANY THEM. THE FIRST LAUGH STORY IS A COMING OF AGE STORY FOR GIRLS - AND PART OF THE BEAUTY WAY CEREMONY.

THE FIRST LAUGH CEREMONY INCLUDES NATURAL ROCK, SALT, AND TSAD, A CEREMONIAL BASKET USED IN THE RITUAL. THE MAIN EVENT IS WHEN THE BABY GIVES GIFTS TO EVERYONE.
A LINE FORMS BEFORE THE BABY AND PARENTS DISTRIBUTESALT AND GIFTSTO EACH PERSON. ORIGINALLY OLD SALT WOMEN MADE WHITE SHELL GIRL LAUGH, AND SHE WAS A SPONSOR.

SHEEP ARE IMPORTANT SYMBOLS TO THE NAVAJO AND ARE PART OF ALL EVENTS INCLUDING THE FIRST LAUGH DINNER. THE CHILDREN MAKE GIFT BUNDLES AND TREATS FASTENED WITH RIBBON. ACOMA CUSTOMS HAVE INFLUENCED THE NAVAJO HERE.

THE MEN BRING HOME BAGS OF GIFTS AND FRUITS. THEY ARRANGE WOOL BLANKETS. FOR THE CEREMONY.

ORIGIN OF CEREMONY

THIS CEREMONY IS TRACED BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME. HANE MEANS STORIES AND INCLUDES A SENSE OF HISTORY. PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO EACH OTHER.THUS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND EVENTS FROM CENTURIES AGO ARE IMPORTANT FOR THEIR OWN DAILY LIVES. TODAY THE DINE ARE AWAY FROM SIGHT OF THE SACRED MOUNTAINS AND THEIR HOMES. THEY PRAY AT DAWN. THEY ARE GRATEFUL TO BE DINE PEOPLE. THIS STORY GOES ON AND ON. IT RESOLVES THAT WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER AND WE RESPECT AND CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO THE HOLY PEOPLE'S TEACHINGS.

AFTER SLEEPING THE CHILDREN ARE GIVEN CORN POLLEN FOR PRAYERS. THE PARENT'S OF THE HOUSE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE HOLY PEOPLE AND CHANGING WOMEN'S QUALITIES THAT THEY INSTILL. THEY WERE HAPPY FOR THEIR FUTURE.

LUCI TAPAHONSO

LUCI TAPAHONSO

SACRED FELINE

2010-09-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

FELINES HAVE BEEN DEPICTED AS SYMBOLS OF POWER AND DEITY IN EGYPT AS WELL AS IN MEXICO AND THE SOUTHWEST U. S. CAT CERAMICS FROM MEXICO DATE TO 2000 B.P. ACCORDING TO LEGEND A CAT LIVES AT THE BOTTOM OF LAKE TITIKAKA.

FELINE IS AN UBIQUITIS SYMBOLS IN OUR POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS, AND ASTRONOMICAL SYSTEMS, AND CARRIES SUCH MEANINGS AS NIGHT, FIRE, POWER AND HIERARCHY. THE FELINE IS ALSO A METAMOPHIC REPRESENTATION OF FEMALE ELEMENTS SUCH AS WATER, THE MOON, AND CREATION.

IN THE ANDEAN TRIBES CONDORS AND FELINES ARE AT THE TOP OF THE HIERARCHY AND ARE CONSIDERED THE CLOSEST BEINGS TO THE CREATOR. IN MEXICO THEIR PREHISTORIC CERAMICS HAD IMAGES TO PUMA AND CONDOR. DURING CEREMONIES THEY BURNED INCENSE AND COPAL. THEIR PRAYERS ARE CARRIED TO THE CREATOR.

IN MAYA CULTURE AND WORLDVIEW

2010-09-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

THE HEAVENLY BODIES ARE GIVEN NAMES AS HAVING KINSHIP RELATIONSHIPS WITH HUMANS ON EARTH. THE MAYA CALL THE SUN KOMEN TZAYIK OUR FATHER THE SUN AND NAME THE MOON KOMI XACHAW. THE MAYANS SEE THEMSELVES AS SUBJECTS IN THE SKY WORLD TO HELP AND BE GIVING AND BRING BEAUTY TO THE EARTH. THE KNOWN CELESTIAL FORMATIONS ARE NOT HUMANS,
BUT ARE LINKED TO HUMANS FOR LIFE ON THIS PLANET. THUS THE MAYA CONCEPT OF WORLD'S IN BALANCE EXTENDS TO THE HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO TO THE COSMOS ITSELF. THE PARENT'S TEACH THEIR CHILDREN PRAYERS AND STORIES WITH ETHICAL MASSAGES THAT MOLD THEIR BEHAVIOR. MANY HILLS AND MOUNTAINS HAVE SPECIAL NAMES THAT DISPLAY HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS. THE MAYA WORLDVIEW IS MAINTAINED THROUGH SPECIAL COMMUNICATION. THEY RESPECT NATURE AND TREAT THE EARTH WELL. THEY PRAY AND ASK PERMISSION BEFORE CUTTING A TUNNEL INTO A SACRED MOUNTAIN.

