RITES OF PASSAGE FOR BOYS

LUISENO INDIANS

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THE LUISENO BOYS HELD INITIATION RITUALS FOR THEIR YOUNG MEN WHO THAT LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. THEY DRANK JIMSON WEED AND DANCED UNTIL THEY WENT TO SLEEP. THEY OFTEN GOT EXPERIENCED A GUIDED VISION. THEIR INSTRUCTION AFTER THIS WAS THAT THE HOLY MEN SHOWED THEM A SAND PAINTING AND EXPLAINED THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF IT. THEY TAUGHT THEM THE PROPER BEHAVIOUR AND TO REMEMBER THEIR SPEECH. WHEN YOU DIE, YOU WILL BE SPOKEN OF AS THOSE OF THE SKY.

ESKIMO

BOYS ON MIWOK ISLAND WERE REQUIRED TO KILL BEARDED SEAL WHICH WAS A GREAT HUNTING FEAT. AFTER HE RETURNED HE WENT TO THE KASHIM, THE CEREMONIAL LODGE FOR MALES. HE SANG A HUNTING SONG AND THE SEAL'S MEET WAS GIVEN TO THE ELDERS. AND THE SKIN AND BLADDER HUNG FROM THE CEILING. A BLADDER FESTIVAL WAS A CELEBRATION HELD EACH DECEMBER TO HONOR THE ANIMALS THAT WERE GIVEN UP TO FEED THEM DURING THE YEAR. THEY BELIEVED THE BLADDER KEPT ITS SOUL. ALL OF THE BLADDERS WERE RETURNED TO THE SEA.

THE BOY HAD SPECIAL TABOOS BETWEEN HIS HUNT AND THE BLADDER FESTIVAL. HE DID NOT EAT SEAL MEAT, NOR REMOVE HIS CLOTHES AT NIGHT FOR SLEEPING. HIS MOM'S BEHAVIOR WAS ALSO DIFFERENT - THEY HAD TO WEAR MITTENS OUTSIDE AND BOTH FASTED DURING THE 5 DAY BLADDER FESTIVAL. IT INCLUDED DANCING, COMIC SPEECHES. AND SONGS. ON THE FINAL NIGHT THE YOUNG MAN RAN NAKED ON THE BEACH. HIS CHILDHOOD OFFICIALLY ENDED. INDIAN WOMEN USUALLY MARRIED OLDER WOMEN.

IROQUOIS AND CHEROKEE MARRIAGE PRACTICES

MARRIAGE MARKED A MAJOR CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE. THE MEN HAD TO SEEK A WIFE OUTSIDE THEIR OWN COMMUNITY. AFTER MARRIAGE THE HUSBAND WAS OBLIGED TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY AND MOVE INTO HIS WIFE'S HOUSEHOLD. HIS POSITION WAS INFERIOR TO HIS WIFE'S BROTHER AND FATHER. THEY SPENT 1/3 OF THEIR TIME ON HUNTING/TRADING TRIPS AS A WAR PARTY MEMBER. THERE WERE ABOUT 350 PER VILLAGE. MANY TIMES THE PARENT'S DECIDED WHO THEIR CHILDREN WERE GOING TO MARRY.

CROW CUSTOMS FOR MARRIAGE INCLUDED PURSUING THE WOMEN THEY DESIRED BY SUGGESTING THEIR HELP ON BUFFALO HUNTS OR DURING A JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS TO GET TIPI POLES. THEY WORKED TOGETHER AS THEY WOULD IN MARRIAGE.

THEY ALSO HAD A BERRY SCRAMBLE. THE YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN GATHERED NEAR A BERRY PATCH. EACH BOY APPROACHED THE GIRL OF HIS CHOICE. THE BOY ASKED THE GIRL PERMISSION TO CARRY HER BAG. IF SHE SAID NO HE FELT BAD, IF YES HE FELT GREAT. THE GIRLS LINED UP AND RACED TO BE THE FIRST TO CLAIM THE THICKEST BERRY PATCH. THEY BROKE OFF SEVERAL BRANCHES AND TOO THEM TO THEIR SUITORS. THEY EXCHANGED HORSES AND WENT BACK TO CAMP

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RITES OF PASSAGE AND COURTING

