CHACO CANYON

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

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

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

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

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

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

ZION NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

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

DINOSAUR NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

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

OREGON CAVES

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

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

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

CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

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

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

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

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

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

LASSEN NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

MUIR WOODS NATIONAL PARK

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

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

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

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

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

SINKYONE WILDERNESS STATE PARK

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

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

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

STANDISH HICKEY STATE PARK

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

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

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

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

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

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

RICHARDSON GROVE STATE PARK

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

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

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

CHINA CAMP STATE PARK

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

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

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

ARMSTRONG WOODS STATE PARKS

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

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

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

SALT POINT STATE PARK

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

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

THREE SISTERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


SANDY JOHNSON

LEGGETT BROTHERS AND OTHER BANDS

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

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

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

CENTER FOR SPIRITURAL LIVING

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

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

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

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

SRJC FUTURE OF FOOD MOVIE

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

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

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

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

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

ROSE AUGER - CREE FROM EDMONTON CANADA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SANDY JOHNSON

VERNON HARPER - A CREE OF THE 8TH FIRE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A WALK AT BISHOP'S RANCH IN THE FALL

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

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

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

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


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

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

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

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

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

AMEN

WILLARD RHOADES - PIT RIVER STORYTELLER

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


SANDY JOHNSON

SIX NATIONS ELDERS

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

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

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

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

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

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



SANDY JOHNSON

THE OHLONES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


MALCOLM MARGOLIN

CHUMASH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


.

FREDERICK HOXIE

OUR TRIP TO BARBADOS

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

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

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

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

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

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

NAVAJO

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

SAND PAINTINGS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERICK HOXIE

CHEROKEE INDIANS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE TRAIL OF TEARS

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

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

SANTA ROSA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

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

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

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOPI

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERICK HOXIE

PIMA AND PAPAGO

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERICK HOXIE

CLIFF DWELLERS

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

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

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

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

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

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

FREDERICK HOXIE

MIWOK

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

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

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

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

RED CLOUD (MAKHPYIA -LUTA)

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

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

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


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

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

FREDERICK HOXIE











FREDERICK HOXIE

ZUNI

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

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

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

FREDERICK HOXIE

SACAGAWEA

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

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

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


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

FREDERICK HOXIE