A MAYAN FARMER WILL BURN CANDLES AT FOUR CORNERS OF HIS PLOT. HE BEGS FORGIVENESS AND ASKS PERMISSION TO CUT THE TREES FROM THE MOUNTAINS. AN ALTAR IS BUILT INSIDE THE HOUSE AT THE CENTER OF THE BACK WALL. HERE OFFERINGS OF FOOD AND DRINK ARE PLACED FOR THE SPIRITS OF THE RELATIVES WHO VISIT THE FAMILY. HOUSES ARE BLESSED IN MAYA COMMUNITIES. THE TRADITION OF BLESSING THE GROUND BEFORE CONSTRUCTION IS NOT COMMONLY PRACTICED.

TODAY SOME PEOPLE ARE ABANDONING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SETTLING AT PREHISTORC SITES TO SELL THEIR ARTS AND CRAFTS. SOME MAKE GOOD INCOMES. THE LACADON MAYA MAKE PILGRIMAGES TO THE CLASSIC MAYA SITES. THEY PERFORM OLD RITUALS AT THESE SITES. THEY BELIEVE THE DIRECT DECENDANTS OF THE MAYA WHO BUILT THESE TEMPLES.

THUS THE MAYA CONCEPT OF WORLDS IS IN BALANCE AND EXTENDS TO THE HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO TO THE COSMOS ITSELF. THE PARENTS TEACH THEIR CHILDREN PRAYERS STORIES WITH ETHICAL MESSAGES THAT MOLD THEIR BEHAVIOR. MANY HILLS AND MOUNTAINS HAVE SPECIAL NAMES THAT HAVE AND DISPLAY HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS. THE MAYA WORLDVIEW IS MAINTAINED THROUGH SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS. THEY RESPECT NATURE AND TREAT THE EARTH WELL.

THEY PRAY AND ASK PERMISSION BEFORE CUTTING A TUNNEL INTO A SACRED MOUNTAIN. A MAYAN FARMER WILL BURN CANDLES AT 4 CORNERS OF HIS PLOT. HE BEGS FORGIVENESS AND ASKS PERMISSION TO CUT THE TREES FROM THE MOUNTAINS.

GERALD MCMASTER

CHEROKEE LEADER - WILMANKILLER

2010-09-15T19:04:00.000-07:00

SHE WAS ELECTED AS 1ST LEADER WOMAN CHIEF OF LARGEST TRIBE IN US IN 1987. HER SURENAME IS AN ANCIENT TITLE GIVEN TO A PERSON WHO WATCHES OVER A CHEROKEE VILLAGE. EARLY ON SHE WAS FROM A TIGHT COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA. SHE SAW PEOPLE HELPING EACH OTHER SHE DREW ON LESSONS FROM HER YOUTH AND NOT BEING SELF ABSORBED. HE DREW ON LESSONS FROM HER YOUTH TO GUIDE HER NATION. WHILE IN OFFICE THE TRIBAL ENROLLMENT EXPANDED, EMPLOYMENT DOUBLED AND THERE WERE NEW HEALTH CENTERS CREATED AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS WERE FORMED. IN 1998 CLINTON GAVE HER THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN HONOR GIVEN TO AN AMERICAN. SHE HAD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HISTORY OF HER PEOPLE. SHE ASKS HER PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR WORK AND ISSUES, INTO HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. SHE ASKS HER PEOPLE TO JOIN HER ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND AND WORK ON BEHALF OF PIT RIVER INDIANS. THESE EXPERIENCES GAVE HER AN ABILITY TO LEAD HER TRIBE. SHE EMPHASIZES SELF DETERMINATION, SPIRIT, AND SELF DETERMINATION. SHE CONSIDERS THE FUTURE AS A BETTER TIME FOR SHARED CONCERN OF ALL INDIANS.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY FAIR

2010-09-13T18:31:00.000-07:00

ON SUNDAY I WENT FROM CHURCH TO A CULTURAL DIVERSITY FAIR AT ELSIE ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD HEARD ABOUT IT AT KJZY ON THE WEB. NOT MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED IT. THERE WERE PROBABLY ABOUT 60 PEOPLE TOWARDS THE END OF THE DAY - IT WAS A VERY PLEASANT AND WARM DAY. THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP OF MEXICAN DANCERS WHO WERE WEARING VIBRANT CLOTHING WITH LARGE FEATHER HEADDRESSES. THEY HAD A BAND WHO WERE PLAYING MEXICAN MUSIC AND THEY DANCED TO THE WONDERFUL TUNES OF MARIACHIS.

A HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND PLAYED AND WERE QUITE GOOD - THEY HAD CLARINETS DRUMS, A SLIDING TROMBONE, A TRUMPET, CLARINETS, A DRUM, AND GUITARS.