LUISENO INDIANS

IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THE LUISENO BOYS HOLD INITIATION RITUALS FOR THEIR YOUNG MEN THAT LASTED SEVERAL WEEKS. THE DRANK JIMSON WEED AND DANCED UNTIL THEY WENT TO SLEEP. THE OFTEN EXPERIENCED A GUIDING VISION. THEIR INSTRUCTION AFTER THIS WAS THAT HOLY MEN SHOWED THEM A SAND PAINTING AND EXPLAINED THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF IT. THEY TAUGHT THEM PROPER BEHAVIOR AND TO REMEMBER THEIR SPEECH. WHEN YOU DIE, YOU WILL BE SPOKEN OF AS THOSE OF THE SKY.

ESKIMO

BOYS ON MINWOK ISLAND WERE REQUIRED TO KILL A BEARDED SEAL. WHICH WAS A GREAT HUNTING FEAT. AFTER HE RETURNED HE WENT TO THE KASHIM, THE CEREMONIAL LODGE FOR THE MALES. HE SANG A HUNTING SONG AND THE SEAL'S MEAT WAS GIVEN TO THE HUNTER'S. THE SKIN AND BLADDER WAS HUNG FROM THE CEILING. A BLADDER FESTIVAL WAS A CELEBRATION HELD EACH DECEMBER TO HONOR THE ANIMALS THAT WERE GIVEN UP TO FEED THEM DURING THE YEAR. THEY BELIEVED THE SOUL OF THE SEAL WAS KEPT IN THE BLADDER. ALL OF THE BLADDERS WERE RETURNED TO THE SEA.

THE BOY HAD SPECIAL TABOOS BETWEEN HIS HUNT AND THE BLADDER FESTIVAL. HE DID NOT EAT THE SEAL MEAT., NOR REMOVE HIS CLOTHES AT NIGHT FOR SLEEPING. HIS MOM'S BEHAVIOR WAS DIFFERENT ALSO - THEY BOTH HAD TO WEAR MITTENS OUTSIDE AND FASTED DURING THE 5 DAY BLADDER FESTIVAL. IT INCLUDED DANCING, COSMIC SPEECHES, AND SONGS. ON THE FINAL NIGHT THE YOUNG MAN RAN NAKED ON THE BEACH. HIS CHILDHOOD OFFICIALLY ENDED. INDIAN WOMEN USUALLY MARRIED OLDER MEN.

IROQUOIS AND CHEROKEE MARRIAGE PRACTICES

MARRIAGE MARKED A MAJOR CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE. THE MEN HAD TO SEEK A WIFE OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY. AFTER MARRIAGE THE HUSBAND WAS OBLIGED TO LEAVE HIS FAMILY AND MOVE INTO HIS WIFE'S HOUSEHOLD. HIS POSITION WAS INFERIOR TO HIS WIFE'S BROTHERS AND FATHER. THEY SPENT 1/3 OF THEIR TIME ON HUNTING AND TRADING TRIPS AND AS A WAR PARTY MEMBER. THERE WERE ABOUT 350 MEMBERS PER VILLAGE. MANY TIMES THE PARENTS DECIDED WHO THEIR CHILDREN WERE GOING TO MARRY.

CROW CUSTOMS

FOR THE CROW MARRIAGE INCLUDED PURSUING THE WOMAN THEY DESIRED BY REQUESTING THE WOMAN'S HELP ON A BUFFALO HUNTING TRIP OR DURING A JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS TO GET TIPI POLES. THEY WORKED TOGETHER AS THEY WOULD IN MARRIAGE.

THEY ALSO HAD A BERRY SCRAMBLE. THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GATHERED NEAR A BERRY PATCH. EACH BOY APPROACHED THE GIRL OF HIS CHOICE. THE BOY ASKED THE GIRL PERMISSION TO CARRY HER BAG. IF SHE SAID NO HE FELT BAD, BUT IF YES HE FELT GREAT. THE GIRLS LINED UP AND RACED TO BE THE FIRST TO CLAIM THE THICKEST BERRY PATCH. THEY BROKE OFF SEVERAL BRANCHES AND TOOK THEM TO THEIR SUITORS. THEY EXCHANGED HORSES AND WENT BACK TO CAMP SINGING.

