ELDERBERRY BARK FOR CLOTHING

ELDERBERRY BARK IS USED FOR MAKING SKIRTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. SOME STILL USE THE TRADITIONAL FOODS THERE AS WELL. ONE INFORMANT WENT TO THE OLD MEXICAN ELDERBERRY TREE AND STRIPPED SOME BARK OFF OF THE TREE AND DRIED IT, THE OUTER BARK COMES OFF EASILY. THEY USE THE INNER BARK STRIPS 2 - 4 FEET LONG. ONCE DRIED THEY BRAID IT INTO CORDS FOR HOLDING UP A SKIRT OR PLAITING IT INTO FABRIC AS WELL.

A TREE IS USED SPARINGLY SO AS NOT TO KILL THE TREE. THE YUMANS STRIPPED THE BARK PARTIALLY FROM THE WOMEN'S TREE. COTTONWOOD WAS A TREE THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIANS USED FOR FIBER FOR WOMEN'S SKIRTS. THEY MAKE BARK SKIRTS FROM 8 FOOT 2 PLY MESCAL FIBER CORDS AND MAKE A BELT FOR THE SKIRT, THEY PASS THE STRINGS THROUGH LOOPS ON BOTH ENDS AND THEY FASTEN THE STRIPS ABOUT 3 FEET OFF THE GROUND. THEY SPRINKLE WATER ON THE ELDERBERRY STRIPS BEFORE THEY DRAPE THE STRIPS OVER A CORD. THEY JUST TIP THE BARK STRIPS TO A CORD AND MAKE THE SKIRT OF VARIOUS LENGTHS. THEY SECURE THE STRIPS WITH A SQUARE KNOT OF STRING. COCOPAH WOMEN USED THE INNER BARK OF WILLOW FOR FRONT AND BACK APRONS. COCOPAH MEN WORE WILLOW BREECH CLOUTS.

PAUL CAMPBELL

NATIVE AMERICAN CLOTHING

IN 1770 FATHER SIERRA NOTED THAT IN BAJA ALL THE NATIVES WERE NAKED WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE CLOTHED. MEN HAD ANIMAL SKINS THEY WORE ON THEIR HIPS. THE WOMEN WORE BUKSKIN APRONS ON THE FRONT AND BACK.. OR USED STRIPS OF INNER BARK OF THE COTTONWOOD OR WILLOW TREE. IN THE WINTER THEY MADE SKIN ROBES OF BEAR, DEER MOUNTAIN, WILDCAT, FOX, RABBIT, BIRD, AND LAND/SEA OTTER.

YOUNG YUROK FOLDED A DEERSKIN AROUND THEIR HIPS WITH THE FUR LEFT ON . WOMEN WORE FOOT - WIDE APRONS OF DEERSKIN WITH FRINGES AND A BRAID OF PINE NUTS. WEALTHY WOMEN WOULD ORNAMENT THEIR DRESS. HEAVILY WITH SHELLS OR OBSIDIAN PRISMS ON THE END OF FRINGES. SOME WOMEN WORE FOOT WIDE APRONS WITH FRINGED SKIRTS OF BUCKSKIN AND A BRAID OF PINE NUTS.

SOME WOMEN WORE A FRINGED SKIRT OF THE BARK OF MAPLETREE.

HUPA WORE CAPE OF TWO DEERHIDES SEWN TOGETHER. THEY KEPT THE LEGS OF THE DEER ATTACHED. BASKET CAPS WERE WORN BY THE WOMEN.

MAIDU MEN AND WOMEN WORE MOUNTAIN LION ROBES, RABBIT SKIN BLANKETS, OR LARGE SKINS SEWN TOGETHER. IN THE MOUNTAINS THE MEN AND WOMEN WORE MOCCASINS (STUFFED WITH GRASS FOR TRAVEL OR SNOW). IN WINTER THEY WORE DEER SKIN LEGGINGS WITH FUR FACING INWARD. SHASTA AND HUPA WOMEN WORE TWO TASSELS OF GRASS OR BARK OF YELLOW WILLOW TO A BELT OF BUCKSKIN. OR FIBER CORD. MAPLE BARK PREFERRED FOR SOME SKIRTS THAT WERE STRUNG WITH BEADS AND SHELLS.

THE NORTHEAST MAIDU MADE SIMILAR APRONS OF BUCKSKIN IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF BARK. THEIR SKIRTS HAD PINE NUTS AND DEER HOOVESON THEM. THEY WORE BASKET CAPS.

IN 1920 ROBERT LOWIE NOTED THAT THE PAUITE WORE RABBIT SKIN BLANKETS FOR SLEEPING AND FOR WINTER COATS. BABIES WERE WRAPPED IN SAGE BRUSH BARK BLANKETS. WOMEN WORE ANTELOPE SKIRTS. BOYS HAD LEGGINGS OF DEER AND COYOTE HIDE AND BADGER SKIN CAPS.

NORTH PAUITE SAGEBRUSH MATS WERE USED AS CLOTHING. MATS WERE OPEN IN THE CENTER FOR THE HEAD AND HUNG DOWN. SHE SOFTENED THE BARK BY RUBBING BETWEEN HER KNUCKLES. BUNDLES OF SMALL FIBERS WERE WOVEN WITH HEMP. THE KLAMATH MADE A BLANKET WORN AS A CAPE SIMILAR TO THE ABOVE OUT OF SAGEBRUSH OR TULE. MIWOK MEN WORE HIP SKIRTS OF SKINS AND WOMEN WORE SKIRTS OF DRESSED SKIN FRINGE WITH ORNAMENTS. CHILDREN WENT NUDE. THEY MADE ROBES OF WILDCATS, FOXES, RABBITS, AND HARES.

COSTONOANS WORE USUAL RABBITSKIN BLANKETS AND WOMEN WORE SHORT SKIRTS OF DEERSKIN. THE MEN COVERED THEIR SKIN WITH MUD IN THE MORNING UNTIL THE CHILL OF THE MORNING PASSED!

DURING MENSTRUATION WOMEN IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WORE TANNED BUCKSKIN BREECH CLOTH WITH THE SKIRT. IT WAS HELD BY A MILKWEED BELT. WOMEN WORE A COILED BASKETRY CAP THAT CAME DOWN TO THE EYES WHEN THEY TOTED A PACK. CHILDREN ONLY WORE CLOTHES DURING COLD WEATHER. MEN NEVER WORE HATS.

MOHAVE WOMEN AND MEN WORE LOIN CLOTHES OF INNER BARK OF WILLOW. THEY STRIPPED THE BARK FROM TREES IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

LUISENO WOMEN MADE A BACK SKIRT OF INNER BARK OF WILLOW OR COTTONWOOD AND HAD A FRONT APRON AS WELL WITH CORDED FIBER. COILED CAPS OF JUNCAS WERE WOVEN.

DIEGUENO MEN WORE NOTHING OR AN APRON OF WHITE SAGE TWIGS, WOMEN WORE TWO APRONS. THEY WORE A RABBITSKIN BLANKET IN THE WINTER.

KILIWA MEN WORE NOTHING IN THE SUMMER. WOMEN WORE APRON OF DEER HIDE SOAKED IN WATER. MOST INDIANS WENT BAREFOOT AND LONG TREKS. THEY WORE SINGLE PIECES OF LEATHER MOCCASINS. MUCH OF THEIR CLOTHING WAS SIMILAR TO THAT WORN THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO AND WAS TESTED FOR ADAPTING TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

PAUL CAMPBELL

CALIFORNIA NATIVE AMERICAN HAIR TYPES AND SKIN CARE

IN CALIFORNIA MOST MEN LET THEIR HAIR GROW LONG. THE MEN OF THE MAIDU WORE THEIR HAIR LOOSE OR TUCKED UNDER A CAP.

THE WOMEN WORE THEIR HAIR LONG OR LOOSE OR TIED WITH A BAND OVER THE TOP OF THE HEAD. THE NORTHWEST MAIDU CUT THEIR HAIR SHORT. MANY BURNED OFF THE ENDS WITH A FIRE STICK.

SOUTHERN DIEGUENO ON THE OTHER HAND COMBED THEIR HAIR WITH THE HOOK SPINES ON A NETTLE POD.

THE MIWOK WORE THEIR HAIR LONG TIED AT THE NECK OR WITH A FEATHER ROPE. THEY WORE A
HEADBAND OF BEAVER SKIN. THE CHUMASH CHILDREN DID NOT CUT THEIR HAIR, NOR DID MOST OTHER CALIFORNIAN CHILDREN.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHILDREN WORE HAIR LONG WHICH EQUALLED THE MARK OF BEAUTY. CHUMASH WOMEN CUT THEIR BANGS. THE CHUMASH BOUND THEIR HAIR IN THE BACK WITH SEASHELLS. MEN TIED A CORD IN THEIR HAIR WITH A FEATHER WHICH WAS GATHERED ON THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD WITH A BONE OR WOOD ORNAMENT. WOMEN GATHERED THEIR HAIR IN THE BACK. MEN WORE FEATHERS AND WOMEN'S HAIR WAS BRAIDED IN A SINGLE BRAID OR PONYTAIL. THEY RUBBED OIL (WHALE OIL)IN THEIR HAIR. MOST INDIAN MEN IN PREHISTORY OR HISTORIC TIMES DID NOT SHAVE.

THE INDIANS ORIGINALLY DID NOT EAT SUGARS MUCH. THEY HAD NO TOOTHBRUSHES SAYS POWERS IN THE 1800'S.

THE NATIVES FOUND THEIR REFLECTION IN OTHERS AND DEVELOPED THEIR IDENTITY THAT WAY, VS. MIRRORS OR THEY LOOKED AT PONDS OR WATER. VANITY WAS UNKNOWN.

THEY CARED FOR THEIR SKIN AS THEY KNEW DARK SKIN EVEN BURNED IN THE SUN. THE SERI OF TIBURON ISLAND WORE A CORONET OF VINES AND SHRUBS TO SOLVE THEIR SHADE PROBLEMS. THEY HAD A CROWN WOVEN OF VARIOUS TREE PARTS AND PLANTS . THE YUROK USED AROMATIC BAY LAUREL LEAVES TO REPEL INSECTS. THE MIWOK USED WREATHS OF TIGER LILY AND MONKEY FLOWERS. THE TUBALULABEL WOMEN SHADED THEIR HAIR AND FACE BY STRINGING HAIR ABOVE THEIR FOREHEAD.

THE MOHAVE, A DESERT DWELLING GROUP, PAINTED THEIR SKIN WITH RED PIGMENT (HEMATITE) IN DEER FAT.

YUMANS WORE HATS OF WET MUD TO KEEP COOL. THEY APPLIED WHITE MANGANESE AS POWDER BELOW THE EYES TO REDUCE GLARE OF THE SUN.

OLD MOHAVE WOMEN HAD USE OF PUMPKIN JUICE TO PREVENT WRINKLES AND PROTECT THEM FROM THE COLD. IT PEELED OFF. THE PAIPAI USED THE CHARRED BASE OF AGAVE (MESCAL HEART) TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE SUN. IT WAS GROUND INTO A POWDER.

DURING MENSTRUATION WOMEN WORE TANNED BUCKSKIN BREECHCLOTH WITH THE SKIRT. IT WAS HELD BY A MILKWEED BELT. WOMEN PUT ON A COILED BASKETRY CAP THAT CAME DOWN TO THE EYES WHEN THEY TOTED A PACK. CHILDREN ONLY WORE CLOTHES DURING THE COLD WEATHER. MEN DID NOT WEAR HATS.

MOHAVE MEN AND WOMEN WORE LOIN CLOTHES OF INNER BARK OF WILLOW. THEY STRIPPED BARK FROM THE TREES IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER.

LUISENO WOMEN MADE A BACK SKIRT OF INNER BARK OF WILLOW OR COTTONWOOD. IT HAD A FRONT PIECE AS WELL AS CORDED FIBER. COILED CAPS OF JUNCUS WERE WORN.

DIEGUENO MEN WORE NOTHING OR AN APRON OF WHITE SAGE TWIGS. WOMEN WORE TWO APRONS. THEY WORE RABBITSKIN BLANKETS IN THE WINTER.

KILIWA MEN WORE NOTHING IN SUMMER. WOMEN WORE APRONS OF DEER HIDE SOAKED IN WATER. MOST OF THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS WORE NO MOCCASINS, EXCEPT WHEN THEY WENT ON LONG TREKS. THEN THEY WORE SINGLE PIECE MOCCASINS. MUCH OF IT WAS TESTED FOR 1000'S OF YEARS AND WAS ANCIENT.

PAUL CAMPBEL

SOAPS OF THE INDIANS

CALIFORNIA INDIANS USED MANY SOAPS AND WERE EXPERTS AT GOOD GROOMING. THE WINTUN DAILY BATHED IN COLD WATER. THE YUROKS WASHED EACH MORNING IN A NEARBY CREEK AND DRIED IN THE SUN. THE FATHER BATHED FIRST.

IN THE SOUTHERN SIERRAS THEY BATHED FREQUENTLY IN SPRINGS AND STREAMS. A SPANISH EXPLORER NOTED 200 YEARS AGO THAT THE INDIANS WERE VERY GOOD LOOKING AND CLEAN. THEY BATHED EVERY LITTLE WHILE.

ETHNOGRAPHER E. VOEGELIN NOTED THAT THE TUBATULABEL WOMEN BRUSHED HAIR EVERY DAY. WITH SOAPROOT BRUSHES AND WASHED WITH THE BULB OF SOAPROOT. AS WELL AS CAHUILLA WHO MADE HAIRBRUSHES FROM ROOT. THE MAIDU ALSO USED IT AS SHAMPOO. ALSO IT WAS USED BY THE MAIDU. THE MIWOKS WASHED THEMSELVES AND HAIR DOWNSTREAM FROM THEIR VILLAGES WITH SOAP ROOT.

THE LUISENO GRATED THE ROOT FOR SOAP. THEY USED A WILD GOURD TO CLEAN THEIR CLOTHING. CAHUILLA CUT BOTH THE ROOT AND SQUASH INTO FINE PIECES TO USE AS HAND OR LAUNDRY SOAPS. MULES EAR LEAVES WERE BOILED TO USE FOR WOMEN'S HYGIENIC WASH. CAHUILLA GRATED YUCCA AS WELL FOR SOAP AND THEY USED IT FOR HAIR AS WELL. BABIE'S CLOTHES ARE WASHED TODAY USING THIS SOAP. IT HAD TO BE RINSED WELL!

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHUMASH MADE A SOAP OF FINE WHITE CLAY. THEY BEAT IT IN SOME WATER BOWL. THEY RUBBED IT INTO THEIR HAIR AND FACE AND THEN RINSED IT OFF INTO THE RIVER. THEY ALSO USED IT TO CLEAN THEIR CLOTHES. THEY KNEW SOLUTIONS FOR LICE AS WELL. CAHUILLA MADE INFUSION OF CREOSOTE BUSH TO WASH HAIR AND RID THEM OF DANDRUFF. ALSO USED IT AS DEODORANT. THEY USED WHITE SAGE FOR A HAIR WASH BY CRUSHING THE LEAVES WITH WATER. THEY ALSO WASHED THEIR HAIR. THE LEAVES WERE USED BY AS A DEODORANT TOO. THE MIWOK USED WHITE FIR LEAVES TO DISPELL BAD ODOR AND SWEAT.

THE PAIPAI OF SANTA CATERINA CLEANSED THEMSELVES AND HOME BY BURNING WHITE SAGE. IT WAS A SPIRITUAL CEREMONY. THEY ALSO USED IT TO CLEANSE THE DEAD.

PAUL CAMPBELL

CALIFORNIA NUTS EATEN

THE NUTS ARE RICH IN PROTEIN (30%), 10% CARBOHYDRATE, AND 50% FAT. HAZELNUTS ARE EATEN BY THE KAROK, YUKI, AND POMO ATE THESE IN SEASON AND STORED THEM IN BASKETS. GATHERED IN FALL AND WERE NOT GROUND.

CHINQUAPIN WAS CRACKED WITH THE TEETH AND EATEN WHEN FOUND, OR STORED. EATEN WITHOUT GRINDING. KASHAYA POMO ATE THEM RAW OR ROASTED SOMETIMES POUNDED INTO A MEAL OR STORED DURING WINTER.

PEPPERWOOD NUTS RIPENED IN NOVEMBER FOR THE POMO AND MIWOK. AND THEY COLLECTED THEM AS THEY SHOOK THE TREE. THE NUTS WERE DRIED IN THE SUN, THEN CRACKED. THE INNER NUTS WERE EATEN RAW AS THEY DID NOT STORE WELL. THE MIWOK ROASTED THEM IN ASHES BEFORE EATING THEM. OR THEY COULD STORE THE NUTS WITH SHELLS ON THE MEATSCOULD BE GROUNDINTO AN OILY MEAL, THEN MADE INTO FLAT CAKES. THEN DRIED IN THE SUN. THEY TASTED LIKE PEANUTS. THEY RIPENED IN NOVEMBER. THE POMO AND THE MIWOK COLLECTED THEM AS THEY RIPENED AND SHOOK THE TREE. THE NUTS DRIED IN THE SUN, THEN CRACKED THE HUSK. THE INNER NUTS WERE EATEN RAW BUT DID NOT STORE WELL. THE MIWOK ROASTED THEM IN ASHES BEFORE EATING THEM. OR THEY COULD STORE THE NUTS WITH SHELLS ON THEM. THE MEATS WERE GROUND INTO AN OILY MEAL, THEN MADE INTO FLAT CAKES. THEN DRIED IN THE SUN. TASTED LIKE PEANUTS AND EATEN WITH A GREEN OR ACORN MUSH OR A SEAWEED. THEY WERE EATEN ON LONG DISTANCE HIKES.

GREY PINE NUTS WERE GATHERED EARLY IN THE SPRING OR LATE IN THE FALL. THEY CLIMBED THE TREE TO TWIST OFF THE PINE CONES AND THEN BEAT THE NUTS OUT. THE NUTS WERE ROASTED AND BECAME SWEET. IN THE FALL THE NUTS WERE ROASTED AND BECAME SWEET. IN THE FALL THE NUTS WERE ROASTED. THE MAIDU COLLECTED 10 - 12 CONES AND SET THEM ABLAZE TO CRACK THE CONES OPEN. STONES WERE USED TO CRUSH THE STONES COMPLETELY OPEN. NUTS WERE BOILED THE KAROK PICKED THEM UP FROM THE GROUND AND ABRADED THE THE ENDS TO GET TO THE NUTS.