ANOTHER GROUP WAS A CHINESE DRUMMING GROUP WHO PLAYED TAIKO DRUMS WITH AN INTERESTING TUNE. THEY THEN ALL GOT TOGETHERFOR SOME CHINESE DANCING. FOUR OF THE GUYS THEN FORMED A 25 ' DRAGON. FOUR OF THE GUYS THEN FORMED 2 CHINESE LIONS WHO SNAPPED AT PEOPLE AS THEY DANCED AROUND THE ARENA. ANOTHER THREE CHINESE GIRLS DANCED TO SYNCOPATED RYTHM.

IT WAS INTERESTING THAT I MET A HEALER AND HERBALIST FROM UGANDA! HER INDEX FINGERS WERE JUST LIKE MINE - THEY CURVE OUTWARD. SHE WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR SOME SCHOOL PROGRAMS WHICH NEEDED HEALTH AND MEDICINE AND MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WAY WE CAN PLANT OUR FOODS. SHE SAID HER COUNTRY AND BELIEF WAS THAT WE REINCARNATE. WE DISCUSSED THAT FOR AWHILE AND WHAT HER COUNTRY WAS LIKE.

PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF PEACE IN DEEPEST GRATITUDE

2010-09-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

TODAY THE CHURCH LESSON WAS ABOUT EXTRAPOLATING TOO LARGE OF A THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT NEGATIVES WE HAVE OR MIGHT HAPPEN TO US IN THE FUTURE. THE MINISTER SAID THAT THE POPE ALSO REVEALED THAT THERE IS NO HELL, HOWEVER MANY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE STILL THINK THERE IS. HE SAID WE ARE ALL PERFECT JUST AS WE ARE AND WE ONLY NEED TO LOOK WITHIN IN ORDER TO SEE HOW TO HAVE DEEP GRATITUDE AND LIVE LIFE FULL OF INSPIRATION AND INNER PEACE. HE QUOTED SOMETHING FROM HOLMES WHO FOUNDED THIS CHURCH. THE MINISTER IS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. HOWEVER, HE IS WHITE WITH A BRITISH ACCENT AND IS ON A RADIO STATION. HE USED A VIBRANT EXAMPLE AS TO HOW HIS FRIEND WAS IN HIS HOUSE AND THE CAT BROUGHT IN A LIZARD AS HIS FRIEND TOLD HIM. EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT SEE THE LIZARD HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT CONSTANTLY. IT TOOK OVER HIS ABILITY TO RELAX AS HE THOUGHT ABOUT A REPTILE BEING IN HIS HOUSE. HOWEVER HIS FRIEND MAY HAVE BEEN TELLING HIM A RUMOR. IN OTHER WORDS HE SAID IT WAS A STRANGE THING THAT HIS HEAD WAS FILLED WITH THESE RUMORS. IT DID NOT LEAVE HISW MIND. HE REMINDED US THAT THE WORLD DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND US AS INDIVIDUALS. IT WAS A GOOD LESSON TO LEARN AND IT WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THEY HAD A GREAT BAND THERE TODAY. WE SANG SOME OF JOHN DENVER'S SONGS WITH THE GUITARS AND DRUMS. AND I CRIED AGAIN AS I THOUGHT ABOUT MY MOM WHO HAD ONCE ATTENDED THIS CHURCH SERVICE FOR CHRISTMAS.

PETALUMA ART FESTIVAL

2010-09-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE PETALUMA ART FESTIVAL AT WALNUT PARK AND SAW OVER 30 ARTISANS WHO WERE DISPLAYING THEIR WARES AND PAINTINGS AS WELL AS THEIR WOODEN ARIFACTS. THEY HAD AN ARTIST WHO MADE SOME BEUATIFUL OIL PAINTINGS OF THE WINE COUNTRY SCENE. THEY HAD MANY ARTISTS WHO PAINTED WATERCOLORS. ONE ARTIST WAS CHINESE AND MADE MANY BEAUTIFUL CHINESE WATER COLOR PAINTINGS. THEY HAD A LARGE VARITY OF FRUIT, CHEESE, AND VEGETABLE AND BREAD VENDORS. THE ORGANIC PEACHES WERE THE BEST OF ALL! THEY SAMPLED THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY WERE GREAT. IT WAS FUN TO TALK WITH THE ARTISTS. ONE OF THE OIL PAINTERS HAD SOLD A PAINTING FOR $1500 WHICH MADE HER DAY, I'M SURE!