SOME FOLKS USED LOVE CHARMS TO WIN THE AFFECTION OF THE THEY WISHED TO WED. SOME MEN BLEW ON A FLUTE LIKE INSTRUMENT THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN ELK . SOME MEN USED MEDICINE MEDICINE BUNDLES AND SACRED OBJECTS ACQUIRED AS THE RESULT OF A VISION TO CAST LOVE SPELLS. ONE MAN NAMED TRAVELS WAS REJECTED BY A LADY HE LIKED. HE WENT TO THE MOUNTAINS TO FAST. ON THE 5TH DAY HE HAD A VISION OF AN ELK MAN WEARING A PAINTED ROBE. HE TOLD HIM TO MAKE A ROBE AND WALK IN FRONT OF THE GIRL. SHE WILL NOT REFUSE YOU. HE DID AS ELK MAN SAID. HE WORE THE ROBE FOR A DAY AND THE WOMAN CAME TO HIS TIPI AND SAID SHE WANTED TO BE HIS WIFE.

PLAINS NATIVE COURTSHIPS

ARAPAHO AND CHEYENNE MEN SPENT SEVERAL YEARS COURTING THEIR BRIDES. ADOLESCENTS OF OPPOSITE SEXES WERE NOT PERMITTED TO OPENLY ASSOCIATE WITH EACH OTHER. A YOUNG MAN MIGHT WAIT TO ALONG A PATH NEAR THE GIRL'S HOME, HOPING TO ENCOUNTER HER AS SHE WENT TO GET WATER OR WOOD. THEN HE'D PULL ON HER SKIRT OR WHISTLE. THE GIRL EITHER IGNORED HIM OR REJECTED HIM OUTRIGHT., OR SHE SPOKE WITH HIM. THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE MEETINGS NEAR THE GIRL'S TIPI. WHEN A MAN FELT SURE ABOUT THE CHOICE FOR A WIFE HE'D CONSULT HIS RELATIVES. IF THEY APPROVED THEY COLLECTED SOME VALUABLE ITEMS AND A FAMILY MEMBER SENT THEM TO THE PARENTS OF THE BRIDE TO BE. THEY WOULD SPEAK AND SMOKE TOBACCO. AND LEAVE BEFORE AN ANSWER. THE GIRL'S MALE RELATIVES DISCUSSED THIS POSSIBILITY. IF THEY ACCEPTED, THE GIRL WAS DRESSED IN A NICE OUTFIT AND THEY RECIPROCATED NICE GIFTS TO THE BOYS FAMILY. THE GIRL, HER MOM AND ANOTHER WOMEN GAVE THESE GIFTS TO THEIR FAMILY. AND A MARRIAGE FEAST FOLLOWED.

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THE DREAM SEEKERS

COUNTLESS NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE VIEWED SUCCESS IN LIFE AS A GIFT FROM THE GODS. NATIVES WENT FOR VISION QUESTSIN ORDER TO SEEK SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE FROM THEIR CREATOR, THEY WENT TO MOUNTAIN TOPS AT TIMES AS WELL AS TO CREEKS. FOR MANY ADOLESCENT BOYS THIS WAS THE WAY THEY BECAME MEN. THE LUISENO OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USED JIMSON WEED TO INDUCE A VISION.

SOME YOUNG MEN FASTED IN THEIR VISION QUEST STONE ENCLOSURE. MANY TRIBES ENCOURAGE VISION QUESTING TO SPIRITUALLY RENEW THEMSELVES. SOME PEOPLE GO ON VISION QUESTS AFTER A DEAR FAMILY MEMBER HAS PASSED AWAY THEY OFTEN FAST AND HAVE VISIONS COME TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY WILL DO NEXT OR A TYPE OF WISDOM THAT THEY MUST
SEEK.

