MY SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCES AS FRANNIE OAKLEY

THIS SUMMER I WORKED FOR THE PARKS AND RECREATION FOR HOWARTH AND DOYAL PARK AS FRANNIE OAKLEY. THE KIDS WERE ABOUT 5 - 10 YEARS OLD. I SHOWED THEM A LOT OF PICTOREIALS THAT HAD TO TELL MY STORYY ABOUT WHAT THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE HPEOPLE USED TO EAT AND HUNT. I ALSO SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF WHAT THEY MIGHT HAVE MADE AS BASKETS AND SOME SAMPLES OF THEIR FOODS AND MEDICINALS. WE TALKED ABOUT OUR ETHNICITY, HOW WE WANTED TO LEARN TO BE MORE FRIENDLY WITH EACH OTHER, AND ABOUT THE WAY THE NATIVES USED ACORNS AS A SPIRITUAL FOOD. I ALSO SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT HOW THEY COULD CREATE HEALTHY EATING HABITS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT NATURE WAS TELLING THEM.

I TOLD THEM HOW NOT ONLY MEDICINE LADIES PRAYED BEFORE PICKING A PLANT BUT HOW EVERYONE USED TO PRAY BEFORE THEY PICKED A PLANT. THE POMO AND OTHER TRIBES WOULD GO ON A SWEAT BEFORE MAKING A BASKET AND THEY WOULD GO ON A FAST AS WELL. THEY COLLECTED THEIR ROOTS POSSIBLY MONTHS BEFOORE THEY ACTUALLY WOVE THEM. I SHOWED THEM PHOTOS OF HOW THE COILED AND TWINED BASKETS LOOKED, AS WELL AS HOW THEY CAUGHT FISH USING SOAPROOT.


I SPOKE ABOUT ANNIE OAKLEY'S HISTORY AS WELL. MANY OF THEM HAD NOT KNOWN WHO SHE WAS. AND MANY CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARE PART NATIVE AMERICAN. THEY ENJOYED THE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE INDIAN TOLD COYOTE STORIES AND WHAT THEY DID BEFORE GOING ON A HUNT FOR DEER. THEY LIKED MY TOY POP GUN. WE HAD A LOT OF FUN AND THEY GAVE ME A YO HE HAW APPLAUSE!