THERE WAS A BIG BOARD FOR THE CHILDREN TO PAINT THEIR DESIGNS ON AS WELL. THE WEATHER WAS A BIT HOT, HOWEVER PEOPLE WERE IN LINE FOR THE GREAT ICE CREAM. PEOPLE WERE EATING ALL SORTS OF FOOD. THE WALNUTS ON THE GROUND WERE FROM LAST YEAR'S CROP. THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE JUST HAVING FUN LOOKING AT ALL THE VENDORS AND MEETING ONE ANOTHER. NOT MANY PEOPLE WERE SELLING THE CREATIVE IDEAS. I RECOGNIZED THAT SOME OF THE VENDORS I HAD SPOKEN TO SEVERAL YEARS AGO AT A PARTICIPATORY COACHING MEETING I HAD FOR THEM.

THE ENNAGRAM

2010-09-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

1. THE REFORMER - DESIRES FOR THE WORLD TO BE A BETTER PLACE. TOLERANT AND FORGIVING OF OTHERS. GREAT ABILITY TO HELP OTHERS AND GET ON THE RIGHT ROAD. REALLY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD AND MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. UNDER STRESS THEY AVOID ANGER. VERY DETAIL DRIVEN, STUBBORN AND IMPERSONAL.

2. TO BE LOVED - VERY GIVING AND WANTS TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE A CAREGIVER WITHOUT CONDITION. ATTRACTIVE AND CAN BRING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS. UNDER STRESS THEY DO NOT RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN NEEDS, AND ARE MANIPULATIVE. THEY ARE HOSTILE WHEN NOT LOVED.

3. THE ACHIEVER - THEY HAVE REAL CAPACITY FOR AUTHORITY AND HAVE TALENT TO ACHIEVE AND ARE OPTIMISTIC.THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC AND ARE MOTIVATORS AS WELL. UNDER STRESS THEY MAKE THEMSELVES GET LOVE THROUGH ACHIEVEMENTS. THEY BECOME HOSTILE.

4. THE ARTIST - IS A PERSON WITH A FLAIR FOR LIFE AND INVENTIVE. SHE IS PROFOUNDLY CREATIVE AND INSPIRING - IT IS ONE WHO LOVES TO LAUGH AND HAS PASSION. THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE. UNDER STRESS THEY AVOID FEELING ORDINARY AND RETREAT INTO EMOTIONS. THEY CAN HAVE WHAT THEY WANT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND HEAL THAT.

5. THE THINKER - IS INGENIOUS AND A VISIONARY AND HAS A CAPACITY OF GENIUS. THEY CAN SEE BEYOND THE LIMITS OF TO THE POSSIBILITIES. THEY ARE OPEN MINDED AND INSIGHTFUL. THEY UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE AND ARE AN EXPERT IN A PARTICULAR AREA. UNDER STRESS THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT PAIN, FEARS AND ANXIETY. THEY OFTEN WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE AND DON'T SHARE THOUGHTS.

6. SAFETY AND SECURITY - ELEVATION AND SECURITY MOVEMENT TOWARD STRENGTH = LOYAL, GENTLE, INSIGHTFUL, CAPABLE AND WITH A QUICK MIND. CREATE TRUST, SECURITY, AND SAFETY FOR OTHERS. THEY ARE GOOD MEDIATORS. UNDER STRESS THEY AVOID DEVIANCE AND THEY MUST BE FULLY PREPARED. THEY ARE UNREASONABLY LOYAL AND CAN'T TRUST THE WORLD.

7. TO HAVE FUN - THEY TRUE LY ENJOY LIFE AND ARE CHILDLIKE - THEY FIND WONDER IN ALMOST EVERY AREA. THEY BRING PEOPLE A SENSE OF ENJOYMENT. THEY LIVE LIFE AT A FRENZIED PACE AND TALKS A LOT. THEY FAIL TO COMPLETE PLANS WHEN DIFFICULTIES ENTER.

8. SELF RELIANT LEADER
MOVEMENT TOWARD GROWTH AND CHANGE, CHAMPIONS THE UNDER DOG, AND IS PASSIONATE. CAN BRING OUT OTHERS STRENGTHS AND ARE RESOURCEFUL. THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS ENERGY AND PASSION.

10. PEACEMAKER - THEY ARE GENTLE AND KIND AND RELIANT AND PROVIDE GOOD MEDIATION AND HAVE A CALMING EFFECT ON EACH OTHER. UNDER STRESS THEY AVOID CONFLICT. THEY WANT EVERYTHING TO BE PEACEFUL. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY DO MAKE TROUBLE AND PROCRASTINATES.

SUSAN CARLISLE

MEDICINE AND RITUAL AND CEREMONY

2010-09-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

MEDICINE MEN HAVE LEARNED THEIR STORIES BY DREAMING AND BEING TAUGHT BY SPIRITS. SOME ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA SHAMANS BELIEVE THAT THEY EXPERIENCE CREATION THROUGH THEIR DREAMS. SOME QUECHAN MEN REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRESENT FROM THE BEGINNING AND SAW AND HEARD IT ALL. HE DREAMED THE CREATION STORY AND LEARNED IT FIRST HAND. THE ORIGIN STORY TOOK FOUR NIGHTS TO TELL.