THE POMO GATHERED SUGAR PINE NUTS. THE MAIDU TRADED THEIR GREY PINE NUTS FOR SUGAR PINE. MEN CLIMBED THE TREES FOR SUGAR PINE CONE AND TWISTED OFF OR KNOCKED DOWN THE CONES. THE WOMEN GATHERED THEM INTO PILES AND SET THEM ON FIRE. AFTER THE CONES COOLED THEY STRUCK IT WITH A HEAVY STONE, SPLITTING THE CONES OPEN AND FREEING THE NUTS. PINE NUTS WERE CARRIED TO THE VILLAGE WITH A BURDEN BASKET YOKUTS PARCHED THEM AND THEY COULD BE POUNDED WITH A MORTAR AND ROLLED INTO BALLS. THE MIWOK GATHERED CONES AND MANY NORTH COAST RANGE INDIANS CLIMBED TREES TO GATHER NUTS BEFORE THEY FELL AND WERE EATEN BY SQUIRRELS. THEY WERE QUITE LARGE. SOMETIMES THE CONE WAS PLACED UPSIDE DOWN AND BANGED WITH A ROCK TO GET THE NUTS OUT. THE MIWOK WHO ATE THIS NUT HAD A SHAMAN TO PRESS AND BLOW UPON THEM. THEY WINNOWED NUTS IN A BASKET BY THE WIND. THEY PULVERIZED IT IN A MANNER THAT TURNED IT INTO A TYPE OF PEANUT BUTTER.

THE KAWAIISU ATE SUGAR PINE NUTS AND COLLECTED THE SUGAR SAP, DRY AND POWDERY AFTER IT HAD DRAINED FROM A HOLE IN THE TREE.

PONDEROSA PINE NUTS WERE INFREQUENTLY EATEN BY THE MIWOK. CONES DRIED IN THE SUN FOR NUTS IN OCTOBER AND WERE EATEN RAW.

PINON NUTS TREES WERE SCOUTED FOR BY MEN AND THE VILLAGERS FOLLOWED. THEY COLLECTED THEM IN AUGUST IN LOWER ELEVATIONS AND IN OCTOBER IN HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THEY WERE LEFT TO DRY IN A LARGE CONICAL BURDEN BASKET. THE KAWAIISU BELIEVED THE DARK SKINNED PERSON SHOULD SET THE FIRE. OLD PEOPLE TENDED THE FIRE AND ADDED FIRE. COVERED WITH DIRT SO STEAM SOFTENED THE CONES. THEY WERE WINNOWED FROM THE DIRT. THE SOUTHERNINDIANS GROUND NUTS WITH A BLACK SLAT AND GRINDING STONE. THE BASKET TRAY WINNOWED THE SHELLS FROM THE MEAT. WATER WAS ADDED TO MAKE A THIN MUSH. NUTS COULD BE BOILED LIKE BEANS.

IN FALL THE COCOPAH FAMILIES TRAVELLED FOR A WEEK TO REACH PINON NUT FORESTS ALONG COLE RIVER AND JOINED THE DIEGUENOS. THE MEN AND BOYS CARRIED WATER THERE AND HUNTED FOR THE VILLAGE. THEY WERE GROUND IN A MORTAR. THE DIEGUENO FOLKS STORE THESE NUTS IN A POT AND THE SHELLS ARE POPPED OPEN WHEN READY TO EAT.

PAUL CAMPBELL

SONOMA COUNTY FAIR

THIS FAIR IS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE SUMMER HERE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME TO HAVE FUN. I USUALLY LIKE WATCHING THE ANIMALS AND THE JUDGING OF GOATS, COWS, AND HORSE.

THE FAIR HAS SPECIAL EVENTS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED FOR MANY YEARS. THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO TRAIN CATS AND DOGS FOR PERFORMANCES, AS WELL AS JUGGLERS. OF COURSE THEY HAVE MANY RIDES FOR ADULTS AND KIDS. ONE OF THE FAIR'S MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IS THE HALL OF FLOWERS. IT IS DESIGNED BY MANY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS IN ORDER TOACHIEVE A THEME OF HISTORY. EACHBUSINESS USES LIVE TREES, FLOWERS AND GROUND COVER. IT IS BEAUTIFUL THE WAY THEY ARRANGE THIS! THEY ALSO HAVE A HALL OF ARTISTS WHO HAVE ENTERED THEIR DRAWINGS AND PAINTINGS AS WELL AS SCULPTURES. THEY HAVE SOME OF THE BEST ARTISTS ENTER HERE. THEN THERE IS ALSO A HALL FOR CHILDREN'S ARTISTIC CRAFTS AND PAINTINGS THAT ARE JUDGED. THEY ALSO HAVE HORSE RACES HERE. AND THEY HAVE A WAGON WITH CLYSDALE HORSES CARRY PEOPLE AROUND THE GROUNDS.

THEY HAVE MANY BANDS PLAY IN AN OUTDOOR THEATRE. AND MANY FOOD VENDORS. ONE HALL IS DEVOTED TO BUSINESSES WHO DEMONSTRATE THEIR GOODS AND APPLIANCES. THE THING I LOVE MOST IS THE PETTING ZOO, WHERE YOU CAN WALK INTO A SMALL FENCED IN AREA AND PET A LLAMA, DONKEY, PIG, GOATS, AND VARIOUS OTHER FARM ANIMALS AS WELL AS SOME BABY ANIMALS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

STORY TELLING IN MY FAMILY

OUR FAMILY VISITED MY MOM'S FAMILIES IN WISCONSIN WHEN WE WERE LITTLE MANY TIMES IN BOTH THE SUMMER AND DURING CHRISTMAS. WE TRAVELLED FROM OHIO. IT FELT LIKE A LONG TRIP OF 400 HUNDRED MILES. I REMEMBER STOPPING AT THE RESTAURANT OVERLOOKING THE MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING TO CHICAGO. IT WAS QUITE THE EVENT WHEN WE WERE KIDS. IT HAD MANY TRINKETS AND FUN ITEMS AS WELL AS SEVERAL RESTAURANTS AND VIEWS OF THE RACING CARS BELOW. WHEN IT WAS SNOWY IT WAS QUITE THE ADVENTURE IN OUR BIG OLD CAR./

MY AUNT AND UNCLE WHO LIVED ON A LAKE USED TO TELL US STORIES ABOUT HOW THEY BUILT THEIR OWN HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY. THEY ALSO USED TO TELL ME THAT THEY READ TO EACH OTHER AFTER THEIR SUPPER TO ENTERTAIN EACH OTHER. THEY HAD MANY STORIES ABOUT MY UNCLE'S LIFE IN THE MILITARY DURING WWII AND THEIR LIFE IN BANGKOK, THAILAND FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THEY WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE BUILT THEIR OWN HOUSE. IT TOOK 10 YEARS AS MY UNCLE ALSO WORKED FULL TIME. I THINK THEY ENJOYED THIS JOINT EFFORT WHICH GAVE THEM A HUGE GOAL. THEY STARTED OUT LIVING IN A SMALL COTTAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THEY BUILT A NICE TWO STORY HOME THAT HAS FURNITURE SHIPPED FROM BANGKOK AND A NEAT FIREPLACE WITH ARTIFACTS FROM THE ORIENT. MY AUNTS ARE GOOD COOKS MY UNCLE WAS VERY VERBAL AND HE USED TO RELATE STORIES ABOUT HOW HE FISHED ON THE LAKES THERE AND HIS CHILDHOOD, AND HOW HE KEPT IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF HIS OLD BUDDIES. THEIR CLOSENESS WAS EASY TO SEE AS WE WERE GUESTS THERE MANY TIMES.

MY OTHER AUNT AND UNCLE HAD FOUR CHILDREN AND WE STAYED WITH THEM AS WE SLEPT ON THEIR FLOOR FOR ABOUT A WEEK. RAISING THIS MANY CHILDREN WAS QUITE A FEAT, AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED RAISING ONE SON. THERE HOUSE WAS ALWAYS FILLED WITH A RUCKUS AND VERY LIVELY DURING THE HOLIDAYS. WE WENT TO CHURCH SOMETIMES WITH THEM. WE PLAYED A LOT WITH OUR COUSINS IN THE SNOW AND HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THEM VISITING. WE TOLD EACH OTHER ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING. AND OUR INTERESTS. WE ALL DEVELOPED SPECIAL SKILLS AS WE BECAME TEENS. THIS AUNT HAD A NEAT FAMILY ROOM DECORATED WITH NATIVE AMERICAN PICTURES AND ARTIFACTS, SAME WITH MY MOM WHEN SHE RETIRED.

THEY HAD A HUGE BASEMENT AND WE PLAYED PING PONG AND HIDE AND SEEK IN THEIR BASEMENT AND HAD A GREAT TIME.

I NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SIZE OF THE HOUSE LOTS IN WISCONSIN SUBURBS COMPARED TO THOSE IN OHIO. THEY WERE MUCH LARGER. THE DISTANCE TO DRIVE TO HOUSES WAS INCREDIBLE. MILWAUKEE WAS NOT ATTRACTIVE TO ME AS IT WAS INDUSTRIALIZED. MY MOM AND DAD MET THERE I GUESS MY DAD HAD WORKED AS A TASTER FOR ONE OF THE BREWERIES SHORTLY. THEY LATER MOVED TO OHIO.

BERRIES AND FRUIT

BERRIES WERE EATEN RAW WITH MEAT AND SOME WERE SUN DRIED. THEY WERE PACKED AWAY IN BASKETS AND COOKED IN ACORN CAKES. THE MAIDU MASHED AND POUNDED THEM INTO ROOTS AND MADE CAKES WRAPPED WITH LEAVES AND BAKED IN AN UNDERGROUND OVEN.

JUNIPER BERRIES, GOOSEBERRIES, BOX THORN AND ELDERBERRIES WERE COLLECTED IN CALIFORNIA.

MANZANITA BERRIES WERE OVER EATEN BY THE POMO. J. HUDSON REPORTED THIS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERAL DEATHS. THEY WERE COLLECTED IN JULY AND PUT INTO CARRYING BASKETS. THEY COULD BE EATEN RAW OR MORE LIKELY COOKED WITH HOT ROCKS; OR GROUND AFTER DRYING; AND MOLDED INTO CAKES AND DRIED IN THE SUN. BERRIED COULD BE DRIED AND USED IN PINOLE. THE POMOS ALSO MADE A WINE WITH THE BERRIES AS WELL AS A CIDER.

GOOSEBERRY - POMO AND MIWOK ATE THEM FRESH. THEY ATE THEM FROM APRIL TO AUGUST. THEY WERE DRIED IN THE SHADE AND LATER SOAKED TO RECONSTITUTE THEM.

SALMONBERRY WERE EATEN BY THE AND BEAR RIVER PEOPLE FRESH.


WILD STRAWBERRY WERE SPIRITUAL TO THE POMO.; THE WYOT, KAROK, SALINAN AND CAHUILLA, DIEGUENO, YUKI, AND BEAR RIVER PEOPLE LOVED THEM.

RASPBERRIES WERE EATEN FRESH AND DRIED BY THE POMO FOR WINTER.

THE KAROK ATE THIMBLEBERRY DIRECTLY BY PICKING THEM.

CALIFORNIA BLACKBERRY (RUBUS VITIFOLIUS) VS. THE LARGER NON NATIVE BERRIES WERE COLLECTED BY THE KAROK, HUPA, MIWOK, SALINIAN, LUISENO AND OTHERS. THEY ATE THEM FRESH OR DRIED THEM FOR WINTER.

ELDERBERRIES WERE EATEN FRESH OR DRIED. POMO AND ATSUGEWI MASHED THE BERRIES AND MIXED THEM WITH MANZANITA FLOUR.

YOKUTS DRIED A LARGE SWEET VARIETY ON ROCKS. YOKUTS WENT HIGHER INTO THE MOUNTAINS FOR PINE NUTS. MIWOK ALWAYS COOKED ELDERBERRY. CAHILLA ATE THEM FRESH OR DRIED THEM IN CLUSTERS OR BOILED THEM IN A RICH SAUCE.

RED HUCKLEBERRY WERE EATEN IN JULY AND AUGUST BY KAROK, POMO, AND BEAR RIVER PEOPLE. THE KAROK WAITED UNTIL FALL FOR THE HUCKLEBERRIES TO BE PICKED AFTER A FROST. THIS MADE THEM SWEETER.

MADRONE BERRIES WERE ROASTED LIKE PEPPERNUTS AND PARCHED FOR THE WINTER. THE HUPA SHOOK THEM IN A BASKET WITH HOT ROCKS. THE MIWOK TREATED THEM AS HIGH GRADE MANZANITA AND MADE CIDER. KAROK STEAMED THEM. SOMETIMES THEY WERE MIXED WITH MANZANITA BERRIES.

TOYON WERE EATEN RAW OR ROASTED OVER COALS OR PARCHED IN A BASKETS BY THE POMO AND HUPA. THE LATTER CALLED THEM "LITTLE MADRONE BERRIES". THE KAROK PUT THEM ON A BASKET PLATE FACING THE FIRE AND THEN BAKED THEM IN AN EARTHEN OVEN FOR 2 - 3 HOURS. THE BERRIES WERE EATEN IN A PINOLE AS WELL. THE MOWOK BOILED THEM AND BAKED THEM IN A DEEP NARROW EARTH OVEN FOR 2 - 3 DAYS. THEY WERE EATEN WITH PINOLE SEED MEAL.

JUNIPER BERRIES WERE EATEN FRESH BY THE POMO AND ATSUGEWI. THE LATTER DRIED THEM AS DID MANY TRIBES IN THE SOUTHWEST. THE BERRIES RIPENED IN AUGUST AND THEY WERE KNOCKED FROM TREES INTO A BUCKET OR GATHERED FROM THE GROUND. THE PULP WAS POUNDED IN MORTARS AND MIXED WITH WATER AND FORMED INTO A CAKE, THEN DRIED HARD TAKING 4 - 5 DAYS.

WILD ROSE HIPS WERE EATEN BY THE POMO. THE CAHUILA PICKED BUDS BEFORE BLOSSOMING AND ATE THEM. SOAKED THEM IN WATER FOR A BEVERAGE. ALSO THE KASHAYO POMO ATE THESE AS WELL AS WOOD ROSE BUDS.

MANY VARIETIES OF PRICKLY PEAR FRUIT WERE EATEN RAW OR PRESERVED. THE MOHAVE AND COCOPAH ATE TUNAS AND ROLLED THEM ON THE GROUND TO REMOVE SPINES. SAN ISABELLA ATE THE RAW FRUIT OF THIS CACTUS. THEY ALSO DRIED THE PULP.

PAUL CAMPBELL

CALIFORNIA PREHISTORIC INDIAN FOODS

IN THE SPRING MEN SWAM TO COLLECT TULE AND CATTAIL SHOOTS WHEN YOUNG. THEY SOMETIMES WRAPPED 10' LONG ROOTS AND ATE SOME FRESH WHEN AT THE LAKE SHORE AFTER PEELING THEM. THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA ALL ATE THESE ROOTS. THEY DRIED ROOTS AND GROUND THEM ADDING WATER TO MAKE A MUSH. THE CAHUILLA IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GROUND TULE ROOTS INTO FLOUR AND ATE THE SEEDS RAW, OR MADE THEM INTO MUSH. THEY MADE CAKES OF TULE POLLEN A TEDIOUS PROCESS. THIS SWEETENED OTHER FOODS. CURLY DOCK STEM WAS CHEWED CHEWED AS CANDY.

THE KAROK ATE YOUNG UMBRELLA SEDGE SHOOTS RAW. NATIVE PEAS WERE EATEN GREEN IN SPRING. SANICLE YOUNG GREENS WERE EATEN WHEN YOUNG. THE ROOT WAS USED MEDICINALLY FOR TREATING NERVOUS DISORDERS AND DIAHRREA.

THE FRESH SHOOTS OF NARROW LEAF MULES EARS WERE EATEN RAW.

THE YUKI ATE THE ROOTS OF SHOOTING STAR AFTER ROASTING THEM AND PUT THE LEAVES IN ASHES TO EAT.

THE LOMATIUM ROOTS AND LEAVES WERE EATEN RAW AND PROVIDED A HIGH AMOUNT OF VITAMIN C! IT WAS USED BY PIONEERS IN ARIZONA TO HELP HEAL THEM OF A PANDEMIC FLU IN THE
30'S.

THE LEAVES AND STEMS OF SORREL, A SPINACH LIKE GREEN, WERE SOUR BUT CHEWED.

MINER'S LETTUCE STEMS AND LEAVES AND BLOSSOMS WERE EATEN FRESH BUT WERE BEST STEAMED.

ANGELICA WAS A COMMON MEDICINAL ROOT FOR CURING BLOOD DISEASES AND SNAKEBITE. THEY ATE THE YOUNG SHOOTS AS GREENS.

WILD CARROT LEAVES, A TYPE OF LOMATIUM, WAS EATEN WHEN YOUNG. WILD ONION WAS EATEN RAW AND THE BULBS AND TOPS WERE EATEN LIKE A SALAD. SEEDS WERE ALSO EATEN LIKE A SALAD. THE SEEDS WERE ALSO EATEN.

TICKSEED COREOPSIS WAS CUT AT THE BASE BEFORE BLOOMING IN SPRING. THE LEAVES WERE RUBBED AND BRUISED BETWEEN THE HANDS AND EATEN WITH SALT.

THE INDIANS BROKE THE STEM OF MILKWEED AND ATE IT FRESH AND COLLECTED THE MILK. IT WAS HEATED AND USED AS A CHEWING GUM. PEOPLE USED IT AT WORLD RENEWAL CEREMONIES.

CALIFORNIA POPPY LEAVES WERE BOILED AS GREENS AND THREW AWAY THE WATER.

ERIOGONUM WAS EATEN RAW AND THEY DRIED THEY DRIED THE FLOWERS AND ATE THEM RAW.

HEUCHERA LEAVES WERE EATEN BY BOILING THEM OR STEAMING THEM IN AN EARTHERN OVEN.
LUPINE WAS STRIPPED OF FLOWERS AND LEAVES AND STEAMED IN THE SPRING IN AN EARTH OVEN.

MUSK MONKEY FLOWER AS A YOUNG PLANT WAS BOILED AND EATENBY THE MIWOK. MARIPOSA OR DESERT LILY BULBS WERE GATHERED IN MAY TO AUGUST AND THEY ATE THEM RAW OR BAKED THEM FOR 12 TO 24 HOURS IN A STONE LINED PIT. THE BULBS COULD BE EATEN RAW OR COOKED ON ASHES AND COVERED. IN SPRING THESE BULBS TASTED BEST.

BRACKEN FERN LEAVES AND TENDER STEMS WERE EATEN BY THE ATSUGEWI. KASKAYA POMO USED THE JUICE OF FRONDS AS A DEORDORANT.

