On Saturday, July 18th we’ll have an opportunity to trace the sometimes forgotten path of our Native people here in Point Reyes.\u00a0 From 9:30 to 12:30 in the Red Barn near Park Headquarters a dynamic quartet of speakers will regale us with reflections and personal tales in a presentation entitled: “Native American History Past, Present and Future.”\u00a0 Malcolm Margolin is the renowned founder of Heyday Press, which has been publishing books for many decades on both the environment and Native culture.\u00a0 Lindsie Bear serves as the editor of News From Native California, the heart full Heyday magazine that reflects both the past and present of Indian consciousness.<\/p>\n
Vincent Medina is an Ohlone Indian, who also writes for the magazine.\u00a0 He’s been particularly active in reviving the Ohlone language and associated culture.\u00a0 And, our own Joanne Campbell is a cherished Miwok elder who sits on the tribal council.\u00a0 Joanne received a standing ovation at the end of her talk during the recent Geography of Hope Conference.\u00a0 To register for the lectures call the College of Marin at 415-485-9305 or pay the $49 tuition fee at the door.\u00a0 Check out MAPOM.org for more information.<\/p>\n
This presentation is actually an official class in the California Indian Studies Program, which is a partnership with The Miwok Archeological Preserve of Marin (MAPOM), the College of Marin (COM) and the Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS).\u00a0 The driving vision seeks to keep timeless indigenous practices alive. Classes are offered throughout the year with many conducted here at Kule Loklo.\u00a0 A sample include: flintknapping, basket making, acorn processing, fire making, as well as field trips to petroglyph sites, basket museums and tracking trails.\u00a0 Many of the teachers are California Indians, as well as instructors who are leading authorities on Native culture. \u00a0The cosmology and worldview which successfully sustained our original inhabitants for so many millennia is woven into these presentations.<\/p>\n
After the morning lectures participants are invited to follow the trail to Kule Loklo for the Point Reyes National Seashore’s 35th annual Kule Loklo Big Time Festival.\u00a0 Highlights include: traditional California Indian dancers, crafts demonstrations, basket making, book sales, jewelry, artifacts and more.\u00a0 In the course of one day, we’re offered a golden opportunity to follow human footsteps through the 10,000 year history of our land.\u00a0 Perhaps valuable lessons are embedded in that journey that could serve to address the growing ecological crisis on which Pope Francis has now focused the world’s attention.<\/p>\n
Tracking Miwok History<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not so long ago the prevailing wisdom held that the Miwok Indians were extinct.\u00a0 In protest the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria loudly proclaim “We are still here.” Marin County was named after the Miwok hero who resisted the onslaught of the European invasion.\u00a0 Anthropologist, Betty Goerke, has written a compelling biography called “Chief Marin: Leader, Rebel, and Legend” that moves from the ageless time of Native culture to the recent march of the European invaders.<\/p>\n
Most of what’s arbitrarily presented as “our county’s history” emphasizes the past few hundred years and pays all but lip service to the thousands of years Native people successfully sustained themselves here in Marin – without, I might add, destroying the environment.\u00a0 The footprint left by a few thousand hunting and gathering people living harmoniously with the natural world contrasts with the hundreds of thousands of modern inhabitants all struggling to live high on the hog.\u00a0 Maybe the hard wiring of Homo dominativus (dominating humans) propels us to behave exactly as we do – and thus no real blame.\u00a0 However, as the MAPOM\/COM\/PRNS Indian lectures and classes reflect, an alternative quality of human consciousness is also a part of our biological and cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
In order to learn from the lessons of the past we could look to the long history of indigenous culture.\u00a0 We might discover kernels of Native wisdom that could shine light on how to resolve the present climate crisis.\u00a0 An ethos emphasizing the need to keep the population within the carrying capacity of the environment could point the way. A cosmology grounded in a respectful and sacred relationship with the natural world might suggest some new\/old directions for us to follow.<\/p>\n
Coast Miwok\/Kashia Pomo and national treasure, Julia Parker, has been teaching basket weaving in the Indian Studies Program for decades.\u00a0 She lives that ageless worldview and incorporates its precepts in her classes.\u00a0 In the book about her life as a basket weaver entitled “Scrape The Willow Until It Sings,” Julia shares these precious words: “So when we gather, we are always told to give offering – no matter what we have.\u00a0 This is paying back to Earth with the respect of a thank you.\u00a0 So you follow those rules.\u00a0 You don’t take more than you need.\u00a0 And do song, prayer and offering.”\u00a0 She’ll be back to teach at Kule Loklo on September 19-20.<\/p>\n
And just recently, Pope Francis has shocked the established powers with his stunning encyclical proclaiming the necessity to rethink how we care for “Mother Earth.”\u00a0 Much of his languaging has the ring of the Earth-centered spiritual practices that guided humanity for those countless millennia. \u00a0“Praise Be To You” Pope Francis!\u00a0 The tracks of many forgotten footsteps call out for rediscovery.\u00a0 It’s all about time.<\/p>\n
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On Saturday, July 18th we’ll have an opportunity to trace the sometimes forgotten path of our Native people here in Point Reyes.\u00a0 From 9:30 to 12:30 in the Red Barn near Park Headquarters a dynamic quartet of speakers will regale … Continue reading