IN PERU THE QUECHAN MEDICINE MEN LEARNED OF HIS DESTINY BY DREAM TRAVEL. BEFORE HIS BIRTH HE WOULD SOMETIMES STEAL OUT OF HIS MOM'S WOMB WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING. AND HE WOULD TRAVEL TO A SACRED MOUNTAIN NOT FAR FROM THE PRESENT DAY NEEDLES, CA.

THE QUECHANS BELIEVED THAT THEIR MEDICINE MEN COULD SUCK OUT SICKNESS. THE EUROPEANS BROUGHT MANY SICKNESSES THAT THE INDIANS COULD NOT CURE.

INDIAN DOCTORS HAD SPECIAL POWERS TO LOCATE, DIAGNOSE, AND TO REMOVE ILLNESSES. THEY ORGANIZED THE POWER THROUGH THE SONGS, STORIES, PAINTINGS AND RITUAL ACTS.
THE NAVAJO ENJOY A RICH HISTORY OF CULTURE AND MEDICINE. NAVAJO CEREMONY REVOLVES AROUND MAKING A PERSON IN HARMONY AND WHOLE. THE CAUSE OF ILLNESS IS OFTEN THE VIOLATION OF TRIBAL LAWS OR CODES. THE NAVAJO DO NOT TOUCH OBJECTS STRUCK BY LIGHTENING.

KINDLE'S PARENTS HIRED A MEDICINE MAN TO CONDUCT A LIGHTENING WAY CEREMONY TO REMOVE
LIGHTENING, POWER, AND CURE THE SORE. NAVAJOS USE PLANT MEDICINE TO MAKE MEDICINAL TEAS AND DIRECT APPLICATIONS TO HEAL. MANY INDIANS IN ARIZONA AND MEXICO MAKE A TEA FROM CREOSOTE BUSH TO HEAL SORE THROATS AND SKIN IRRITATIONS, EASTERN WOODLAND INDIANS USE SASSAFRAS TREE ROOTS TO CURE COLDS AND STOMACH ILLNESSES.

GERALD MCMASTER AND CLIFFORD TREFNER

HUPA JUMP DANCE AND WHITE DEERSKIN CEREMONIES

2010-09-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

HUPA JUMP DANCES ARE CEREMONIES THAT HELP THEIR COMMUNITY RENEW ITSELF EVERY TWO YEARS BY ENTREATING THE POWER OF THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. THEY LIVE ALONG THE TRINITY RIVER. THE JUMP DANCE WARDS OFF DISEASE AND DISASTER. THEIR CREATION MYTH SAYS A CLOUD CONTAINS SICKNESS AND DISEASE IN THE EASTERN SKY. CERTAIN SPIRITS INSTRUCTED OTHER SPIRITS TO HOLD A SPECIAL DANCE TO DEFEND AGAINST THE CLOUD. THEY NOTICED THAT WITH EACH SONG AND DANCE THAT THE CLOUD RECEDED. THEY DANCED FOR FIVE DAYS IN LENGTH AND THE COMMUNITYWAS SPARED OF PESTILENCE.

THE HUPA ADOPTED THE JUMP DANCE AS A MEANS OF FENDING OFF NEGATIVE POWER. IT IS A CEREMONY INVOLVES MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. IT PROTECTS THE COMMUNITY FOR YEARS TO COME. THE PEOPLE WATCH FOR A SIGN THAT THE SPIRITS APPROVED OF THE DANCE. IF RAIN COMES IT IS A SIGN OF EARTH RENEWAL AND CLEANSING.

THE REGALIA OF THE MEN IS A WHITE DEERSKIN HEAD DRESS AND LARGE BANDS OF RED WOODPECKER SCALPS AND DUCK FEATHERS. MEN WEAR DEER HIDES FOR SKIRTS, ABALONE NECKLACES.

WOMEN WEAR LEATHER DANCE DRESSES AND A SASH FROM THE LEFT SHOULDER MADE OF HUNDREDS OF BEAR GRASS SKIRTS, A COLORFUL SASH OVER THEIR SHOULDER MADE OF ACORN WOODPECKER SCALPS AND DENTALIUM SHELLS. THEY RAISE A BASKET OVER THEIR SHOULDERS AND STAMP A FOOT. WOMEN LIFT UP THEIR BODIES IN TWO MOTIONS TO THE BEAT OF A SONG AND RISE TO SING.

THE POMO WERE FORTUNATE INDIANS

2010-09-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

THE POMO WERE SOME OF THE MOST FORTUNATE OF CALIFORNIA INDIANS ACCORDING TO TRUDY GRIFFIN PIERCE. THEY RESPONDED TO THE RHYTHMS OF THE EARTH AND THE BOUNTY OF THE LAND AROUND THEM. THE INDIANS FOUND ALL THEY NEEDED FROM THE LAND. THE MEN AND BOYS CLIMBED THE OAK TREES TO SHAKE THE NUTS LOOSE.