ATSUGEWI GATHERED AND COOKED MOSS FROM STREAMS.

THE YUMAN'S ATE BLACK WILLOW AND THE BARK WAS CHEWED RAW OR COOKED IN ASHES. LEAVES OR TWIGS HAVE AN ASPIRIN LIKE QUALITY AND WERE USED AS TEA.

CURLY DOCK HAS YOUNG GREENS WHICH WERE PICKED INTHE SPRING AND EATEN AS LETTUCE BY THE POMO. THEY COLLECTED THE SEEDS IN THE FALL FOR OTHER FOOD USES. THE MOHAVE BOILED LEAVES AND ATE THEM AS GREENS.

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE. THEY HAD A SPECIAL REVEREND WHO HAD SORT OF A SAD FACE ON HIM. THE OTHER REVERAND WHO SHARED HIS OFFICE HAD DIED LAST WEEK. HE DECIDED TO GO ON HIS FIRST VISION QYEST. HE WENT TO THE A RIDETOP (INSTRUCTED BY GUIDES) ALONE IN THE LOS PADREAS MOUNTAINS. HE BROUGHT ONLY A TARP, SOME WATER, AND SOME BUG SPRAY. HE SAID HE GOT A TICK ON HIS LEG AND SPRAYED IT WITH INSECT REPELLANT. THEY WARNED HIM ABOUT THE BEARS AND MT. LION WHICH DID NOT BOTHER HIM. AT THAT RIDGE HE WAS WITHOUT ANY DISTRACTIONS. DURING A VISION QUEST YOU GET REAL CLEAR WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT IS YOUR PRIORITY. YOUR THOUGHTS ARE MORE CLEAR AS THERE ARE NO CELL PHONES, TV'S, OR CROUDS. YOU CONCENTRATE ON WHAT IS POSITIVE FOR YOU. A PERSON USUALLY FASTS AS WELL. THE LESSON HE PASSED ALONG TO US WAS THAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING IF YOU TRY. GOD IS EVERYWHERE.

25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

THIS WEEKEND I ENJOYED VIEWING A PLAY PRODUCED BY THE JUNIOR COLLEGE HERE. IT WAS A COMEDY. THE ACTORS WERE ALL DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES AND THEY CHOSE FOUR PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE TO JOIN THEM IN A SPELLING BEE. IT WAS A FUN AND INTERESTING PLAY WHERE THEY HAD A TWO TEACHERS ASK THE STUDENTS TO SPELL SOME STRANGE WORDS. SOME OF THE STUDENTS KNEW EVERY WORD. ONE GUY WROTE OUT THE WORD BY SPELLING IT WITH HIS FOOT ON THE STAGE! IT WAS QUITE FUNNY. AND OF COURSE THE FOLKS FROM THE AUDIENCE HAD FUN TOO. THE ACTORS DANCED AND SANG SOME OF THE TIME AS WELL. IT WAS A CLEVER PLAY APPARENTLY WRITTEN IN THE 90'S. THERE WAS AN ORCHESTRA AS WELL. THEY JOINED IN A CHOIR TO SING AT TIMES AND WENT UP AND DOWN THE AILSES TO ENTERTAIN US. THE ACTORS WERE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. ONCE THEY MISSPELLED A WORD THE SPELLERS SUNG "GOODBYE" MANY TIMES AS THEY DROPPED OUT. AND OF COURSE THE FOLKS FROM THE AUDIENCE DROPPED OUT FIRST. THE FELLA WHO TAPPED OUT HI SWORD WITH HIS FOOT WON AND WAS GIVEN A LARGE TROPHY.

KASHAYA POMO FOODS

THESE POMO EXPLAIN TO THE CREATOR WHY THEY ARE TAKING PLANTS AND THEY SING A SONG TO CALM THE EARTH SPIRIT. A MENSTRUATING WOMAN NEVER COLLECTS PLANTS. THEY WERE CLOSE TO THE COAST AND COLLECTED SEAWEED TO BAKE OR CHEWED IT RAW. THEY GATHERED ABALONE, CLAMS, SEAWEED, AND STARFLOWER. THE LATTER WAS EATEN RAW OR BAKED, OR FORMED INTO CAKES AND BAKED A FOOT IN DIAMETER.

BULL KELP WAS GATHERED IN SUMMER AND FALL. THEY COOKED PART OF THE STALK OR PARTIALLY DRIED IT UNTIL PIECES WERE LIMP. PIECES WERE USED AS CORDAGE.

SEA PALM STEM WAS CHEWED FRESH. LONG PIECES OF STEM DRIED IN THE SUN FOR WINTER. SEA LETTUCE WAS LIKE A LETTUCE WITH A PEPPERY TASTE AND THEY ADDED FLAVORING TO IT.

THE INTRODUCED ICE PLANT HAD A FRUIT THAT WAS EATEN RAW.

THE POMO LOVED MANY VARIETIES OF FRESH CLOVER. THEY FILLED THEIR BURDEN BASKETS AND CARRIED THEM TO THE VILLAGE. THEY CUT THEM 6 INCHES LONG WITH THE FLOWER HEADS. BARRETT SAID THEY'D EAT 1 1/2 INCHES OF THE HEADS AND THROW THE REST AWAY.. THEY GOT BLOATED AFTER EATING TOO MUCH. THE YUKI ATE THE FRESH GREEN PART OF CLOVER BEFORE IT FLOWERED. THEY HAD A CLOVER DANCE CEREMONY BEFORE COLLECTING IT. IT WAS THEIR FIRST GREEN CROP PICKED IN THE SPRING. SEED PODS WERE ALSO EATEN RAW. THE ATSEGEWI BAKED CLOVER TOPS AND ROOTS IN AN EARTHEN OVEN.

MIWOK BAKED AND STEAMED VEGIS, GREY MULES EARS, WILD GRAPE LEAVES AND GREEN TULE USED FOR BAKING. OTHER FOOD WAS LAYERED WITH THESE GREENS AND BAKED FOR 24 HOURS AND KEPT THERE TILL READY TO EAT.

OR GREENS COULD BE DRIED IN SUN AND RECONSTRUCTED WITH WATER.

KASHAYA POMO PLANT USES

ANGELICA ROOT WAS CHEWED RAW. AFTER THE PLANT LEAFS OUT THE GREENS ARE NOT EATEN. SHAMANS SMOKE SHAVINGS FROM THE ROOT WHEN DOCTORING. WHEN SINGING THEY HELD A PIECE OF ROOTS IN THEIR MOUTHS. THE ROOT WAS CARRIED FOR PROTECTION FOR SNAKE BITES AND FROM EVIL SPIRITS.

BLACKBERRY TEA (RUBIS URSINUS)WAS USED FOR STOPPING DIARRHEA.

BRODIAEA CORM WAS BAKED IN HOT ASHES AS POTATOES. BLUE DICKS AND HARVEST LILY CORMS WERE BAKED IN HOT ASHES OR BOILED LIKE POTATOES. BUCKEYE ARE PUT IN BOILING WATER TO LOOSEN THE HUSK. NUT MEAT IS RETURNED TO BOILING.

OLDER METHOD IS TO PEEL NUTS AND ROAST THEM IN ASHES UNTIL THEY ARE SOFT. THEN THEY CRUSHED THEM AND LEACHED THE ACORNS.

BULRUSH IS A ROOT THAT WAS USED FOR BASKETS. THEY BURIED THE ROOT UNTIL IT TURNED BLACK. ALSO EATEN WERE BUNGRASS, WILD CUCUMBER, ELDERBERRIES, AND ROOTS.

BRACKEN FERN ROOT WAS POUNDED AND USED FOR BASKET DESIGN. THEY ALSO ATE TARWEED AND MANZANITA BERRIES FOR PINOLE.

THEY USED YERBA BUENA TEA TO PURIFY THEIR BLOOD, AND IT MAKES YOU SLEEPY. YARROW JUICE WAS PUT ON SORES.

GIFFORD 1965

KASHAYA POMO FOODS

SEEDS OF WEHILL GRASS WERE COLLECTED WITH A BASKETRY SEED BEATER AND A BURDEN BASKET. THEY WERE PARCHED WITH COALS IN A PARCHING BASKET SO THE HULLS CAME OFF. THEY WERE THEN WINNOWED IN ANOTHER BASKET AND EATEN DRIED.

YERBA BUENA WAS CHEWED FOR STOMACH TROUBLE - THE LEAVES ARE CHEWED AND ARE BITTER, BUT AFTER USING MORE THAN ONCE THE TASTE THE TASTE IS OK.

WILD POTATOES WERE COOKED IN COALS WITH ASHES IN AN UNDERGROUND PIT LINED WITH HOT ROCKS AND THE BULBS WERE COVERED WITH HOT ROCKS AS WELL. THEY WERE LATER REMOVED BY SHAKING BULBS IN AN OPEN WINNOWING BASKET. THIS OVEN WAS USED ONLY FOR THIS PURPOSE.

ANIMAL MEAT WAS DRIED OR SMOKED FOR PRESERVATION ON A HIGH PLATFORM. FISH WERE BROILED IN COALS. SURF FISH, BULLHEAD, KELP FISH, ROCK COD, MUSSELS,ABALONES, AND CHITONS.

MUSSELS AND OTHER SHELLFISH WERE PLACED ON HOT COALS AND THEN DRIED. NOT MUCH ABALONE WAS TAKEN INLAND AREAS. SALMON WERE CAUGHT WITH HARPOONS. TROUT WAS CAUGHT WITH TWINED BASKETS.


GIFFORD 1965

PETER PAN THEATER PLAY

LAST NIGHT I WENT TO THE PLAY CALLED PETER PAN AT THE SRJC REP THEATER. IT WASREALLY FUN AND HAD ALL KINDS OF ACTION! PETER PAN WAS AN ACROBAT AND HR TAUGHT THE DARLING KIDS HOW TO FLY. TINKER BELL WAS DRESSED IN ALL BLACK AND HAD A SHINING LIGHT. HE INTERPRETED WHAT SHE WAS SAYING TO THE AUDIENCE. THE SET HAD LONG NYLON DRAPES THAT THEY USED TO SWING AND DO ACROBATICS ON! IT WAS REAL CLEVER HOW THEY SET THE STAGE.

THEY HAD LADIES DRESSED AS PIRATES, ONE WITH A CLAW HAND AND THEY FOUGHT WITH THE FAMILY AND PETER PAN. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER DANCERS DRESSED IN COSTUMES OF RAGS WHO INTERACTED WITH PETER PAN AND BECAME SHAWDOWS. THE PROPS WERE VERY CLEVER. THE ACTORS COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES AND PLAY HERE DURING THE SUMMER. I DID NOT QUITE UNDERSTAND THEIR PRESENTATION AS THEY USED PHASES THAT WERE VERY SHORT AND SUBTLE. SOME OF THE ACTORS DID NOT SPEAK LOUD. OVERALL WE ENJOYED THE SHOW, AND THEIR WERE MANY CHILDREN THERE.

INDIAN BREAKFAST AND WAYS OF EATING

SOME OF THE INDIANS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GATHERED EMORY OAK ACORNS AND ATE THEM WITHOUT LEACHING (INCREDIBLE)! THESE ARE SAN DIEGUENO INDIANS WHO LIVE IN THE SIERRA JUAREZ HIGH MOUNTAINS. THEY ARE COLLECTED WHEN THEY ARE RIPE AND HAVE FALLEN FROM THE TREE. THEY COLLECT AND THEM FOR YEARS. A WOMAN TAKES ACORNS FROM ONE YEAR AGO.
THEY BITE A CIRCULAR CUT AROUND THE ACORN TO OPEN IT. THEY ATE THEM IN QUANTITIES LIKE THIS.

THEY PREPARE SWEET ACORN MUSH BY POUNDING WITH MORTAR AND PESTLE. THE WOMEN USE ANCIENT GRINDING STONES FROM 8000 YEARS AGO. IN THIS AREA THEY CRACK THE SHELL. THEN THE MEAL IS POUNDED AND SOME OF THE BROKEN SHELLS HAVE TO BE RUBBED OUT OF THE MEAL WITH THEIR HANDS. THEY WINNOW THE FINE MEAL BY TOSSING IT IN THE AIR AND THEY POUR THE CLEANED MIXTURE ONTO MILLING STONE AGAIN. IN THIS AREA THEY COOK THE ACORN MUSH IN A CLAY POT. SOME PEOPLE EAT THIS WITH THEIR HANDS. BUT HERE THEY ALSO MAKE WOODEN STIRRING SPOON AND PADDLES THEY BOIL VENISON AND EAT IT WITH ACORN MUSH FOR BREAKFAST AND SUPPER. THE MUSH IS BOILED FOR 30 MINUTES AND IS A RICH SWEET NUTTY SOUP. THE AUTHOR ATE TWO BOWLS AND WAS CONTENT.

SOME OF THESE TRIBES ONLY ATE TWO MEALS A DAY! THEY DID SOME TASKS IN THE MORNING BEFORE THEIR BREAKFAST OF ACORN MUSH AND MEAT. AFTER BREAKFAST THEY RESTED AND THEN HAD THEIR SUPPER AROUND SUNSET - ACORN MUSH AND MEAT AND THEN GATHERED TOGETHER TO TELL STORIES (SOMETIMES AROUND A CAMPFIRE).

THE TUBATULABAL WHO LIVED ALONG THE KERN RIVER ALSO ATE ONLY TWO MEALS. THEIR CHILDREN COULD EAT ANYTIME THEY WANTED. IN WINTER THEY ATE ACORNS, PINONS, MEAT OF ANY SORT, DRIED AND FRESH FISH. THE WOMEN WHO GATHERED SEEDS BROUGHT LUNCH WITH THEM AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY ATE AROUND 11 IN THE MORNING.


PAUL CAMPBELL

THE POMO BASKETS

THE POMO MADE BOTH TWINED AND COILED BASKETS AND THEY ARE KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR THEIR EXCELLENT CREATION OF COILED BASKETRY. THEY USED SPLIT REDBUD FOR THEIR TWINED BASKETS TO WEAVE INTRICATE PATTERNS. THE REDBUD WAS CUT IN OCTOBER SO THE BARK WOULD ADHERE. THEY MADE CONICAL BASKETS FOR ACORN COLLECTION.

THEY MADE SMALL BASKETS INTO DRINKING CUPS. THE BASKETS WERE MADE BY WILLOW STEMS. HAZELNUT WERE SIZED USING OBSIDIAN KNIVES. WEFTS USED FOR TWINED BASKETS CAME FROM GRAY PINE, WILLOW ROOT, BULRUSH, OR SEDGE ROOT. ALL MATERIALS WERE KEPT WET WHILE WORKING A BASKET. THEY WERE STORED AND THEN THE ROOTS WERE SOAKED FOR 15 MINUTES BEFORE WEAVING. ELSIE ALLEN'S BOOK ON HOW THE POMO WOVE THEIR BASKETS REMAINS A GOOD SOURCE FOR LEARNING THE DETAILS OF BASKET MAKING. ONE OR THREE RODS FORMED THE FOUNDATION OF THE BASKET AND IT SPIRALED OUTWARD USING SEDGEROOT TO COIL AROUND THE WILLOW. ELSIE BROKE FROM TRADITION IN ORDER TO LET OTHER NON POMO KNOW ABOUT THE TECHNIQUES USED FOR BASKET MAKING.

IF YOU LOOK IN THE LIBRARIES YOU CAN FIND A NUMBER OF DISSERTATIONS ON BASKET MAKING. IT IS A VERY INTERESTING TOPIC.

SOAPROOT BRUSHES

MANY CALIFORNIAN TRIBES HAD SOAPROOT IN THEIR TERRITORIES. HOWEVER MANY AREAS HAD MORE THAN OTHERS. HERE IN SONOMA COUNTY WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF SOAPROOT. THE POMO AND OTHER NORTHERN TRIBES MADE BRUSHES OUT OF THE HAIR OF BETWEEN 3 TO 5 SOAPROOT BULBS. BARRETT AND GIFFORD STUDIED THESE TRIBES IN 1906 AND NOTED THAT THE HAIRS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE BULB AND AT ONE END THEY USED THE GLUE LIKE JUICE OF THE BULB TO BIND THE HAIRS TOGETHER. THESE BRUSHES WERE USED TO CLEAN BASKETS, GROOMING HAIR, CLEANING THEIR FLOORS, AND TO CLEAN METATES.

THE CHUMASH COATED THE HANDLE WITH ASPHALTUM. THEY USED AN OAK BRAND TO BURN THE BRISTLES SO THEY WOULD BE EVEN. SOME TRIBES USED MILKWEED FIBER TO TIE THE HAIRS TOGETHER AND THEN COVERED THE HANDLE WITH THE PULP OF THE BULB SOME TRIBES MADE THESE BRUSHES FROM 2 INCHES TO 1 FOOT WIDE. THE YOKUTS WENT TO DIG THE BULBS IN JULY. THE BULBS WERE PUT ON A BED OF HOT COALS IN AN UNDERGROUND OVEN ROASTED AT LEAST A HALF DAY LONG. A SOAPY SUBSTANCE WAS CHEWED AFTER REMOVING THE ONION-LIKE COVER. IT TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO DRY THE BRUSH HANDLE COMPLETELY. OTHER TRIBES DUG THE BULBS IN SPRING WHEN THE PLANT WAS GREEN.

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

FOR YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE. I HEARD ART LINKLETTER SAY THIS AS WELL WHEN MY MOM WAS TAKING CARE OF US AS CHILDREN. WE USED TO LAUGH SO MUCH AT RECESS AND AFTER SCHOOL THAT WE CRIED. HAVE YOU EVER DONE THIS?
YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A GOOD JOB WHEN YOU CAN LAUGH WITH YOUR CO-WORKERS AND ENJOY IT AS PLAY VS. WORK. LAUGHTER IS A POWERFUL MOOD CHANGER, IT REDUCES ILLNESS, AND CAN HEAL YOU FROM DEPRESSION. IT ADDS TO YOUR ENERGY LEVEL AND INCREASES YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE BY RELEASING FEEL GOOD HORMONES WHICH DIMINISH PAIN.

ACTUALLY LAUGHTER BURNS 50 CALORIES DURING 10 MINUTES SAYS DR. LAURA POLAK. ANOTHER RESEARCHER FOUND THAT 10 MINUTES OF LAUGHTER EQUALS 40 MINUTES ON A ROWING.

IT REDUCES THE LEVEL OF STRESS HORMONES- CORTISOL, ADRENALINE, AND DOPAMINE. AND IT INCREASES THE LEVEL OF HEALTH ENHANCING HORMONES LIKE NEUROTRANSMITTERS.

