THE POMO WERE FORTUNATE INDIANS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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