SOMETIMES THEY BUILT A CORRAL INTO WHICH THEY HERDED THE ANIMALS. IF THEY WERE TO BE SUCCESSFUL, ALL MEN HAD TO PREPARE THEMSELVES SPIRITUALLY BEFORE THE HUNT. IN FEBRUARY THE MEN USED TRAPS TO CATCH SUCKERS TO SPAWN. WATER FOUL AND FISH WERE A MAJOR SOURCE OF FOOD FROM NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY. AT THE END OF FEBRUARY MEN USED CONICAL BASKET TRAPS TO CATCH SUCKERS WHICH GO UP THE CREEK TO SPAWN. MID MARCH THEY SPEARED PIKES IN THE STREAMS. HITCH AND CHAY SWAM UP TO THE CREEK AND WERE CAUGHT IN BASKET TRAPS. IN APRIL THE EASTERN POMO LEFT THE MAIN VILLAGE FOR FISH CAMPS.ON CLEAR LAKE.. THESE WERE USED FOR FISH TRAPS TO CATCH BLACKFISH AND CARP. THEY DRIED AND STORED THERE FISH. THE EASTERN POMO TRADED THEIR FISH FOR BEADS TO NORTH AND CENTRAL POMO.

WOMEN COLLECTED CLAMS AND TULE FROM MARSHES THAT SURROUNDED THE LAKE. FOOD WAS SERVED ON TULE MATS. SHREDDED TULE WAS USED FOR DIAPERS AND BEDDING. THEY ATE TENDER SHOOTS AND THE ROOTS OF TULE. IN JUNE THE CAMP WAS MOVED TO THE HILLS SO WOMEN DUG ROOTS.

IN JULY THE WOMEN CAME BACK TO THE MAIN VILLAGE WITH ROOTS, TULE, AND CLAMS. IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER THEY GATHERED PINOLE SEEDS AND TRAVELED TO THE COAST TO GET SALT AND MARINE ANIMALS ANS RESOURCES.

ONLY IN SUMMER AND AUTUMN DID THE POMO LIVE IN TEMPORARY BRUSH SHELTERS. COASTAL POMO LIVED IN TIPI LIKE SHELTERS 10 - 15' IN DIAMETER COVERED WITH REDWOOD.

THE ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIA NATIVES MEANT THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO DEVELOP MANY ELABORATE WAYS TO GATHER OR HUNT. THEY HAD TIME TO DEVELOP WORLD WIDE FAMOUS BASKETS. THEY USED 30 DIFFERENT PLANT MATERIALS. SOME BASKETS WERE AS SMALL AS A THIMBLE. EVEN THE MEN PRODUCED CARRYING BASKETS. THEY WOVE FINE GIFT BASKETS THAT WERE USUALLY BLACK, RED, AND HAD A WIDE VARIETY OF DESIGNS. THE WOMEN KNEW 15 - 20 DIFFERENT DESIGNS AND THEY NAMED THE DESIGN ELEMENTS AND PATTERNS.

THE HUSBANDS HAD TO STAY INDOORS FOR A MONTH AND COULD NOT TRAVEL OR HUNT OR GAMBLE WHEN HIS WIFE GAVE BIRTH. IT IS CALLED THE COUVADE. IT IS A CUSTOM SHARED BY MANY CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH OF THE CHILD AND MOTHER.

GIRLS WHO HAD STARTED THEIR MENSES PURIFIED THEMSELVES BY LYING ON A BED OF TULE PLACED OVER A BED OF TULES PLACED OVER A BED OF COALS, AND SHE WAS BATHED IN STEAM. HER FOOD WAS ACORN MUSH AND PINOLE.

BOYS AT 8 YEARS OLD WERE GIVEN A HAIRNET AND TOY BOWS AND ARROS. HE WAS BATHED IN ANGELICA ROOT WATER DURING A FEAST. THERE WAS NO PUBERTY RITUAL FOR BOYS. TEENS WERE GIVEN A CHOICE WHO THEY MARRIED, HOWEVER PARENTS HAD TO APPROVE.

WHEN SOMEONE DIED THE MEN AND WOMEN CUT THEIR HAIR AND MOURNED IN MANY WAYS. THEY PRACTICED CREMATION UNTIL ABOUT THE 1880'S WHEN THE ANGLOS DECIDED TO PRESSURE THEM TO STOPTHIS CUSTOM.

THE POMO BELIEVED THAT THEIR IULLNESS WAS FROM SOME KIND OF POISONING.

THE NORTHERNMOST TRIBES HELD WORLD RENEWAL CEREMONIES EVERY YEAR.. THESE RITUALS WERE HELD TO FIRM UP OR CAUSE GOOD FORTUNE TO THE EARTH, AND THEY SHARED A SIMILAR PURPOSE. A SPECIAL MAN TRAVELED TO A MEMBER OF SACRED LOCATIONS WHERE HE CARRIED OUT RITES TO ENSURE NATURE'S RENEWAL. A SECOND RITUAL WAS MORE SOCIAL AND CALLED A JUMPING DANCE WHERE THEY USED WHITE DEERSKINS FOR DANCING.