IT INCREASES THE NUMBER OF ANTI-BODY PRODUCING CELLS AND ENHANCES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF T CELLS. IT MEANS YOU HAVE FEWER PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF STRESS.

HOW TO FOSTER YOUR FUNNY BONE - GO HAVE LUNCH WITH A GOOD FRIEND; CHAT ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE ABOUT A FUNNY STORY; PLAY WITH A KID; SING OR DANCE OR PLAY; DO SOMETHING FUNNY, ETC. LAUGHTER IS CONTAGIOUS AND CAN SPREAD LIKE FIRE IN A GROUP.. MAKE SOMEONE HAPPY TODAY BY GIVING THEM A FUNNY STORY.

FUNGI THAT HEAL DISEASES

PAUL STAMETS FROM OHIO WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN MUSHROOMS. I HEARD HIM SPEAK AT OUR LSRGE CONFERENCE HERE CALLED BIONEERS. HE BECAME SERIOUS ABOUT THEM WHEN HE WAS IN COLLEGE AND GRADUATED FROM THE EVERGREEN STATE COLLEGE IN OLYMPIA. HE STARTED HIS OWN COMPANY WHICH IS NOW WELL KNOWN AS IT RESEARCHES THE WAY A LARGE FUNGUS CALLED AGRARIKON. IT IS VERY ACTIVE AGAINST A RARE TYPE OF TB THAT IS RESISTANT TO ANY OTHER DRUGS KNOWN! IT ALSO IS RESISTANT TO MANY FLU VIRUSES, INCLUDING BIRD FLU. HE HAS BUILT AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF WILD MUSHROOM CULTURES FROM THE FORESTS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.

HE TESTED OYSTER MUSHROOMS TO RESTORE A DIESEL SOAKED PATCH OF SOIL. IT BROKE DOWN 95% OF THIS OIL! IT WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE GOOD AT BREAKING DOWN AN ILLEGAL CHEMICAL WEAPON. HIS DISCOVERIES STILL MARVEL THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY AS HIS MUSHROOM HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL AS WELL AS MEDICAL PROBLEMS.

I WAS TRUELY AMAZED AT HIS PRESENTATIONS AND I KNOW THERE IS HOPE FOR CLEANING UP OUR CHEMICAL DUMPS, ETC.

MIWOK AND POMO BUCKEYE LEACHING

THE COAST MIWOK ATE BUCKEYES WHEN THE ACORNS WERE FEW.E COLLECTED WHEN THEY HADFALLEN ON THE GROUND.AND THEY WERE STORED UNTIL NEXT AUTUMN. THEY HAD TO BE ROASTED FIRST IN ASHES OR BOILED. THEN THEY BROKE THEIR HUSK WITH THEIR TEETH. THEY MASHED THEM BY HAND IN A BASKET OF WATER. THE MIXTURE WAS POURED THROUGH A STRAINED BASKET TO REMOVE THE COURSER MATERIAL. THIS BUCKEYE MIXTURE WAS SET IN WATER IN ORDER TO BE EATEN IN 18 HOURS. THEY THEN ATE THE MEAL WITH WATER.

ANOTHER METHOD OF PREPARING BUCKEYES WAS TO REMOVE THE OUTER COATING AND THE BROWNISH INNER SKIN WERE REMOVED. THE WHITE MEAT OF THE NUTS WERE BOILED IN A BASKET WITH ROCKS. THEY BECAME MEALY AND WERE GROUND INTO FLOUR. THEY FORMED THIS INTO BALLS AND IT WAS PLACED IN A CREEK IN A TULE BASKET AND THE WATER LEACHED OUT THE TANNIC ACID.

OR THE BUCKEYE MEAL COULD BE FORMED INTO A BREAD THAT WAS BAKED IN UNDERGROUND OVENS LINED WITH HOT ROCKS AND. THE BUCKEYE WAS SURROUNDED WITH A LAYER OF GRASS OR SOAPROOT LEAVES, AND IT WAS BAKED FOR 5 HOURS.

THE POMO SOAKED VALLEY OAK ACORNS IN RUNNING WATER AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE SOFT AND SWEET, WITHOUT FURTHER PROCESSING (?). A DELICACY WAS MADE CALLED MUSH ACORN BY SOAKING THE ACORNS IN WHOLE RUNNING WATER FOR TWO WEEKS, AFTER WHICH THE BREAD WAS BAKED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. IT WAS SAID TO BE AS SWEET AS CANDY.


PAUL CAMPBELL

POMO TOOL AND FOODS EATEN

ACCORDING TO SAMUEL BARRETT (1965) THE POMO USED A DIGGING STICK MADE FROM MOUNTAIN MAHOGANY ABOUT A METER LONG AND 2 CM THICK. THE BOTTOM WAS SHARPENED FOR DIGGING ROOTS AND TUBERS. IT WAS MAINLY USED BY WOMEN.

THESE FOODS PROVIDED THE POMO OF A SUPERABUNDANCE OF FOOD. MANY OF THE ROOTS WERE EATEN RAW WHILE OTHERS WERE COOKED IN ASHES AND COALS OF THE FIRE, AND SEPARATED FROM THE ASHES

AS A GENERAL UTILITY IMPLEMENT, THE DIGGING STICK WAS USED TO DIG TUBERS, ROOTS, BULBS, AND CORMS AND THEY WERE PLENTIFUL.

INDIAN TRAVEL

THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS IS THAT THEY TRAVELED BY FOOT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SEND MESSAGES TO NEARBY TRIBES WITH RUNNERS WHO HAD GOOD MEMORIES.
THEY TRAVELED FOR RESOURCES, MEETING OTHER TRIBES, AND THEY LOVED TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. IT IS INCREDIBLE TO THINK THAT SOME FOLKS COVERED NEARLT 100 MILES PER DAY! THEY WOULD RUN OFTEN WITHOUT FOOD. AND THE KEPT WATER IN SPECIAL TIGHTLY WOVEN BASKETS UNDERGROUND SO THEY COULD KEEP HYDRATED. THEY KNEW EVERY FEATURE OF THEIR LANDSCAPE AND DETERMINED WHERE EACH SPRING AND STREAM WENT AND HOW MUCH WATER THEY COULD FIND IN THE DESERT.

THEY HAD MAPS IN THEIR HEADS...AS STEPHEN POWERS WROTE " IT IS WONDERFUL HOW THESE INDIANS (WAILAKI) HAVE ALL THE FOREST AND PLAIN MAPPED OUT ON THE TABLET OF THEIR MEMORY. THERE IS SCARCELY A BOULDER,GULCH, PROMINENT TREE,SPRING, KNOLL, GLADE, CHAMP OF BUSHES, CAVE OR BIT OF PRAIRIE WITHIN A RADIUS OF TEN MILESWHICH IS NOT PERFECTLY FAMILIAR.. HE WILL CONDUCT YOU TO THE DESIRED PLACE WITH THE ABSOLUTE INFALLIBILITY OF THE SUN'S RAYS IN FINDING OUT THE HIDDEN CORNERS OF THE EARTH."

KASHAYA POMO PLANTS

ANGELICA ROOT WAS CHEWED RAW. APPARENTLY THE GREENS ARE EATEN BEFORE THE PLANT LEAFS OUT. SHAMANS SMOKED SHAVINGS FROM THE ROOT WHEN DOCTORING. WHEN SINGING THEY HELD A PIECE OF ROOT IN THEIR MOUTHS. THE ROOT WAS CARRIED FOR PROTEIN.

BLACKBERRY (RUBUS URSINUS) TEA WAS USED FOR STOPPING DIARRHEA.

BRODIAEA CORM BAKED IN HOT ASHED FOR POTATOES. THE BLUE DICK CORM OR ROOT WAS EATEN. THE HARVEST LILY CORM WAS BAKED IN HOT ASHES OR BOILED - EATEN LIKE POTATOES.

BUCKEYE ARE PUT IN BOILING WATER TO LOOSEN THE HUSK. THAT IS REMOVED TO BOILING WATER. OLDER METHOD IS TO PEEL NUTS AND ROAST THEM IN ASHES UNTIL THEY ARE SOFT. THEN CRUSHED AND LEACHED LIKE ACORNS. BULRUSH ROOT WAS USED FOR BASKETS. THEY BURIED THE ROOT UNTIL IT WAS BLACK. THEY ALSO ATE BUNGRASS, WILD CUCUMBER, ELDERBERRY, OTHER BERRIES, MANZANITA BERRIES, AND TARWEED SEEDS THEY USED BRACKEN FERN ROOT FOR THEIR BASKET DESIGN. YERBA BUENA TEA PURIFIED THE BLOOD AND IT MAKES YOU SLEEPY. YARROW JUICE WAS PUT ON SORES.

GIFFORD 1965

COAST YUKI FOODS

THE COAST YUKI AND KASHAYA POMO WERE LOCATED IN MENDOCINO AND ATE ACORNS, SALMON, MUSSELS, AND GRASS SEEDS. SALMON WERE HARPOONED AND SURF FISH WERE CAOGHT WITH A 4 FOOT NET. EELS WERE CAUGHT AT NIGHT; DEER AND ELK WERE HUNTED.

THEY GATHERED SALT AND MUSSELLS AT MUSSELL ROCK. ACORNS WERE STORED ON TOP OF THE HOUSE AND COVERED WITH REDWOOD BARK - WHOLE OR HULLED. ACORNS WERE STORED IN ACORN BASKETS AND WERE COVERED WITH FERNS AND LASHED.

MOLDY ACORNS WERE HULLED AND PUT IN A BASKET, BURIED IN MOIST GROUND FOR 2 - 4 WEEKS UNTIL MOLDY. THEY WERE SOAKED IN RUNNING WATER FOR 2 - 5 DAYS IN A BASKET. THIS REMOVED MOLD AND BITTERNESS. POUNDED OR COOKED WHOLE, THEN BOILED IN A BASKET. THEY CAME OUT WHOLE BUT WERE SOFT LIKE BEANS.

PEPPERWOOD NUTS WERE SOAKED IN HOT ASHES AND WERE CRACKED OPEN WITH A STONE. THE THEY WERE SHAKEN IN A TWIG LIKE BASKET TRAY TO RID THEM OF ASHES.

SEEDS OF WEHILL GRASS WERE COLLECTED WITH A BASKET, SEED BEATER AND BURDEN BASKET. THEY WERE PARCHED WITH COALS IN A PARCHING BASKET SO THE HULLS CAME OFF. WINNOWED AND EATEN DRIED.

YERBA BUENA WAS CHEWED FOR STOMACH TROUBLE - THE LEAVES ARE CHEWED BITTER. BUT AFTER USING MORE THAN ONCE THE TASTE IS OK.

WILD POTATOES WERE COOKED IN COALS WITH ASHES AND LATER REMOVED BY SHAKING BULBS IN AN OPEN WORK WINNOWING BASKET. THIS OVEN WAS ONLY USED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

ANIMAL MEAT WAS DRIED OR SMOKED FOR PRESERVATION. MEAT WAS DRIED ON A PLATFORM. FISH WERE BROILED IN COALS. SURF FISH, BULLHEAD, KELP FISH, ROCK COD, MUSSELS, ABALONES, CHITONS. MUSSELS AND OTHER SHELLFISH WERE PLACED ON HOT COALS AND THEN DRIED. NOT MUCH ABALONE WAS TRADED TO INLAND TRIBES. SALMON WERE CAUGHT WITH HARPOONS. TWINED BASKETS CAUGHT TROUT.

ONE MIRACLE A DAY

BEFORE I GET UP I PRAY AND DO A MEDITATION WHICH I WAS TAUGHT BY MY PROCESS COACHES. I ASK FOR ONE MIRACLE A DAY WHICH MEANS THAT EACH DAY I USUALLY HAVE A MIRACLE THAT WAS UNEXPECTED. I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH MY CAR. AND TODAY I GOT MY BATTERY TERMINAL FIXED WHICH MEANS THAT MY CAR AT LAST IS RUNNING. I HAD LOCKED MYSELF OUT OF MY CAR AT SAFEWAY AND GOT A TRIPLE AAA PICKUP TO OPEN IT IN LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR. I WILL NEED THAT $4000 CAR TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA AS I PLAY FRANNIE OAKLEY AT SOME SCHOOLS THIS FALL.

ANOTHER MIRACLE IS THAT I AM LIVING IN A SAFE PLACE WITH MY TWO SPECIAL CATS AND THEY ARE USUALLY CALM EXCEPT DURING THE FULL MOON.

ANOTHER MIRACLE IS THAT I HAVE HAD MY FRIENDS MOVE ME TWICE FOR FREE. LUCKILY THEY HAVE PLENTY OF ENERGY. I AM TAKING IT EASY AT THIS TIME. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF HIKING IN THE PAST BUT IT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY AND IT IS A LITTLE TOO HOT TO HIKE TODAY. I USUALLY WAIT UNTIL NIGHT TIME.

I HAVE MADE MANY NEW FRIENDS AS I HAVE MOVED THROUGHOUT SANTA ROSA AND COTATI. I HAVE MADE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE SKILLED IN CERTAIN TRADES AND ARE ABLE TO HELP ME IN CERTAIN WAYS. I AM A PERSON WHO LIKES TO ASK PEOPLE ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE FROM AND THEIR ANCESTORS. I HAVE LIVED IN FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES THE PAST TWO YEARS.

MY JEWELRY

I FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN MY GRANDMOTHER'S GOLD CROSS AND LOCKET. I FOUND THE GOLD CROSS IN THE CENTER OF ONE OF MY STORAGE UNITS. MY AUNT ROSEMARIE GAVE ME HER GOLDEN LOCKETT WHICH WAS IN A BOX. IT IS WORTH $2500 AS I TOOK IT TO A JEWELER! I STRUNG THE CROSS AND GOLD LOCKET ON A PIECE OF LEATHER AND ALSO ADDED A CARVED BONE FISH TO DESIGNATE THAT I AM PART CHINESE. MY GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE BORN IN AUSTRIA. MY MOM HAS VISITED THAT COUNTRY WITH MY BROTHER AND I THINK THEY TRIED TO FIND THE HOUSE THAT OUR GRANDMOTHER LIVED.

MY JEWELRY IS VERY VALUABLE AND I USED TO WEAR MY NECKLACE ALL THE TIME TO CHURCH. I WAS BAPTIZED WITH AN OLD GIRLFRIEND IN 7TH GRADE IN AN EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN TROY, OHIO. WE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND I BELIEVE SHE WAS ALSO BAPTIZED. I REMEMBER VISITING MY GRANDMA WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL IN MILWUKEE. SHE WAS A GREAT COOK AND MOM. SHE HAD FOUR CHILDREN WHICH IS AMAZING TO ME. I DON'T REMEMBER HER WEARING MUCH JEWELRY BACK THEN, BUT I KNOW THE WENT TO CHURCH OCCASIONALLY. I WILL OF COURSE PASS MY JEWELRY ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

MY MOTHER HAS ALSO GIVEN ME SOME OF HER ANTIQUE JEWELRY AND HAD A JEWELER MAKE ME SOME SPECIAL EARRINGS WITH DIAMONDS AND SILVER OLMEC HEADS! I WILL KEEP HER OLD JEWELRY AS WELL. MANY WOMEN SAY THAT THEY ARE NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT THEIR JEWELRY.

FIJIAN CHURCH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

AT THE CHURCHES (I USED TO ATTEND THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SANTA ROSA). THEIR CHURCH SERVICE IS ABOUT ATTENDING GOD BY USING THEIR GIFTS. IT ALSO HAS A TIME WHEN THEY GATHER IN A CIRCLE AND CHANT AND CHANT ABOUT WHAT WAS NEGATIVE IN THEIR DAY AND SOMETIMES CRY TO RELEASE THIS NEGATIVITY. THEIR LANGUAGE SOUNDS SIMILARTO THE HAWAIIN LANGUAGE. I HAVE SUNG IN THEIR CHOIR AND EVEN THOUGH I GOT THE TUNE I DID NOT GET THE MEANING. THESE PEOPLE HAVE A TIGHT NETWORK OF FOLKS WHO STICK TOGETHER FOR FOOD, SHARING CEREMONIES, SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, JOBS, ETC. THEY LEARN ENGLISH EARLY AND MOSTLY SPEAK WELL VS. WRITE BOOKS, ETC.

THEY HAVE MAJOR CEREMONIES AT CHURCH FOR THE BIRTH OF A BABY, THE LEAVING OF A MEMBER, WHO GOES BACK TO FIJI, ETC. I HELPED COOK AND SERVE AT A BIG LUA THEY HAD AT THE CHURCH. THEY COOK HAWAIIAN FISH, POTATOES, TARA ROOT, LOTS OF STARCH - BAKED BANANAS, A PORK SALAD, LOTS OF FRUITS, LOTS OF FOOD, AND OF COURSE A SWEET CAKE AND PUDDING.

AFTER DINNER THE MEN SIT ON PALM MATS AND CHAT AWAT DRINKING KAVA KAVA JUICE WHICH IS LIKE BEER! IT TASTES HORRIBLE! THEY BEGIN TO SING AT BIG MEALS AND THEIR IS AN ENORMOUS RELIEF OF GAYIETY.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIGHER STATUS. THEY LEAD THE RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS, PERHAPS THREE TIMES A WEEK. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE VERY DEVOTED TO THEIR KIDS AND THEY WORK HERE AS CARETAKERS OF THE ELDERLY. THEY STAY WITH THEM 24/7 AND MAKE EXCELLENT MEALS. THEY MAKE SURE THAT THE OLDER FOLKS THEY CARE FOR ARE WELL ATTENDED.

RUSSIAN RIVER CLEANUP IN 2007

THREE YEARS AGO I BROUGHT MY TEENAGE SON TO HELP CLEAN UP THE RUSSIAN RIVER. WE STARTED EARLY ON SATURDAY WE WERE ASSIGNED A SOAR INFLATABLE. THESE BOATS ARE TRICKY TO NAVIGATE.. LUCKILY I HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN PADDLING BUT IT HAD BEEN AWHILE AGO. THIS SATURDAY IT LOOKED LIKE RAIN AND WAS CLOUDY. WE BROUGHT OUR WARM HATS, RAINCOATS AND SOME LAYERED CLOTHING AS WELL AS AN ICE CHEST FOR FOOD. THIS WAS AN ALL DAY EFFORT AS WE STARTED IN ASTI WHERE WE WERE SHUTTLED. ABOUT 10 CANOES TOOK OFF TO COLLECT TRASH. IT IS AN ANNUAL EVENT AND THAT YEAR THE WATER WAS RATHER LOW AND WE MANAGED TO NOT GET TURNED OVER, HOWEVER WE GOT OUR LEGS WET BY GETTING OUT AND COLLECTING TRASH. WE DID HAVE TO DUCK UNDER SOME LARGE TREE BRANCHES ON THE TURNS IN THE RIVER AS THE BRUSH HAD NOT BEEN CUT!

WE MANAGED TO COLLECT ALL KINDS OF METAL, GLASS, BOTTLES, TIRES, AND WOODEN DEBRIS. WE ALL STAYED TOGETHER AND IT TOOK MOST OF THE DAY AS THE WIND WAS BLOWING AGAINST US AND IT STARTED TO RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. OUR CAPTAIN DECIDED TO CALL IN FOR HELP FOR A FROGMAN AND HE CAME WITH A JET SKI AND A WETSUIT. HE ATTACHED ALL OF OUR BOATS TOGETHER AND HE PULLED US ABOUT 3 MILES UP TO HEALDSBURG. WE WERE RELIEVED AS IT STARTED TO GET CHILLY AND WET. WE WERE THANKFUL TO GET INTO THE VAN AND GET WARM AND TO GET INTO OUR CARS. WITH THE WIND AND RAIN IT BECAME QUITE AN EVENT.. MANY TEENS HAD NEVER DONE THIS, BUT WE MET SOME OF OUR FRIENDS AT THE MAIN MEETING PLACE. IT WAS DEFINITELY A MEMORABLE EVENT. THE TRIP TOOK US INTO A WILDERNESS WHERE FEW PEOPLE BOAT OR SWIM OR FISH. IT WAS A GOOD OCCASION TO OBSERVE WILDLIFE, STILLNESS, VARIOUS OSPREY, BIRDS, AND TURTLES!

ROCK ART ADVENTURES

I HAVE HAD AN INTEREST IN STUDYING AND RECORDING ROCK ART ALL OF MY ADULT LIFE. THESE PREHISTORIC REMAINS INCLUDE PETROGLYPHS AND PICTOGRAPHS . AT MY GRADUATE SCHOOL TRAINING AT ASU IN TEMPE FROM 1979 - 1984 WE RECORDED PETROGLYPHS OF THE HOHOKAM THAT WERE NEXT TO THE CAMPUS AT TEMPE BUTTES. THIS AREA WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE GILA RIVER AND HAD NEVER BEEN ANALYZED OR RECORDED. THE CERAMICS AND LITHICS HAD NEVER BEEN RECORDED OR ANALYZED EITHER. OUR GRADUATE CLASS RECORDED THESE FEATURES AND SYMBOLS BY USING VYNAL AND GREASE PENCIL. THE ENTIRE BUTTE IS COVERED WITH THEM. I NOTICED ONE INTERESTING PETROGLYPH - A KOKOPELLI SYMBOL WITH A BASKET PLAYING A FLUTE. NO ONE HAD RECORDED A PETROGLYPH KOKOPELLI SYMBOL BEFORE! IT LOOKED HEAVILY PATINATED AND I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD IT WAS. THERE ALSO WERE CORN GLYPHS AND WATER SYMBOLS WITH WAVE-LIKE DESIGNS.

THE INTERESTING THING WAS THAT THESE GLYPHS WERE COVERED WITH GRAFFITI AND HAD BEEN USED BY MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD WATCHED FOOTBALL IN THE FIELD BELOW, IN ANY CASE WE RECORDED MANY ANTHROPOMORPHIC OR STICK LIKE PEOPLE AND DANCERS AS WELL AS GEOMORPHIC DESIGNS. FOR MY COMPUTER CLASS I WROTE A PAPER ON MYINTERPRETATION OF THIS SITE AND THE PETROGLYPH DESIGNS.

ANOTHER LARGE GROUP OF PETROGLYPHS EXIST IN THE SOUTH MOUNTAINS WHICH WE SAW WHILE HIKING HERE. WE ALSO WORKED WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE ONE DAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AT A PUBLIC EVENT. THERE WERE MANY 80 YEAR OLD FOLKS THAT I SPOKE TO ABOUT THE PREHISTORY OF THE AREA.

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN TOWARDS THE EAST OF PHOENIX ALSO HAS A GROUP OF PETROGLYPHS THAT ARE MOSTLY GEOMETRIC. IT IS A POPULAR VERTICAL HIKE. ONCE AT THE TOP YOU HAVE A 360DEGREE VIEW OF THE VALLEY.

IN CALIFORNIAN I WORKED FOR STATE PARKS I JOINED A GROUP OF ARCHAEOLOGISTS WHO TRAVELED WITH B. PARKMAN TO VISIT SOME PETROGLYPHS AND VIEWED A NUMBER OF SITES NORTH OF HEALDSBURG AND IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. MANY WERE CUPULES, SNAKELIKE FIGURES, AND CONCENTRIC CIRCLES. CUPULES ARE FOUND WORLDWIDE AND THEY ARE SMALL HANDSIZE PITS IN THE STEATITE OR BASALT ROCKS WHICH WERE TYPICALLY MADE BY WOMEN WHO WANTED A CHILD. THEY ARE CALLED BABYROCKS - ETHNOGRAPHIC LITERATURE SPEAKS ABOUT ONE NEAR CLOVERDALE WHERE A WOMAN WOULD POUND OUT A STEATITE ROCK AND MIX THE ROCK WITH SOME
WATER AND PAINT FOUR LINES ON THEIR CHEST AND ABDOMEN FOR GOOD LUCK FOR HAVING A BABY.

CONCENTRIC CIRCLES REPRESENT A SHAMAN'S JOURNEY IN A TRANCE-LIKE STATE TO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. IT IS LIKE GOING THROUGH A TUNNEL AND FINDING LIGHT AT THE END OF IT.

SOME GEOMETRICS IN THE HOHOKAM AREA ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF ZIGZAGS, SNAKELIKE S CURVES, WAVELIKE FIGURES, AND SQUARES THAT ARE CONCENTRIC. SOME OF THESE ARE COMMON ON THEIR POTTERY AS WELL.

OUR DOG ROSY

WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL WE FOUND A SMALL PUPPY AT THE LAUNDROMAT WHICH HAD NO CARETAKER. WE CALLED HER ROSY AND BROUGHT HER HOME WITH US WHERE WE WERE SHARING A HOUSE IN PHOENIX. OUR OTHER ROOM MATE HAD AN ADULT DOG. WE KEPT THEM BOTH INDOORS AND WALKED HER AS WELL. SHE WAS PART WHIPPET AND LABRADOR. WHEN FULL GROWN SHE WEIGHED ABOUT 15 POUNDS. SHE COULD RUN VERY FAST! WE LET HER RUN IN SOME OF THE PARKS.

WE TOOK HER HIKING AND BROUGHT HER IN AN AIRPLANE WHEN WE WENT BACK EAST TO GARY'S HOUSE. THAT WAS A MISTAKE. IT WAS TOO NERVE WRACKING FOR HER.

ONCE THERE SHE HAD A GOOD TIME. IT WAS CHRISTMAS AND WE WENT TO WALK HER IN THE SNOW. WE ALSO TOOK HER WITH US IN THE WINNEBAGO THAT WE WERE GIVEN AFTER GARY'S MOM GOT A NEW ONE. WE WENT TO WILLIAMSBURG. SHE LIKED TO GO CAMPING WITH US AND WE TOOK HER TO THE FOREST SERVICE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FROM PHOENIX WHERE WE BOTH WORKED. SHE LOVED TO ROAM THE LITTLE TOWN WE LIVED IN CALLED TENNANT. IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PINE AND DOG FIR FOREST. SHE LIKED CHASING SQUIRRELS AND DEER. AND SHE LIKED CATCHING PINE CONES WHEN WE THROUGH THEM IN THE AIR.

SHE WAS LIKE A CHILD TO US. ONCE WE RETURNED TO PHOENIX AND STAYED WITH OUR FRIENDS TO FIND ANOTHER HOUSE TO RENT SHE RAN AWAY. I'M SURE SOMEONE FOUND HER AS SHE HAD A GREAT MANNER AND PERSONALITY.

THE POLLEN PATHWAY

IF GOLD IS YOUR HUNGER
LET THE YELLOW OF HONEY SWEETEN YOUR DAY
LET THE YELLOW OF THE SUN GROW THE PLANTS IN YOUR FIELDS
LET THE AMBER OF YOUR CORN FEED YOUR CHILDREN
LET THE GOLD OF THE SUNSET WARM YOUR SOUL
FOLLOW YOUR GOLD OF THE POLLEN WAY
AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY WITH ALL THE RICHES THAT YOU HAVE.

NATIVE HEALER

CREATE YOUR CEREMONIES FOR YOUR FAMILY

FOR YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH CREATE CEREMONIES THAT BRING MEANING TO YOUR LIVES.

THESE MAY INCLUDE:

GIFT GIVING
MAKING HOMEMADE GIFTS
NAMING OR NICK NAMING A CHILD OR FAMILY MEMBER
SPREADING ASHES OF THE DECEASED
FASTING ON CERTAIN CEREMONIES
CELEBRATING BIRTHDAYS
HAVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHER TO CELEBRATE HOLIDAYS
COOK HOLIDAY MEALS THAT YOUR FAMILY LIKES; SING SONGS THAT YOUR FAMILY LIKES AND WATCH DOCUMENTARIES THAT HAVE MEANING TO YOU.
LIGHT CANDLES ANDS BURN SAGE IN YOUR HOUSE TO REDUCE NEGATIVITY.
MAKE RECIPES FOR CERTAIN HOLIDAYS THAT YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY LIKE.

W F PEATE

TABLE TALK

WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY YOU MUST TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR SPOUSE BY HAVING REGULAR MEETINGS EITHER AT DINNER OR SOMETIME DURING THE DAY. THIS MAKES EACH PERSON CLOSER TO EACH OTHER AND KEEPS THEM AWARE OF WHAT EACH PERSON FEELS PER DAY. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR A HEALTHY FAMILY TO HAVE THESE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS.

IF THE MEMBERS ARE DOING DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES DURING THE WEEK THEY MUST MEET AT LEAST THREE TIMES DURING THE WEEK IN ORDER TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AS A FAMILY. THEY MUST TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS TO EACH OTHER AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM DURING THE DAY IN ORDER TO FIND MEANING AS A HEALTHY FAMILY.

THEY NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THEIR INNER FEELINGS AND HOW THEY WANT TO THRIVE AS A FAMILY. EACH PERSON HAS EQUAL WEIGHT IN THIS DISCUSSION. ITS KIND OF LIKE PLAYING THE GAME OF LIFE - THE FAMILY NEEDS TO FIND A COMMON GOAL TO BRING EACH PERSON IT'S HAPPIEST. THEY NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT IS BEST FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. KIND OF LIKE WHAT ROLE WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE IF YOU WERE ON A BOAT TRYING TO GET TO THE NEXT LAND MASS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OPTION TO HAVING A WORKABLE FAMILY....WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT BRING THE FAMILY CLOSER TOGETHER..WHAT TOPICS CAN THEY DISCUSS ,,, AND WHAT DOES EACH PERSON BELIEVE IN THAT BRINGS MEANING TO THEIR LIFE? THESE TOPICS CAN GO ON AND ON THROUGH THEIR LIVES AS AN EVOLVING STORY.

MY MOM WHO WILL BE 98 THIS YEAR LIKES TO CHAT A LOT. ONCE YOU GET HER ON A SUBJECT FROM HER HISTORY SHE LIKES TO TELL STORIES THAT MADE HER LIFE MEANINGFUL. IT USUALLY INCLUDED HER TRAVELS HITHER AND YONDER VS. RAISING US KIDS. RAISING A FAMILY IS A NON PAYING JOB THAT TAKES PATIENCE AND SOME COMMUNITY HELP AS WELL. IT IS A JOB THAT TODAY IS NOT CONSIDERED A POSITION OF STATUS. SHE ALWAYS TOLD ME I COULD BE ANYTHING I WANTED TO BE ..AND I HAVE - FROM NURSEMAID TO HER TO FLORIST TO ARTIST TO ARCHAEOLOGIST AND LIFE COACH.

IN YOUR FAMILY IT IS GOOD TO LET THE ELDERS TEACH THE CHILDREN - GRANDPARENTS ARE GOOD TO HAVE AS THE TEENS AND CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN TO THEM. MANY FAMILIES TODAY LACK TABLE TALK - HOWEVER THE MOMS IN A SOCIAL GROUP USUALLY DO CHAT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE EACH FAMILY MEMBER DISCUSS WITH THE FAMILY WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND GET THEIR NEEDS MET EITHER FROM THE FAMILY OR FROM THEIR COMMUNITY.

HOW TO CURE MODERNITIS

MANY PEOPLE TODAY CONSIDER THEMSELVES ATTACHED TO ONE OR TWO JOBS. THAT IS WHO THEY ARE VS. JUST BEING IN PEACE. MODERNITIS ENTAILS KEEPING REALLY BUSY ALL THE TIME - I THINK YOU GET THE POINT. MOST PEOPLE SCRAMBLE FROM ONE EVENT TO THE NERXT WITHOUT TAKING A BREATHER....

TODAY I JUST HAD A REALLY STRANGE HEADACHE AND IT INCLUDED DIZZYNESS SO I JUST LAID DOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES UNTIL I FELT BETTER. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AS I WAS IN INTENSE ARIZONA HEAT. TAKING TIME TO ENJOY THE MOMENT OF THE DAY IS IMPORTANT VS. RUSHING FROM ONE THING TO ANOTHER. TAKE A BREAK AND GO OUTSIDE TO SEE WHAT NATURE IS TEACHING YOU. IF THERE ARE CLOUDS THAT FORM CERTAIN IMAGES FOR YOU, LOOK FOR WHAT IS ENTERTAINING IN THEM. KEEP CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING TO YOUR BODY, MIND, AND SPIRIT.

MANY PEOPLE KILL THEMSELVES BY WORKING TOO MUCH - A VERSION OF WORKAHOLISM WHICH I HAD WHEN I WAS IN MY 30'S. I JUST ABOUT KILLED MYSELF WORKING 10 - 12 HOUR DAYS AT 10 BUCKS AN HOUR. I HAD THIS MINDSET THAT I NEEDED TO WORK HARD BASED UPON MY UPBRINGING. IT REALLY DID ME NO GOOD. AND ONCE YOU GET VERY ILL FROM YOUR WORK YOU REALIZE THAT WORK IS JUST ONE PART OF YOUR LIFE - IT IS NOT ALL THERE IS...

SO THE LESSON I AM PASSING ON IS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY DURING YOUR DAY AND INCLUDE SOMETHING SPIRITUAL AND SOME TIME TO ENJOY YOUT FRIENDS AND HAVE A CHAT WITH A FRIEND ORMEET SOMEONE NEW DURING YOUR WEEK. IT HELPS TO KEEP YOU WELL BALANCED. FROM MY EPISODE OF WORKAHOLISM OR MODERNITIS I THEN BECAME A LIFE COACH AND LEARNED THAT THERE ARE 8 DISTINCT PARTS TO OUR LIVES: SPITITUAL, HEALTH, EXERCISE, ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU LIVE IN, YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND YOUR FAMILY ACQUAINTANCES, HOW YOU USE YOUR MIND OR CAREER, AND YOUR FINANCES.

WE ARE ALL VERY COMPLEX PEOPLE USING OUR SKILLS TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES. PLEASE MAKE WISE CHOICES TO TAKE BREAKS FROM YOUR WORK AND TO BE AT EASE WITH THE SKILLS I HAVE MENTIONED IN MY OTHER BLOGS.

STRESS BUSTERS

A NATIVE AMERICAN DOCTOR, DR. W PETE, SUGGESTS MANY WAYS TO REDUCE ONE'S STRESS.

TAKE SMALL BREAKS.

BREATHE IN AND OUT FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND IN YOUR MIND REPEAT "I AM RELAXED". THIS WILL LOWER YOUR STRESS LEVEL.

USE MEDITATIVE FOUNTAINS IN YOUR HOUSE AND AT WORK.

TAKE SMALL BREAKS AND GO OUTSIDE IF YOU CAN TO WALK SHORTLY.

TALK TO A FRIEND WHEN YOU FEEL THE URGE.

STAY FOCUSED ON THE POSITIVE.

TAKE TIME TO READ A GOOD BOOK.

HELP OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR CHURCH.

MAKE A CLEAN SWEAP OF YOUR HOUSE GETTING RID OF THINGS YOU DO NOT NEED OR WANT - GIVE THEM AWAY.

NOTHING IS PERFECT. WEAVERS, POTTERS, AND BASKET MAKERS LEAVE A FLAW IN THEIR CRAFTS TO REMIND THEMSELVES THAT ONLY THE CREATOR IS PERFECT. THIS IS CALLED THE DUA OR A PURPOSEFUL MISTAKE.

ACCEPT WHAT CANNOT BE CHANGED.

CREATE A SUPPORT TEAM. MAKE A DATE WITH AN OLD FRIEND AND MEET FOR A SNACK.

THIS DOCTOR EXPLORES THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL SIDE OF ILLNESS.

COYOTE AND HIS GRANDMOTHER

GRANDMOTHER TOLD COYOTE TO HUNT AND HE SAW NEW INDIAN POTATOES. HE TOLD HIS GRANDMOTHER THAT THERE WERE PLENTY OF INDIAN POTATOES. AND HE SAID HE COULD TAKE HER THERE WITH HER DIGGING STICK. SHE WENT THERE AND BEGAN DIGGING. SHE DUG DEEPER AND FOUND MORE POTATOES. COYOTE PUSHED HER HEAD DOWN IN THE SAND AND TOLD HER A DIRTY JOKE AS USUAL.

COYOTE ALWAYS TOLD DIRTY JOKES. AMONG THE OHLONE THEY BELIEVED IT WAS COYOTE'S MATING THAT CREATED THE HUMAN RACE. MANY OF THESE TALES ARE RIDICULOUS..

THE MIWOK TELL OF COYOTE'S BENEFITTING THE HUMAN RACE. AT FIRST THERE WAS NO FIRE. TURTLE HAD THE FIRE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. HE SAT ON TOP OF IT AND LIVED IN THE MOUNTAINS. COYOTE WENT THERE AND LAID DOWN BESIDE TURTLE'S HOUSE. SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVED WITH TURTLE PICKED HIM UP AND PUT HIM IN THE FIRE! HE PRIED HIS WAY UNDERNEATH TURTLE AND HE CAUGHT ON FIRE. HE RAN DOWNHILL WESTWARD INTO A COUNTRY THAT WAS ICY. HE CAUGHT A QUAIL AND WITH IT'S FAT HE MADE FIRE THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO GET WARM. THE POHONICHI MIWOKS WERE THE ONES WHO RECEIVED FIRE. THE MONO CANNOT SPEAK WELL AS IT IS TOO COLD THERE!