SANTA ROSA CHRISTIAN CHURCH

2010-09-05T12:55:00.000-07:00

TODAY I WENT TO A NEW CHURCH ON PACIFIC AVENUE IN SANTA ROSA CALLED THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. THEY HAD A BAND PLAYING CHRISTIAN MUSIC. I CRIED AS I HEARD SOME SOULFUL MUSIC. I SANG THE TUNES THEY HAD PLAYED AND DISPLAYED ON THE MAIN BOARD. THE SERVICE WAS ABOUT LAUGHING AT YOUR LIGHTER SIDE AND STAYING WITH YOUNGER KIDS WHO HAVE A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE OLDER FOLKS ARE THINKING AND DOING.

THE SERVICE WAS ABOUT HAVING YOUNG CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE AND KEEPING FREE OF THE NEGATIVES. WE ENJOYED THE SINGING PART AND I HAD NEVER BEEN IN THIS CHURCH BEFORE. I SAW MANY BABIES IN CHURCH. I HAD INTENDED TO GO TO ANOTHER CHURCH BUT IT WAS NOT OPEN TODAY.

THE NORTHWEST COAST INDIANS

2010-09-01T17:10:00.001-07:00

THE TRIBES OF THE NORTH COAST INDIANS SPOKE ABOUT 35 LANGUAGES AND THEY HAD PLENTY TO EAT AS THEY HAD PLENTY OF FISH FROM THE OCEANS AND THEY HAD PLENTY OF GAME ANIMALS. THEY HONORED THE SPIRIT OF THE SALMON BY PERFORMING A RITUAL OF THANKSGIVING OVER THE FIRST SALMON CAUGHT IN THE SPRING. THIS FISH WAS CONSIDERED TO BE THE LEADER OF THE SALMON MEN. A HOLY MAN WHO KNEW THE PRAYERS RESPECTFULLY CARRIED THE SALMON TO THE ALTAR WHERE HE SPRINKLED IT WITH RED OCHRE OR EAGLE DOWN. AFTER THE FISH HAD BEEN COOKED EVERYONE TASTED OF THIS FIRST HONORED SALMON. ONLY AFTER THE SALMON HAD BEEN TREATED TO A CEREMONY OF REVERENCE COULD THE FISHING BEGIN.

THE NOOTKA OF VANCOUVER ISLAND MADE A CEREMONIAL MASK OF RED CEDAR DEPICTING SEVEN SALMON TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPERHUMAN POWER THAT BROUGHT THE SALMON TO THE NOOTKA. SOME MEN CAUGHT HALIBUT WHICH COULD WEIGH 200 POUNDS OR MORE AS THEY PULLED IT ALONG THE SIDE OF A CANOE AND CLUBBED IT. THEY ALSO CAUGHT AN ARRAY OF FISH INCLUDING SMELT, CANDLEFISH, HERRING, AND EUCLACHON. THEY BUILT WEIRS FOR CATCHING SALMON, AND OTHER FISH. THE WEIR WAS A WOODEN FENCE THAT SPANNED THE RIVER. ONCE THE FISH WERE IN THE WEIR, THEY USED A 16FOOT HARPOON TO SPEAR THE FISH.THEY ALSO MADE NETS TO CATCH THE FISH. THEY MADE CANOES FROM CEDAR AND SAILED THE SEA TO CATCH HALIBUT, COD, SEA OTTERS, SEALS, AND WHALES!

THEY CAUGHT DEER, ELK, MOUNTAIN GOAT, MARTEN, BEAVER AND EDIBLE PLANTS. THEY USED THE CEDAR TREES FOR CANOES, HOUSING, WEAPONS, TOOLS, CONTAINERS AND TOTEM POLES, AS WELL AS MASKS. THEY MADE BASKETS, CLOTHING, AND ROPES FROM THE BARK.

THE NOOTKA OF VANCOUVER ISLAND USED THEIR CANOES ON THE SEA TO HUNT GRAY WHALES, RIGHT WHALES, AND HUMPBACK WHALES. THE WHALER WAS A CHIEF WHO PREPARED HIMSELF SPIRITUALLY FOR MONTHS TO ENSURE SUCCESS.

MANY OF THE HOUSES WERE BUILT PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND. SOME FAMILIES LIVED IN APARTMENTS ARRANGED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE VILLAGE. SOMETIMES A SINGLE HOUSE CONTAINED A VILLAGE.

THE TOTEM POLES WERE PLACED OUTSIDE OF A HOUSE AS WAY TO HONOR SPECIAL CLANS AND TO FOLLOW WAYS TO HELP SPIRITS RELATED TO THE GUARDIAN SPIRIT OF THE CLAN.THEY INCLUDED ANIMALS, FISH, BIRDS AND HEAVENLY BODIES. TOTEMS WERE MORE THAN EMBLEMS. THEY WERE SPIRITUAL GUIDES.