MALCOMB MARGOLIN

COYOTE TAILS

ONCE COYOTE LIVED WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER. WHEN HE WENT ON A VISIT HE WAS FED SOUR ACORNS. HE QUESTIONED HOW TO MAKE SOUR ACORNS AND THEY SAID PUT SOME WATER ON THEM AND TWO DAYS LATER YOU PRESS THEM DOWN.COYOTE ARGUED ABOUT HOW THEY MADE THIS MEAL.

COYOTE HAD HEARD ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE SOUR ACORNS - HE TOOK SOME IN A CANOE AND DUMPED THEM IN THE RIVER AND HE NEVER FOUND THEN AGAIN. HE TOLD HIS GRANDMOTHER THAT AND SHE GOT ANGRY. SHE MADE A FIRE AND COOKED SOME ACORNS. COYOTE WENT INTO THE SWEAT LODGE. THEN HE WENT TO HIS GRANDMOTHER'S AND SHE PUT A BLANKET OVER HER ACORNS AND LIED TO HIM THAT SHE HAD ACORNS. HE WAS STARVED AND LIFTED HER UP FROM THE BOILING POT AND ATE THE ACORNS!

YUROK - MRS. HAYDOM

POMO CREATION MYTH

COYOTE TOOK A DIPPER OF WATER AND THREW IT UP INTO THE SKY. AS THE WATER SPRINKLED BACK DOWN, CLOUDS FORMED IN THE NORTH AND SOUTH INCREASING AND SPREADING UNTIL THEY CAME TOGETHER UNTIL IN THE EAQST WHERE THE SUN RISES. THEN THEY TRAVELEDWEST UNTIL THEY CONVENED THE ENTIRE SKY. THIS TOOK FOUR DAYS.

COYOTE NEXT TOOK AN OAK GULL AND CUT IT SO THAT IT HAD FIVE CORNERS. THIS HE THREW UP INTO THE SKY AND IMMEDIATELY IT BECAME THE SUN. HE MADE MOON OUT OF BLUE CLAY AND THREW HER UP INTO THE SKY.

SUN SAID TO MOON, "I WILL MAKE YOU MY MOTHER. YOU KNOW WHO MADE US."

YES SAID MOON. I DO AND WILL TELL YOU. HE MADE THE SKY ALSO. IT WAS COYOTE.

COYOTE ASKED "HOW SHALL WE MAKE IT DARK?"

MOON SAID WE'LL MAKE A BIG FIRE AND THEN TAKE A WILLOW CLUB AND STRIKE IT AND MAKE IT GO OUT. THAT WILL MAKE IT DARK. COYOTE DID THAT AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES NIGHT.

COYOTE SAID MOTHER YOU WILL NOT COME OUT FOR TWO OR THREE NIGHTS SOMETIMES AND THEN YOU WILL COME OUT AND GROW AGAIN.

SUN SAID I WILL NOT GO OUT. I WILL RISE EVERY MORNING REGULARLY. NOW WE WILL HAVE TO SEPARATE. BUT FIRST HOW SHALL WE MAKE THE EARTH SHAKE?

MOON REPLIED WHEN I SHAKE MY HEAD THIS WILL BE AN EARTHQUAKE.

COYOTE THEN SAID "NOW I WILL CREATE ALL THINGS". HE CREATED ALL THE VARIOUS BIRDS, ANIMALS, PLANTS ALL KINDS OF FOOD. HE CREATED ALL THESE AND TOLD THEM JUST WHAT THEY WERE TO DO. HE CREATED ALL OF THESE AND TOLD THEM JUST WHAT TO DO, HOW SOME OF THEM WERE TO LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS, IN THE WATER AND SO ON.

HE THEN SAID I WILL LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THERE. EVEN IF THEY KILL COYOTES. I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE.

UC BERKELEY ARCHIVES

CREATION STORY OF THE MAIDA

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS NO SUN, MOON, OR STARS. THERE WAS NO LIGHT BUT EVERYWHERE THERE WAS WATER. A RAFT CAME FLOATING ON THE WATER AND THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE - TURTLE AND PEHE-IPE. THEY FLOWED DOWN A STREAM AND A ROPE OF FEATHERS FROM THE SKY CALLED POKELMA CAME DOWN FROM EARTH-INITIATE. WHEN HE REACHED THE END OF THE ROPE, HE TIED IT TO THE BOW OF THE RAFT. HIS BODY SHOWN LIKE THE SUN AND HE SAT FOR A LONG TIME. TURTLE ASKED "WHERE DO YOU COME FROM?" AND EARTH INITIATE ANSWERED "I COME FROM ABOVE". TURTLE ASKED IF HE COULD MAKE SOME DRY LAND SO THAT HE COULD COME OUT OF THE WATER. THEY HAD A CHAT ABOUT IF PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE COMING TO THE EARTH. EARTH-INITIATE SAID YES! TURTLE DECIDED TO DIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA SO AS TO BRING BACK SOME EARTH.

HE WAS GONE FOR OVER 6 YEARS. WHEN TURTLE CAME UP FROM THE SEA HE ONLY HAD SOME MUD UNDER HIS NAILS. HE SCRAPED THIS MUD INTO A BALL AND LAID IT ON THE RAFT. WHEN HE LOOKED AT IT A SECOND TIME IT HAD NOT GROWN. THE THIRD TIME HE LOOKED AT IT, IT HAD GROWN SO THAT IT WAS LARGER THAN THE SPAN OF HIS ARMS. THE FOURTH TIME HE LOOKED AT IT IT WAS AS BIG AS THE WORLD. AND ALL AROUND WERE MOUNTAINS AS FAR AS HE COULD SEE. THEIR RAFT CAME ASHORE AT TADOIKO WHICH CAN BE SEEN TODAY.


THIS IS A DREAM LIKE CREATION MYTH. PEHE-IPE MEANS FATHER OF THE SECRET SOCIETY.

MALCOLM MARGOLIN

A CENTRAL CALIFORNIAN DANCE HOUSE

A DANCE HOUSE IN CALIFORNIA IS BUILT BY THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND ID UP TO 60 FEET IN DIAMETER. THEY ARE EITHER PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND OR ENTIRELY UNDERGROUND. THEY HAD A SMOKE HOLE THROUGH THE ROOF WHERE A GLIMMER OF LIGHT COMES THROUGH. OTHER THAN THAT IT WAS A DARK LODGE WITH A FIRE IN THE CENTER AT NIGHT. THIS IS WHERE THE COMMUNITY GATHERED FOR SOCIAL OCCASIONS AND SACRED DANCES.

WHEN THEY DECIDE TO BUILD A LODGE OR DANCE HUOSE THE MEN DECIDE WHERE THEY CAN GET THE TREES. THEY LOOK CAREFULLY TO SELECT THE LARGE TREE FOR THE CENTER POST, AND THEY NAME THE OTHER POSTS. THEIR IS A CHEIF AND THE MANY PEOPLE WHO BUILD THE DANCE HOUSE MUST BE FED. THE MEN GET THE AAPROVAL OF THEIR WIVES AS WELL.

THEY PREPARE THE LOGS BY CUTTING THEM DOWN, TRIMMING, PEELING THE BARK OFF, AND DECIDING WHICH LOGS GO WHERE. THIS PROCESS MAY TAKE A MONTH. THE Y HAVE TO HAND DIG A HOLE, AND THEN THE HOUSE IS BUILT IN ONE DAY. THEY HAVE TO LASH THE POLES TOGETHER AND FIT THE JOINTS BY CARVING THEM.THEY CAN STUFF MOSS INTO THE CREVICES AND THEN CARRY EARTH WITH BURDEN BASKRTS TO COVER THE HOUSE. THEY PACK IT DOWN LEAVING A HOLE FOR THEIR FIRES. PEOPLE COME FROM SEVERAL VILLAGES TO HELP. AT NIGHT THERE IS A FEAST AND A SWEAT. THE HOSTING VILLAGE FEEDS THEIR GUESTS.

MALCOMB MARGOLIN

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INDIAN BEHAVIOR

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


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

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

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

WHITE BUFFALO WOMAN

THE PLAINS INDIANS CONSIDERED THE BUFFALO AS AN INTERMEDIARY WITH THE CREATOR. ACCORDING TO THE SIOUX, A BUFFALO IN HUMAN FORM BROUGHT THEM MANY IMPORTANT RITES. THEIR WAKAN TANKA OR SUPREME SPIRIT SENT A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN DRESSED IN A WHITE BUCKSIN OUTFIT. SHE HAD A TWO-PIECE PIPE WHICH SHE GAVE TO THE SIOUX AS A SACRED OBJECT. SHE EXPLAINED THAT IT REPRESENTED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. THE SMOKE FROM THE PEACE PIPE REPRESENTED A DUAL FUNCTION - IT CARRIED PRAYERS TO THE SPIRIT ANCESTORS. AND IMPARTED STRENGTH TO THE SMOKERS. AFTER SHE GAVE THEM THE PIPER SHE TRANSFORMED HERSELF INTO A WHITE BUFFALO CALF.

SHE ALSO GAVE THE SIOUX THE 7 RITES CENTRAL TO THEIR RELIGION: VISION QUEST, PURIFICATION IN THE SWEAT LODGE, FUNERAL RITES TO ENSURE THE SOUL OF THE DEAD ARE RETURNED TO THE GREAT SPIRIT, AND PUBERTY RITES FOR GIRLS.

A MAN CALLED KABLAYA RECEIVED A VISION REFERRING TO A NEW FORM OF PRAYER TO RESTORE THE FAITH OF THE PEOPLE. IT WAS CALLED THE SUN DANCE.

BUTCHART GARDENS IN VICTORIA

IN THE SUMMER OF 2005 OUR FAMILY TOOK A TRIP BY RAILROAD TO SEATTLE AND THEN RENTED A CAR TO TOUR VANCOUVER. ONE OF THE BEST ATTRACTIONS WE MADE WAS THE BUTCHART GARDENS IN VICTORIA. IT IS A 55 ACRE WELL KEPT GARDEN THAT WAS TRANSFORMED FROM A DUSTY GRAVEL PIT. THEY HAVE OVER 10,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE GARDEN AND VARIOUS TYPES OF ETHNIC GARDENS AND STORES. ALL OF THE GARDENS ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL AND WELL KEPT. THEY INCUDE A JAPANESE GARDEN, AN ITALIAN GARDEN, A ROSE GARDEN, A SUNKEN GARDEN, MANY EUROPEAN LOOKING GARDENS AND MANY ORIENTAL LOOKING BRIDGES.

THEY HAVE BUILT HILLTOP VISTAS AND MILES OF TRAILS THAT WE HIKED, OVERLOOKING BEAUTIFUL OCEAN ALCOVES. THEIR GARDENS ARE WELL LANDSCAPED AND THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL LILY PONDS. WE TOOK MANY PICTURES OF THESE GARDENS. I WROTE IT UP AS A NEWSLETTER FOR MY COACHING WEBSITE WITH A BEAUTIFUL PHOTO.

MAGIC OBJECTS OF SHAMANS AND THEIR WAY OF HEALING

SHAMANS HAVE A WAY OF USING HERBS TO EMPLOY A HOLY OBJECT OR A SUBSTANCE IN ORDER TO TRANSFORM A PERSON'S HEALTH. THE SHAMAN'S GO THROUGH AN EXPERIENCE OF INITIATION IN ORDER TO GAIN INNER SPIRITUAL POWER. A SHAMAN HAS HELPING SPIRITS IN THAT THEY APPEAR IN ANIMAL FORM. THESE OBJECTS ARE OUTWARD SIGNS OF AN INNER SPIRITUAL POWER ACQUIRED THROUGH THEIR INITIATION. SOME NORTHWEST COAST SHAMANS SPEAK OF HARBORING A QUARTZ CRYSTAL IN THEIR BODIES AND THEY REFER TO IT AS A PAIN. THESE OBJECTS CAN LEAVE THEIR BODY AND ATTACK OTHERS!


THEIR EQUIPMENT INCLUDES EAGLE FEATHERS, A BAG OF CRYSTALS, STONES, RATTLES, AND DRUMS. SOME USE A TUBE OF HOLLOW BONE TO SCOOP UP SOULS FLYING THROUGH THE AIR.
MEDICINE BUNDLES ARE A VITAL PART OF A SHAMAN'S EQUIPMENT AND ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A SHAMAN'S EQUIPMENT. THESE OBJECTS REPRESENT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE SPIRITS.

HOLY OBJECTS ARE NOT CONFINED TO SHAMAN'S. THE WARRIORS OF THE PLAINS CARRIED BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED SHIELDS WITH DESIGNS THAT REPRESENTED INNER POWER.
HEALINGS ARE GENERALLY COMMUNAL EVENTS TO THE WESTERN APACHE WHERE THE MEDICINE MAN TELLS MYTHS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE RITE TO THE COMMUNITY. HE SITS BY THE PATIENT AND CHANTS ALL NIGHT LONG. SOMETIMES HE DUSTS THE PATIENT'S HEAD WITH POLLEN FROM A CATTAIL PLANT.

THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF SHAMANS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE CONTACT BETWEEN THE WORLD OF THE PEOPLE AND THE SPIRIT WORLD THROUGH TRANCE STATES. IN THE POMO AREA THE SHAMANS EBTERED A TRANCE BY SMOKING NATIVE TOBACCO, ROLLING THEIR BODIES IN RED CARPENTER ANTS, OR BY ROLLING IN STINGING NETTLE, OR BY TAKING JIMSON WEED (A PLANT THAT IS A HALLUCINOGEN AND MAY CAUSE DEATH).

SHAMANIC POWERS ARE RARELY INHERITED IN CALIFORNIA. THEY MAY SEEK IT IN A QUEST OR HAVE IT IMPOSED UPON THEM BY THE SPIRITS THEMSELVES, OR ACQUIRE IT FROM OUTSIDE ONESELF. SHAMANIC INITIATION CAN BE TERRIFYING AS WELL AS BLISSFUL. ONE SHAMAN RECALLS THAT THEY WOULD AT ONE MOMENT BE FILLED WITH INEXPLICABLE DELIGHT AND JOY AND THE NEXT MINUTE START WEEPING. HE COULD SEE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT WAY AS HE HAD A LIGHT THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE TO OTHER PEOPLE. THE LIGHT SHONE OUT TO THE SPIRITS OF THE EARTH, SKY, SND SEA.

TOM LOWENSTEIN

HOW RAVEN HELPED TO MAKE CLANS

THIS IS A MYTH OF THE TLINGIT THAT GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME. AT THAT TIME RAVEN LIVED IN DARKNESS AT THE MOUTH OF NASS RIVER. RAVEN WAS TRICKSTER IN MANY INDIAN MYTHS. HERE HE STOLE THE BOX OF DAYLIGHT FROM THE DEITY. THEN HE OFFERED THE BOX TO PEOPLE IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD. HE OPENED THE BOX AND THE SUN BURST OUT AND ROSE INTO THE SKY. HIS TRIBE WAS TERRIFIED.

DAYLIGHT TRANSFORMED CREATURES INTO THE FORMS THEY HAVE THEMSELVES. PEOPLE WHO WERE WEARING CERTAIN ANIMAL SKINS BECAME THAT CREATURE. PEOPLE WHO WERE WEARING NOTHING BECAME HUMANS. TOTEM POLES WERE ACTUALLY BOTH SIGNS OF CLAN AFFILIATION AND OF ANCESTRAL AFFILIATION. THE TOWERING POLES WERE VISIBLE FROM BOTH LAND AND SEA. THE TOP OF THE TOTEM POLE HAD A HOLE FOR THE CREMATION OF THEIR CHIEFS OR NOBLEMEN.
THE NORTHWEST SOCIETIES WERE ORGANIZED HIERARCHICALLY BY CLANS WITH THEIR OWN CHIEF.

SHAKESPEREAN FESTIVAL IN MARIN COUNTY

THIS FESTIVAL IS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF SAN RAFAEL. IT HAS BEEN A PRODUCTION FOR MANY YEARS. MY HUSBAND AND I WENT THERE WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE FROM PHOENIX IN THE 80'S. THEIR PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS ARE HELD IN A FOREST TO THE EAST OF TOWN. WE USED TO GO THERE TO EXPERIENCE THIS HISTORIC LIFE OF EARLY ENGLAND.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE DRESSED IN OLD ENGLISH COSTUMES, PEOPLE SELLING THEIR WEARS AND CRAFTS SUCH AS CANDLES, JEWELRY, BOOKS, CD'S AND FOODS. THEY HAVE MANY SHORT EVENTS OF SHAKESPEAREAN PRODUCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THEY HAVE BUILT HOUSES IN SOME OF THE TREETOPS AND IT IS VERY FUN PLACE TO VIEW A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LIFESTYLE.

THEIR PERFORMANCES ARE VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND WE ENJOYED THEM AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT THE VILLAGE ARE CLOWNS, OLD WOMEN SPINNING WOOL, AND MEN PLAYING FLUTES.

WE ALSO ATTENDED THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED ASHLAND FESTIVAL OF SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS SEVERAL TIMES. THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND HOWEVER I LIKE THE COSTUMES AND MUSIC AS WELL AS THE ATMOSPHERE IN ASHLAND,

WE USED TO WORK ON THE KLAMATH FOREST AND WE WOULD GO TO ASHLAND ONCE IN AWHILE. THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL CREEK IN TOWN WITH A WONDERFUL TRAIL. WE TOOK PHOTOS OF THIS SULPHUR CREEK. THEY DO NOT ALLOW YOU TO SWIM THERE. THE ENTIRE TOWN IS FULL OF TOURISTS. THEY HAVE A NEAT NATIVE AMERICAN SHOP IN TOWN AND I BOUGHT A SILK PAINTING OF A BEAR IN THE WILDERNESS.

GREEK FESTIVAL IN MARIN COUNTY

IN 2007 WHEN I WAS TAKING CARE OF MY MOM, OUR FAMILY DECIDED TO GO TO THE GREEK FESTIVAL IN IGNACIO IN THE SUMMER. WE SAW IT ADVERTISED IN THE PAPER. IT IS A HUGE WHITE CHURCH ATOP A HILL. THERE WERE ALL AGES OF PEOPLE THERE AND LOTS OF CRAFT BOOTHS, FOOD, AND SESSIONS FOR LEARNING TO USE VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS ACCORDIONS, VARIOUS STRINGED INSTRUMENTS AND HAMMERED DULCIMER. IT LASTED ALL DAY. AFTER DINNER THEY HAD LOTS OF DANCING AND MUSIC. THEIR FOOD IS VERY RICH AND HEAVY. MY SON HAD MUKASA FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HE LIKED IT. HE DECIDED TO MAKE SOME FOR ONE OF HIS HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES. MY MOM AND I LOVED THE UNIQUE SEQUINED PURSES THEY HAD AND SHE BOUGHT ONE.

MY HUSBAND AND I DID A LITTLE DANCING AND OUR TEENAGER FELT OUT OF PLACE. THERE WERE QUITE A FEW OF TEENS THERE THOUGH. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT TO ATTEND AND WE LEARNED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE WHICH IS DIFFICULT. WE HAD ATTENDED A FESTIVAL LIKE THIS IN PHOENIX LONG AGO.

SOUL FLIGHTS AND VISION QUESTS

NATIVE AMERICAN LEGENDS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING RETOLD TO THEIR VILLAGE PEOPLE BY ELDERS. SHAMANS WHO EMBARK ON SOUL FLIGHTS REPEAT THE JOURNEYS OF MYTHICAL HEROES. SOME MYTHS ARE ABOUT A SHAMAN WHO IS ABLE TO BRING BACK THE SOUL OF A DYING PATIENT. AMONG THE COAST SALISH MANY SHAMANS GATHER TOGETHER IN THE SHAPE OF A CANOE AND THEY SING SONGS OF THEIR OWN GUARDIAN SPIRIT AS HIS SOUL DESCENDS INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH. THE IGLULIK INUITS WOULD HAVE SPECIAL RITUAL WHENEVER THEY WERE THREATENED BY FAMINE. HE WOULD CALL FOR HELP BY HIS GUARDIAN SPIRIT.

THEN HE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET PLENTY OF SEAFOOD AS HE ASKED FOR.

TOM LOWENSTEIN

NATIVE AMERICAN BELIEFS ABOUT ANIMALS

IN NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY ANIMALS ARE REGARDED AS HOLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE POWERFUL SOULS. ALL ANIMALS HAVE A SPECIAL SPIRITUAL STATUS TO INDIANS. ANIMALS WERE PRESENT IN THE DREAM TIME. IN MYTHICAL STORIES ANIMALS ARE ALWAYS TREATED WITH RESPECT. WHEN THEY HUNTED THEY JUSTIFIED THEIR ACTIONS BY BELIEVING THAT THEIR PREY'S SOULS WOULD BE REINCARNATED INTO THEIR VILLAGE. THE PREY'S SOUL MIGHT SAY - I'LL RETURN IN MY NEW LIFE TO THAT HUNTER. HE IS GOOD AND GENEROUS. THEY SHARE WHAT THEY HUNT.

IF THE HUNTER DID NOT RESPECT THEIR PREY, THE ANIMALS COULD USE THEIR SOUL POWERS TO ENDANGER THE HUNTER OR CAUSE HIM TO BE ILL. THE BEAR WAS THE MOST FEARED ANIMAL SOUL AS THE KWAKIUTL HUNTERS KNEW.

THE SPIRITS OF ANIMALS COULD ALSO BE INVOKED FOR HEALING OR SELF TRANSFORMATION.

TOM LOWENSTEIN

BARBADOS TRIP

IN 1985 MY HUSBAND AND I WENT TO BARBADOS ON A FREE TRIP FROM MY HUSBAND'S WORK. ONCE WE GOT OFF THE PLANE AND SETTLED INTO OUR HOTEL, WE WERE GIVEN A CHALLENGE OF FINDING CERTAIN CLUES AROUND THE DISTRICT WE WERE IN. EACH FAMILY OR COUPLE WERE GIVEN A CAR TO RIDE IN. THEY DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS LIKE A CONTEST TO FIND CERTAIN AREAS ON THE MAP AND NOTING WHAT WE FOUND IN CERTAIN LOCALITIES. SOME CARS HAD FLAT TIRES. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE A RACE TO SEE WHO COULD LOCATEALL THE INFORMATION FIRST AND RETURN TO THE HOTEL. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN ABOUT 100 FAMILIES REPRESENTED FROM THIS ONE COMPANY. WE STAYED IN A LUXURIOUS HOTEL WITH AN OUTDOOR BAKCONY! THE ISLAND IS FAIRLY CROWDED AND IS 166 SQUARE MILES.

THE OCEAN BEACHES WERE OF WHITE SAND AND BOY DID THE SUN EVER SHINE. BOTH OF US GOT SUN BURNT IN ONE DAY SO WE STAYED IN THE SHADE ALOT AND MET MANY JAMACAN FOLKS WHO TRIED TO SELL YOU JEWELRY ON THE BEACH.

WE ALSO SAILED ON A PONTOON BOAT IN THE OCEAN AND SAT AT THE FRONT OF IT WATCHING THE JUMPING FISH IN THE OCEAN. THEY HAVE A KIND OF LUA AT THE RESORTS LIKE IN HAWAII, AND SERVED A FULL BREAKFAST AND DINNER. WE SPENT ABOUT TWO WEEKS THERE AND HAD A GREAT TIME EXPLORING ALL THE TOWNS, CHURCHS, AND MUSEUMS. THE NATIVES LIVE IS SMALL BRIGHTLY PAINTED HOUSES.

MEXICO CITY ANTHROPOLOGY MUSEUM

WHEN I VISITED MEXICO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1974 I WENT TO EXCAVATE A SITE FOR THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS IN CUAUTLA. I HAD SOME TIME AFTER THE SCHOOL TO VIEW THE
MUSEUM IN MEXICO CITY. THEY HAVE A SUN STONE, AZTEC CALENDAR, A REPLICA OF THE MURALS IN TEOTIHUACAN, AND THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ANCIENT MEXICAN PIECES IN THE WORLD, INCLUDING GOLD ARTIFACTS.

ON ANOTHER FLOOR THERE WERE OAXACAN AND MAYAN ARTIFACTS. ON ANOTHER FLOOR THERE ARE PRESENT DAY INDIGENOUS GROUPS REPRESENTED WITH THEIR ARTS AND CRAFTS.

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED VIEWING THIS MUSEUM AND I THINK I WAS THERE FOR 1/2 DAY. IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE VARIOUS CULTURES THROUGHOUT MEXICO, AS THEY USE ENGLISH TO DESCRIBE THE EXHIBITS. MY FIELD SCHOOL WAS ONLY IN SPANISH AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON.

BAJA HONEYMOON TRIP

WHEN WE WERE MARRIED IN PHOENIX IN TH 80'S WE WENT ON A HONEYMOON TRIP TO BAJA. WE DROVE OUR CAR TO SAN DIEGO AND TOOK A TAXI TO THE BORDER. WE RENTED A CAR IN TIAJUANA AND BROUGHT OUR BACKPACKS WITH US. WE HAD NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE. WE TOOK OUR TIME LOOKING AT ENSENADA, A BEAUTIFUL COASTAL TOWN WITH MANY TYPES OF ARTISTS. WE DID NOT BUY ANY OF THE ART. WE WENT DOWN TO THE NEXT CITY AND DISCOVERED THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT WORKING RIGHT, SO WE DROVE BACK TO ENSENADA. WE HAD TO STAY THERE FOR THREE DAYS UNTIL THEY FIXED OUR CAR. WE HAD A GOOD TIME LOOKING AROUND THIS CITY. THE OCEAN WAS WAY TO COLD TO SWIM IN IN THE WINTER. WE CONTINUED ON OUR TOUR OF BAJA AND THE WIND BLEW SO STRONG THAT THE WINDOWS OF OUR RENTAL CAR WERE PITTED! WE STAYED AT A MOTEL HALF WAY DOWN THE PENINSULA. THE MOTELS ONLY HAD COLD WATER! OH WELL.... WE ATE SOME FRESH FISH AT SOME OF THE RESTAURANTS AND DISCOVERED THAT MANY OF THE GAS STATIONS WERE OUT OF GAS. IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE LARGE MOTOR HOMES HAD TO WAIT DAYS TO GET THEIR GAS. WE FOUND GAS AT ANOTHER TOWN FOR OUR LITTLE CAR.

WE HIKED AROUND THE BEACHES BUT IT WAS WAY TOO COLD TO GO SWIMMING. THE OCEAN WAS BEAUTIFUL. WE ALSO HIKED IN THE DESERT AND SAW MANY PLANTS THAT WERE COMPLETELY UNKNOWN TO OUR SONORAN DESERT IN PHOENIX. THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE WHO HIKING IN THE DESERT, ESPECIALLY FROM THE CARAVAN OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.

WE CONTINUED TO ENJOY OUR TRIP ON SOME VERY RUGGED ROADS - THEY HAD SQUARE TURNS IN THEM SO WE HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL DRIVERS AND DID NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT! WE WENT TO SAN IGNACIO TO SEE IF WE COULD FIND THE WHALES THAT COME TO THE LAGOON TO BREED AND DELIVER THEIR BABIES. THEY WEIGH 30 TONS AND TRAVEL 5000 MILES FROM ALASKA TO BAJA! WE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR THERE AND ONLY SAW 1 OR 2 WHALES. IT JUST WAS NOT THE RIGHT TIME OF THE MONTH I GUESS. WE CONTINUED SOUTH TO A NEAT TOWN WHERE THERE WERE INDIGENOUS PALM TREES. WE HAD FUN WATCHING AND TALKING TO THE FUSHERMEN WHO BRAVED THE LARGE SURFS OF THE OCEAN IN ORDER TO CATCH FISH, CRABS, AND SHRIMP FOR THEIR LIVING.

IT WAS AN EXCITING TRIP AND WE LOVED THE SMELLS OF THE OCEAN. WE DROVE BACK TO TIAJUANA WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS AND BY THEN THEY HAD GAS AT THE STATIONS. THE UNUSUAL THING THEIR WAS THE LACK OF MARKETS AS THE HAVE IN CENTRAL MEXICO. I GUESS ENSENADA HAD MARKETS. LUCKILY WE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER OR FOOD.

INDIANS OF NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS

WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL ARCHAEOLOGIST OF OUR COMPANY MY HUSBAND AND I SURVEYED IN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH DAKOTA BADLANDS. THESE TERRITORIES ARE VERY RUGGED AND FULL OF DEEP CREVICES AND OTHER MAJOR BOX CANYONS. IT IS VERY STEEP AND RUGGED TERRAIN THAT THE EARLY PIONEERS CAME THROUGH TO EXPLORE FOR CALIFORNIA GOLD IN 1850'S.

THE PLAINS PREHISTORIC INDIANS CALLED THE MANDAN INDIANS WERE HUNTERS, FARMERS, AND GATHERERS. THEY ESPECIALLY LIKE TO HUNT BUFFALO, ELK, DEER, ANTELOPES, AND FISH. THEY ALSO COLLECTED SEEDS FOR THEIR SUBSISTENCE. WE FOUND MANY BISON SITES THERE - IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO RECORD THEM ALL. WE WERE ONLY INTERESTED IN SITES WITHIN OUR PROJECT AREAS. THERE WERE FEW ARCHAEOLOGISTS WORKING THERE AT THAT TIME.

THE MANDAN BUILT EARTH LODGES WITH WOODEN POLES TO HOLD SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE AT A TIME FOR THEIR CEREMONIES AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS. THE INDIANS MADE POTTERY FROM CLAY AND THEY DUG UP THE CLAY IN CERTAIN AREAS. OVER 1000 PEOPLE LIVED IN ONE VILLAGE. THE CROPS THEY PLANTED WERE CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, TOBACCO, AND SUNFLOWER.

THEY KEPT WARM BY BUILDING FIRES IN THEIR EARTH HOUSES AND WEARING DEE AND BUFFALO SKINS. THEY WERE SELF SUFFICENT PEOPLE. THERE HAVE BEEN PICTOGRAPHS FOUND IN NORTH DAKOTA, HOWEVER WE DID NOT SEE ANY IN OUR SURVEYS.

TOBOGONNING IN WISCONSIN

MY FAMILY WENT TO WISCONSIN EVERY WINTER AND SOMETIMES IN THE SUMMER TO MY AUNT'S AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. MY COUSINS WERE A LITTLE YOUNGER THAN WE WERE AND IN THE WINTER THE KIDS WENT TOBOGONNING DOWN A SNOWY SLOPE AND ALMOST FELL INTO A RIVER. BUT THE TOBOGAN HELD ABOUT 5 OF US AND WE DUG OUR BOOTS INTO THE SNOW IN ORDER TO STOP IT FROM GOING INTO THE CREEK. SOME PEOPLE ON ROUND SLEDS WENT VERY FAST - THEY SOMETIMES BOUNCED ACROSS THE CREEK. WE ALWAYS WENT TO CHURCH WITH THEM AT CHRISTMAS.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE FLEW THERE FOR CHRISTMAS FROM PHOENIX. IT WAS 80 DEGREES IN PHOENIX AND 40 BELOW ZERO WITH WIND CHILL! THEY HAVE SUPER COLD WINTERS - I JUST CAN'T HANDLE THAT COLD ANYMORE..

I REMEMBER GOING HIKING WITH MY COUSINS AS WELL AS TRICK OR TREATING. WE VISITED THEIR FAMILY OFTEN. WE BROUGHT THICK WINTER BOOTS AND HIKED THROUGH THE SNOW WHERE THEY LIVED IN A LARGE SPACEY SUBURB OF MENOMENEE FALLS. I WAS AMAZED ABOUT THE LARGE YARDS THEY HAVE IN WISCONSIN. IT SEEMS LIKE SUCH A WASTE OF WATER TO MAINTAIN THESE LARGE GRASSY YARDS. AND THEN CUTTING THE GRASS IS ENORMOUS AS WELL.

STRASBURG RAILROAD

THIS RAILROAD AND TRAIN STARTED IN 1832. MY FAMILY(MY 5 YEAR OLD SON, MY BROTHER, AND MOM) STAYED OVERNIGHT IN A CABOOSE CAR HERE IN THE WINTER. IT IS IN AMISH TERRITORY. THEY WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE 18 TO DECIDE TO GET BAPTIZED AND TO DECIDE TO JOIN THE CHURCH. MANY HAVE THERE CHURCH PRAYERS ETC. IN THEIR HOUSE. THEY RESTRICT TECHNOLOGY AND USE CANDLES INSTEAD OF ELECTRICITY. HOWEVER THEIR EXPENSIVE TRAIN MUSEUM IS WELL LIT AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 100 TRAINS IN THERE THAT YOU CAN OBSERVE AND WALK THROUGH. IT IS A FUN PLACE TO SEE THE OLD TRAINS AND HOW THEY WERE BUILT. MY SON THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THEM.

THE AMISH HAND WASH THEIR SIMPLE CLOTHES AND MANY USE A PEDDLE SEWING MACHINE TO MAKE THEIR CLOTHES. THEY HAVE CANDLES LIT IN THEIR WINDOWS AT NIGHT - IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. THEY USE A HORSE AND BUGGY AROUND TOWN. THERE ARE ABOUT 16,OOO AMISH IN THIS AREA. LANCASTER IS ANOTHER TOWN WHERE THE AMISH LIVE.

LAKE SONOMA PROPOSAL

THE FIRST YEAR I MOVED TO SONOMA COUNTY (1985) I VOLUNTEERED AS A LAND MANAGER AND PARK PLANNER. THE SONOMA COUNTY PARK PLANNER HAD A SIDE BUSINESS OF PLANNING OTHER EXHIBITS. I WORKED WITH HIS TEAM TO HELP PREPARE A PROPOSAL FOR LAKE SONOMA VISITOR CENTER'S EXHIBITS. THEY WANTED TO UPDATE WHAT THEY HAD. A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM PUT TOGETHER A PROPOSAL FOR THIS VISITOR CENTER, HOWEVER THE ARMY CORP SELECTED ANOTHER PLANNING TEAM. IT WAS GOOD EXPERIENCE ANYWAY.

HOUSE ON THE ROCK MUSEUM

THIS HUGE RAMBLING MUSEUM WAS CREATED BY A MAN WHO ROAMED ACROSS MANY COUNTRIES. I GUESS HE HAD INHERITED QUITE A BIT OF MONEY AND NEVER HAD A FAMILY. I DROVE MY MOM AND SON THERE WHEN WE VISITED HER ONE EASTER. SHE WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND IT DOES TAKE ABOUT 3 HOURS TO GO THROUGH THIS MAZE OF ROOMS. YOU CAN EASILY GET LOST AS WELL, WHICH WE DID. IT IS SORT OF A WINDOWLESS UNDERGROUND MUSEUM, EXCEPT FOR THE HOUSE ON THE ROCK - HIS HOME. ONE ROOM IS FULL OF VICTORIAN DOLLS. ANOTHER ROOM IS FULL OF CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS, AND ANOTHER ONE HAS ANGELS HANGING FROM THE CEILING. YOU DO HAVE TO TAKE A REST AND GO OUT INTO THE FRESH AIR OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE TRAPPED - IT'S A REALLY DARK MUSEUM. WE THEN WENT TO A CHINESE ROOM WHERE THEY HAD A LOT OF WOODEN AND PAINTED PUPPETS MOVING ON A STAGE. YOU COULD PUT A QUARTER INTO A MACHINE AND LISTEN TO A MOVEABLE PUPPET FROM CHINA GO IN AND OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AND IT PLAYS SOME MUSIC. IT IUS QUITE AN INTERESTING DISPLAY THAT IS NO WHERE ELSE.

ANOTHER ROOM IS A CIRCUS ROOM WHERE ALL KINDS OF PAINTED ANIMALS OF WOOD ARE THERE. IT MAKES YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE PART OF THE CIRCUS AS YOU TRAVEL UP AND DOWN A RAMP.

IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL MUSEUM.

WISCONSIN DELLS TRIP WITH FAMILY

WHEN WE WERE ABOUT 10 AND 12 MY BROTHER AND I USED TO GO WITH MY PARENTS TO WISCONSIN DELLS FOR A FUN VACATION. WE WOULD STAY AT A HOTEL AND LISTEN TO THE BIG CHIEF INDIANS AT A COUNSEL WHILE THEY PLAYED DRUMS AND INDIAN MUSIC AT NIGHT. THEY HAVE QUITE THE EXHIBITION FOR THE MENOMINEE INDIANS.

WE ALSO WENT ON A WISCONSIN DELLS DUCK TRIP TO THE RIVERS IN THE BOX CANYONS. IT IS LIKE RIDING IN A BIG JEEP BUT YOU ALSO FLOAT IN THE RIVER AS A BOAT. IT IS QUITE AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIP. THEY TELL YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE LAND AND SOME OF THE GEOLOGY. THE DELLS HAS GROWN TO BE A HUGE TOURIST SITE.