TLINGIT MOTHERS HONORED THEIR CLAN ANCESTORS SO PROFOUNDLY THAT THEY NAMED THEIR CHILDREN AFTER THEM SO THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE DECEASED WAS REBORN IN THE CHILD THROUGH THE NAME. A PREGNANT WOMAN SPENT TEN DAYS IN A SPECIAL SHELTER AFTER GIVING BIRTH. A 10 YEAR OLD BOY LIVED WITH HIS MOTHER'S BROTHER AND HE TAUGHT HIM DISCIPLINE. HE WAS TAUGHT HOW TO CHOP WOOD AND HIS TRIBAL HISTORY AND HUNTING RITUALS. THE BOY WOULD INHERIT HIS UNCLE'S HOUSE.

GIRLS HAD THEIR OWN LESSONS TO LEARN. THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OF A GIRL'S LIFE WAS THE ONSET OF MENSTRUATION. SHE WENT TO A HUT AND FASTED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. SHE LEARNED CLAN TRADITIONS FROM HER FATHER'S SISTER, HER MOM, OR GRANDMOTHER. SHE ALSO MADE BASKETS. WHEN SHE REJOINED THE VILLAGE SHE HAD A BATH FROM HER RELATIVES WITH NEW CLOTHES, AND PIERCED HER LIP. THERE WAS A POTLATCH CEREMONY FROM HER FATHER'S SISTERS. AND SHE WAS PRESENTED AS READY FOR MARRIAGE. THEY HAD TO MARRY A PERSON FROM A DIFFERENT CLAN.

FAMILIES ARRANGED MARRIAGES TO STRENGTHEN CLAN RELATIONSHIPS AND TO BRING GREATER WEALTH TO THEIR FAMILIES. GIFT GIVING AND A SHOW OF WEALTH WAS A BIG PART OF MARRIAGE.

MANY NATIVE SOCIETIES BELIEVED THAT THE DEAD SHOULD NOT LEAVE THROUGH THE SAME DOOR THAT THE LIVING HAD USED. THEY WERE CREMATED. THEY USED THEIR DREAMS AND VISIONS TO PRODUCE ELABORATE CEREMONIAL MASKS FOR TELLING STORIES.

A MASK MAKER TALKED TO THE MASK AS HE MADE IT AND INCLUDED IMAGES THAT WERE POWERFUL BECAUSE OF THE FORCES. THEY REPRESENTED.

THE SHAMAN REPRESENTED AN IMPORTANT PERSON WHO HAD GREAT RESPECT AND COULD CURE, INFLUENCE WEATHER, AND ASSURED THE ABUNDANT SALMON HARVEST. THEY ALSO PREDICTED THE FUTURE AND BROUGHT VICTORY TO WAR. THEY HEALED PEOPLE AND INTERCEDED WITH SPIRITS ON BEHALF OF HIS OR HER PATIENT.

POTLATCH IS A CHINOOK WORD MEANING TO GIVE. IT WAS A MASSIVE FEAST GIVEN BY THE HOUSE OF ONE CLAN TO HONOR ANOTHER CLAN. SHARING FOOD AND GIFT GIVING GAVE EVERYONE TIME TO HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING.

TRUDY GRIFFIN

♥

THE INVISIBLE HUNTERS

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THESE HUNTERS CLEANSE THEMSELVES BY PUTTING WHITE SAGE IN HIS ARMPITS BEFORE SLEEPING. THEY ALSO MADE SURE TO BATHE AND NOT TO EAT BEFORE HUNTING. THE NORTHERN TRIBE CHIMARIKO LAID IN AN AMBUSH OF A SPRING AND SMEARED HIS BOW AND ARROW WITH YERBA BUENA TO MASK THE HUMAN ODOR FROM THE DEER. ISHI FROM THE YAHI TRIBE DID NOT EAT FISH THE DAY BEFORE HE HUNTED AND DID NOT SMOKE TOBACCO. IN OPPOSITION TO THIS TRIBE THE SALINANS CHEWED TOBACCO DURING HUNTING AS THEY BELIEVED THIS WOULD STUPIFY THE DEER.

ISHI DID NOT APPROACH AN ANIMAL ON THE WIND SIDE, BUT WALKED AROUND A MOUNTAIN TO GET TO THE ANIMAL. HE ALSO HUNTED QUAIL, RABBIT, AND SQUIRRELS. HE HID BEHIND THE ROCKS. HE ALSO PILED LARGE ROCKS ONTO A CAIRN WHICH HE HID BEHIND IN ORDER TO HUNT DEER AND OTHER ANIMALS. SOME OF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBES USED DEER HEADS TO DISGUISE THEMSELVES DURING THE HUNT.

PAUL CAMPBELL