WE SWAM IN THE POOLS IN THE HOTEL. TODAY THEY HAVE ALL KINDS OF WATER SLIDES TODAY AS MY RELATIVES TELL ME. THEY STILL GO THERE WITH THEIR KIDS. I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN OVER 40 YEARS.

MILWAUKEE MUSEUM

MY MOTHER'S FAMILY IS FROM MILWAUKEE AREA. MY FAMILY AS A YOUNGSTER ALWAYS WENT TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS VACATION WHILE WE LIVED IN OHIO. IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME TO TRAVEL BY CAR SOMETIMES AS THE SNOW IN WISCONSIN IS PRETTY HEAVY. WE USUALLY VISIT THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM. I HAVE TAKEN MY MOM THERE EVEN WHEN SHE WAS IN HER 90'S. THE MUSEUM HAS AT LEAST FOUR FLOORS. IT HAS ALL TYPES OF ETHNIC ARTIFACTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD - ESKIMO. KWAIKIUTL, GUATEMALAN, PHILLIPINO, AND SOUTHWESTERN (ARIZONA/NEW MEXICO) ARTIFACTS AND ART.

IT IS A FASCINATING MUSEUM WITH GEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS; AND IT HAS PRESERVED ANIMALS FROM VARIOUS CONTINENTS AS WELL. ALL OF MY AUNTS AND I LOVE THIS MUSEUM!

TONTO NATIONAL FOREST HIKING AND SWIMMING

AS GRADUATE STUDENTS MY HUSBAND AND I JOURNEYED INTO THE TONTO NATIONAL FOREST DURING THE SUMMER AND ON WEEKENDS TO CAMP. IN 1979 - 1980. IT WAS NOT A WELL USED TRAIL AT THAT TIME. I REMEMBER OUR BATTERY DYING ON ONE TRIP AND HAVING TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME OUT TO RESCUE US. IT WAS ACCESSED BY A WINDY CURVING DIRT ONE LANE TRAIL. WE USED TO GO SWIMMING IN THE SAGUARO AND CANYON LAKE AND IT WAS VERY REFRESHING. I REMEMBER A GROUP OF OUR FRIENDS GOING HIKING OUT TO THE LAKES AND SCRAMBLING OVER SOME ROCKS AND JUMPING INTO A POOL OF WATER. IT WAS VERY FUN.

ON OUR HIKES INTO THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS WE FOUND MANY PETROGLYPHS NEARBY. IT IS A CRAZY HIGH TRAIL THAT LEADS PAST WEAVERS NEEDLE, A TALL SPIRE THAT IS OVER 100 FEET TALL. SOME PEOPLE CLIMB IT - DARE DEVILS I WOULD SAY!

SONOMA COUNTY MUSEUM

I TOOK MY MOM TO THE SONOMA COUNTY MUSEUM IN SANTA ROSA WHEN I WAS TAKING CARE OF HER IN 2005. WE ENJOYED GOING TO THE MUSEUM AND MEETING SOME OF THE SCULPTORS AND ARTISTS. THEY HAD AN ENTIRE MUSEUM FILLED WITH CONTEMPORARY ART OF NATIVE AMERICANS. IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AS THEY COMBINED SOME FLAMBOYANT COLORS THAT REPRESENTED THEIR ABILITY TO HAVE THEIR SPIRIT IN THEIR ART. I ENJOYED THE FACT THAT THE ARTISTS SPOKE ABOUT THEIR WORK AND HOW THEY GOT INTO THEIR MEDIUM. THEY ALSO SPOKE ABOUT WHY THEY HAVE STAYED IN THE ART FIELD. THERE WERE SOME CUPS MADE OF POTTERY AND THEY ADDED SOME METAL WORK TO THEM. IT WAS INTERESTING HOW THE ARTISTS USED A LARGE VARIETY OF METAL, STONES, GEMS, CERAMICS, PAINTS, AND PAPER TO MAKE THESE OBJECTS.

IT WAS A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF US.

MY HEALTH FOOD PROMOTION BUSINESS

WHEN I WAS RAISING MY SON I ALSO HAD A SMALL PART TIME BUSINESS SELLING HEALTH FOOD PRODUCTS INCLUDING WALNUT ACRES, AMY'S FROZEN FOODS, AND ALVARADO STREET BREADS. THIS GAVE ME A GREAT WAY TO DEVELOP MYSELF AS I WAS A PART TIME MOM. I MET HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AT MY PROMOTIONAL DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE MARKETS. IN FACT THE PEOPLE AT THE MARKETS SAID YOU ARE DOING JUST WHAT IS THE BEST THING FOR YOU! I RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS. EVENTUALLY I SHIFTED TO INCLUDE LECTURING TO VARIOUS PUBLIC PLACES ABOUT MY SUBJECT OF STUDY.

IN MY PROMOTIONAL SALES I WOULD MENTION THE WAY THESE FOODS BENEFITED THEIR HEALTH. I GOT TO HEAR ABOUT MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD HEALTH PROBLEMS. IT WAS INCREDIBLE HOW MANY PEOPLE DID HAVE CERTAIN HEALTH PROBLEMS. SO I SUGGESTED HOW THE BREAD OR FOOD I WAS SELLING BENEFITED THEM AND THEY WOULD INSTANTANEOUSLY GIVE ME FEEDBACK ABOUT THE TASTE! THAT WAS THE VERY POSITIVE SIDE OF THIS BUSINESS.

IT LASTED FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND GAVE ME A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY AS I GOT PAID TO TRAVEL AS WELL.

MY FOUNTAIN BUSINESS

WHEN I WAS RAISING MY 5 YEAR OLD SON I HAD AN "AHA" IDEA ONCE I SAW A FOUNTAIN DESIGNING CLASS. I DECIDED TO OPEN AN ARTISTIC FOUNTAIN BUSINESS WHICH MADE ME VERY HAPPY. I RESEARCHED WHERE TO GET MY CONTAINERS WHICH INCLUDED VARIOUS CERAMICISTS, SOME BRONZE BOWLS, AND SOME LARGE PLASTIC BOWLS. I STUDIED PHOTOS OF OTHER FOUNTAINS. I GOT A WHOLESALE LICENSE TO BUY VARIOUS PLANTS TO PUT IN MY FOUNTAINS, AND I ORDERED THE PUMPS THROUGH THE MAIL. I DECIDED TO ADD DIFFERENT ROCKS TO MY FOUNTAINS WHICH I GOT A SOME LANDSCAPE YARDS. IT WAS VERY CREATIVE PUTTING TOPGETHER ALL OF THESE PIECES. I PHOTOGRAPHED THEM AND BROUGHT MY CATALOGUE OF FOUNTAINS TO BOOKSTORES, AND NATURAL FOOD SHOPS AND STORES. I EXHIBITED THEM AT THE COUNTY FALL FAIR AND OTHER SMALL FAIRS.

IT WAS A FUN BUSINESS EVEN THOUGH I MADE LITTLE MONEY DOING THIS. I MET A NUMBER OF BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED MY FOUNTAINS AND I SOLD SOME LARGER ONES TO MEDICAL OFFICES. I HAD SOME BROCHURES THAT I DISTRIBUTED TO DOCTORS AND YOGA OFFICES.

SOME PEOPLE WANTED SPECIAL FOUNTAINS MADE FOR THEM.

ALBUERQUEQUE PETROGLYPH NATIONAL MONUMENT

IN THE 1990'S OUR FAMILY VISITED THIS HUGE BASALT PETROGLYPH SITE LOCATED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ALBUQUERQUE. I GUESS IN THE WINTER THERE MUST BE WATER IN SOME OF THE DRAINAGES. HOWEVER WE VISITED IT IN THE HOT SUMMER AND THERE WAS NO WATER AROUND.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER DRAINAGES IN THIS HUGE NATIONAL MONUMENT WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO VISIT. THE VISITOR CENTER WAS ONCE HOME TO DR. SOPHIE ABERLE WHO STUDIED AND WORKED WITH THE NATIVE AMERICANS IN THIS AREA. SHE WAS INTERESTED IN THE
WOMEN'S LIVES, THEIR CHILDBIRTH, BABY CARE, DIETS, AND HEALING.

THERE ARE PETROGLYPHS OF HANDS, ANIMALS, PEOPLE, CATS, SNAKES, DEER, COYOTE, CROSSES, GEOGLYPHS AND MORE COMPLEX GLYPHS. WE SPENT SEVERAL HOURS TOURING THE GLYPHS AND CLIMBING THE HILLS, LOOKING AT THE VISITOR CENTER. THE ONE UNUSUAL GLYPH WAS A CAT WHICH MY SON LIKED. WE TOOK MANY PHOTOS. THERE WERE FEW PEOPLE TOURING THIS SITE AT THIS TIME. I'D RECOMMEND GOING THERE IF YOU LIKE TO VIEW SOME UNUSUAL PETROGLYPHS AS IT IS VERY ACCESSIBLE BY CAR.

DEER VALLEY PETROGLYPH SITE

WHILE I WORKED AT BLM I VISITED A SITE LOCATED NEARBY THAT WAS DEER VALLEY PETROGLYPH SITE. THIS 47 ACRE SITE HAD NOT BEEN PRESERVED AS A NATIONAL REGISTER SITE AT THAT TIME. SINCE THEN THEY HAVE RECORDED 1500 PETROGLYPHS ON BASALT ROCKS SINCE 1994. I DO NOT KNOW HOW OLD THEY ARE - THEY MAY BE SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS OLD? THEY BUILT A MUSEUM BY 2000 AND IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IT WAS NOMINATED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. THE BLM AND ASU ARCHAEOLOGISTS ARE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MUSEUM TO CONTINUE STUDYING THIS SITE.

MOST OF THE GLYPHS ARE RELATED TO THE HOHOKAM PEOPLE WHO INHABITED THE VALLEY OF PHOENIX.

OUR ARCHAEOLOGICAL BUSINESS

MY BOYFRIEND AND I HAD AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL BUSINESS IN SOUTH AND NORTH DAKOTA WORKING FOR SMALL AND LARGE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES AS WELL AS FOR GOLD MINERS AND OTHER LAND DEVELOPERS. I HAD WORKED IN 1983 FOR SOUTH DAKOTA STATE AS A SUPERVISOR FOR LARGE SURVEYS ON PRIVATE LANDS FOR OIL AND GAS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS. MY HUSBAND AND I DECIDED TO WORK IN THE BLACK HILLS AND IN THE GRASSLANDS RECORDING PREHISTORIC AND HISTORIC SITES PRIOR TO LAND DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERGROUND OIL AND GAS TESTING. HAVING THIS BUSINESS HELPED DEVELOP US. WE ALSO RESEARCHED THE HISTORY OF PROPERTIES AT THE COURTHOUSE AND FOUND OUT WHO WAS DOING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS SO THAT I COULD CONTACT THEM.

WE TOOK A TWO CYLINDAR CAR TO GO ACROSS THE ENTIRE SOUTH DAKOTA PLAINS AND UP AND DOWN DRAINAGES. THE REMAINS AND OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE ARTIFACTS WERE WRITTEN UP IN A REPORT FOR THE COMPANIES. WE DID NOT COLLECT ANYTHING BUT KEPT THE SITES PRESERVED FROM ANY DISTURBANCES. WE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MOST OF THE SITES WERE SMALL LITHIC SCATTERS. WE RECORDED THE CHERT AND OBSIDIAN KNAPPING STATIONS, AS WELL AS SOME PALEONTOLOGICAL REMAINS. MANY OF THE SITES DATED TO 8 TO 10,000 YEARS AGO.

WE GOT TO KNOW THE FOREST SERVICE AND THEY GAVE US SOME BUSINESS REFERRALS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO CONDUCTED PROJECTS IN THE FOREST. HOWEVER MOST OF OUR PROJECTS WERE FROM AN OIL COMPANY. WE ROAMED MANY MILES EVEN IN THE WINTER TO DO LINEAR SURVEYS FOR THIS ONE TEXAS COMPANY. IT WAS ACROSS ROCKY SLOPES AND MOSTLY PRAIRIE LANDS WHERE ANTELOPES ROAMED AS WELL ASPRAIRIE DOGS. WE BOTH LOVED THE BLACK HILLS AND TOOK OUR SON BACK THEREWHEN HE WAS ABOUT 8 OR SO. THE LAKES ARE SO PRISTINE AND WE SHOWED HIM THE LARGE SULPHUR SWIMMING POOL WHICH WAS BUILT TO HELP PEOPLE WITH RHEUMATISM. THERE WAS A TRAIN THAT BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM NEW YORK CITY TO HOT SPRINGS TO CURE THEIR RHEUMATISM. IT IS A HUGE POOL. WE MADE A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY WHILE WE WERE THERE FOE THREE YEARS AND I COMPLETED MY THESIS IN HOT SPRINGS, THEN WE MOVED BACK TO PHOENIX WHERE I DEFENDED MY THESIS AND BEGAN WORKING WITH THE CITY AS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST AND THEN WITH BLM.

HEALTH FOOD COOP IN TEMPE, ARIZONA

AS GRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE 1980'S WE USED TO WORK OCCASIONALLY AT THE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD COOP IN ORDER TO GET GOOD PRICES ON ORGANIC FOODS. WE ALSO DONATED SOME OF THE FRUIT FROM OUR TREES WHERE WE LIVED THERE - LEMONS AND PECANS. IT WAS LOCATED JUST WEST OF CAMPUS AND WE RODE OUR BIKES ALL OVER TEMPE. EVERYONE RODE THEIR BIKES MOSTLY VS. DRIVING BACK THEN. EVEN WHEN WE MOVED TO PHOENIX I USED TO RIDE MY BIKE AND IT WAS A DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATION IN THE 80'S.

WE MET OTHER FOLKS WHO LIKED TO EAT HEALTHY FOODS AND OF COURSE WE STUDIED THE FOODS THAT THE PREHISTORIC INDIANS USED TO EAT THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS MEXICO. IT MADE SENSE TO EAT HEALTHY FOOD AS I GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HEALTH AND NUTRITION. I LEARNED ABOUT NUTRITION BY READING MY BOOKS AND BY READING BOOKS MY MOM HAD IN OUR HOUSE. AFTER MY TWENTIES I GREW ORGANIC VEGETABLES IN MY GARDENS AND KNEW THEY TASTED BETTER AND ARE BETTER FOR YOU THAN MASS GROWN VEGETABLES.

IN PHOENIX THEY HAD MANY DIFFERENT ETHNIC FOODS THAN THEY HAD IN OHIO. MEXICAN FOOD OF COURSE WAS A SPECIALTY. AND THEY HAD ETHNIC MARKETS THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE IN OHIO. SO I TASTED A LOT OF VARIETY OF EASTERN INDIAN AND I BECAME A VERY GOOD COOK AS WELL. I HAD SOME TIME TO DEVELOP AND MAKE OUR OWN DINNERS. WE USED THE FRESHEST INGREDIENTS POSSIBLE.

OSMOSIS SPA EXPERIENCE

LAST MOTHER'S DAY I TREATED MYSELF TO AN UNIQUE SPA EXPERIENCE AT OSMOSIS SPA IN FREESTONE. THEY HAVE SOME UNIQUE GROUND CEDAR ENZYME BATHS THAT ARE JUST PERFECTLY WARM (NOT VERY HOT) THAT GENTLY RELAX YOU. THIS BATH BOOSTS YOUR METABOLISM AND THEY GIVE YOU SOME LEMON WATER TO SIP WHILE YOU ARE IN THE BATH FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES. YOU ENJOY THEIR PERFECT MEDITATION GARDEN WHILE IN THIS BATH. THEY ALSO HAVE SOME VERY GOOD TEA WHILE THERE. THEN YOU RINSE OFF AND GO INTO ANOTHER ROOM TO HAVE A 75 MINUTE RELAXING MASSAGE THAT LEAVES YOU FEELING BLISSFUL. THE SPA HAS BEEN LANDSCAPED INTO A 5 ACRE SANCTUARY LIKE IN JAPAN. I LOVED THE WHOLE VISUAL AND AESTHETIC EXPERIENCE. THE SMALL BAMBOO BRIDGE AND CHAIRS IN THE GARDEN GIVE YOU THE FEELING THAT YOU ARE IN JAPAN.

PHOENIX ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDENS

WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PHOENIX WE OFTEN WENT TO THE ZOO WHERE A GOOD FRIEND OF OURS WORKED. THE ZOO HAD MANY LOCAL AND EXOTIC ANIMALS. IT IS A PLACE WHERE MANY TOURISTS FLOCK. WE STILL HAVE MANY PHOTOS OF THE ANIMALS THERE. WE LIKED THE VEGETATION THERE

IT COVERS 125 ACRES AND HAS A COLLECTION OF OVER 1200 ANIMALS. IT IS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE ZOOS IN THE COUNTRY. THE ANIMALS INCLUDE VARIOUS EXOTIC ANTELOPE LOOKING BEASTS, REPTILES, BIRDS, FISH, AND OTHER MAMMALS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

PHOENIX ALSO HAS A WONDERFUL BOTANICAL GARDEN AS WELL. IT IS WITHIN 50 ACRES WITH 140 RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES. IT IS 70 YEARS OLD AND IS INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS FOR IT'S RENOWNED PLANT COLLECTIONS. WE USED TO WALK THERE MANY TIMES AND HAVE TAKEN MANY PICTURES OF THE UNIQUE DESERT FLOWERS.

WICKENBURG GOLD MINING TOWN

WHEN I WAS WORKING FOR THE BLM I HELPED RECORD MANY SITES THAT WERE OF AN HISTORIC NATURE NEAR AND AROUND WICKENBURG. ONE LARGE SITE WAS WEAVERSVILLE WHICH WAS AT ONE TIME THE STATE'S CAPITAL @ 1860'S. THIS HISTORIC TOWN HAD OVER 20 HOUSES, SOME MADE OF ADOBE BY THE CHINESE WORKERS DURING THEIR ASSISTANCE TO THE PIONEERS WHO WERE MINING FOR GOLD. I WORKED WITH A GROUP OF ORV FOLKS TO HELP REPAIR A HOUSE AND CLEAR VEGETATION FROM THEIR CEMETARY. DURING OUR FOOD FEAST THAT NIGHT WE HAD AN OLD TIMER MINER COME TELL THE GROUP HIS STORIES ABOUT MINING. IT WAS A FUN EVENT.

IT TOOK ME SOME TIME TO RECORD THIS ENTIRE SITE AND DRAW SOME OF THE BUILDINGS AND TO DESCRIBE THEM AS WELL AS THE HISTORIC BOTTLES AND CANS.

THERE WAS AN ONGOING MINING OPORATION THERE AT THE TIME AND THEY WERESTILL FINDING SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF GOLD.