MESCALERO APACHE GIRLS HAVE RITES OF PASSAGE AS THEY MATURE INTO WOMEN. THEY DRESS ON FRINGED BUCKSKIN SKIRTS, AND A BEADED BUCKSKIN OVERBLOUSE. THEIR BIRTH MOTHERS STAND BEHIND THEM WITH BURDEN BASKETS WITH FOOD. THE SINGERS BLESS THE GIRLS WITH POLLEN TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL ONE DAY HAVE STRONG SONS AND DAUGHTERS SO THAT THEIR TRIBE WILL THRIVE. THEIR GOD MOTHERS BLESS THEGIRLS AND AUDIENCE. THE GIRLS LIE FLAT ON THEIR STOMACH FACING EAST. HER GODMOTHER MASSAGES HER BODY RITUALLY MOLDING HER INTO A STRONG WOMAN. WOMEN KEEP FETISHES SUCH AS RABBITS, SQUIRRELS, OR BIRDS, ETC TO WARD OFF SICKNESS. IN THE HOME A LARGE BASKET IS FILLED WITH SACRED GRASS, POLLEN, EAGLE FEATHERS, AND TOBACCO IS BROUGHT OUT. THE GIRLS RUN 4 TIMES AROUND THE BASKET AND THIS REPRESENTS THE 4 STASGES OF THEIR LIFE.

THE MOST SACRED ACTIVITY OF THE MESCALERO RELIGIOUS CALENDAR - THE GIRLS PUBERTY CEREMONY. IT IS CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED . IT LASTS 8 DAYS AND THERE ARE TALES OF ANCIENT HISTORY AS WELL AS SOCIAL OCCASION. PEOPLE COME FROMMANY VILLAGES. THEY GET FREE MEALS, GIFTS, PARTICIPATE IN GAMES, DANCES, AND A RODEO. THE LAST FOU DAYS THE GIRLS GO INTO SECLUSION WITH FEMALE RELATIVES TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF BEING A WOMAN. MOST TRIBES HAVE SIMILAR RITUALS TO INTRODUCE THEIR DAUGHTER'S PASSION INTO WOMANHOOD.

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MOTHER AND CHILD

THE HOPI NAME A BABY WITH A TRIBAL EVENT CONDUCTED BY THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND WISEST THE OF THE ELDERS. A BABY IS born WITH AN EAR OF CORN NEARBY . THE CORN IS A GIFT OF THE GODS AND IS INCLUDED IN SACRED RITES. USUALLY THE SENIOR WOMEN PRESIDED OVER THE CEREMONY. FOR THE FIRST 19 DAYS MOM AND CHILD STAY INDOORS, WITHOUT SUN. DURING THE CEREMONY THE PATERNAL GRANDMA WASHES THE HAIR WITH A CAREFULLY SELECTED EAR OF CORN.

DURING THE THE FIRST YEAR MOST INFANTS SPENT THEIR TIME IN A CRADLEBOARD. NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE WAS MORE THAN A SERIES OF MILESTONES - IT WAS A PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. MOST TRIBES GATHERED IN FAMILIES LIKE WE DO AND YET THEY HAD MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE NEARBY OR ENTIRE CLANS. GRANDPARENTS PARTICULARLY PRESENTED VALUES TO YOUNGER KIDS. THE VALUES WERE TO BE KIND, GENEROUS, AND RESPECTFUL OF ELDERS.

NATIVE CULTURES CHERISHED THEIR CHILDREN. BABIES WERE GIVEN FULLY BEADED MOCCASINS WITH THE SOLES BEADED AS WELL. IN SOME TRIBES AS YOU GROW UP CHILDREN WERE NOT EXPECTED TO ASK QUESTIONS; BUT TO LEARN BY WATCHING . WOMEN WERE THOUGHT TO HAVE SPECIAL POWERS BECAUSE THEY HAD THE ABILITY TO GIVE BIRTH. PREGNANT WOMEN HAD VARIOUS RESTRICTIONS. CERTAIN FOODS WERE TABOO. A CHEROKEE PREGNANT WOMAN WAS EXPECTED TO VISIT A LOCAL RIVER WHERE PRAYERS WOULD BE SAID FOR HER CHILD. SHE DRANK A MEDICINAL TEA OF SLIPPERY ELM, PINE CONES, ROOTS AND STEM. THE ELM BARK ENSURED AN EASY DELIVERY . A PRIEST CAME HERE AND A WIFE AND HER HUSBAND WENT TO THE RIVER AND RECITED A PRAYER. HE OFFERED PREDICTIONS ABOUT THE SEX OF THE CHILD AND -IF IT WOULD SURVIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD. THE PREGNANT WOMAN VOMITED AND THE MEDICINE AND CLEANSED HERSELF OF ANY DISEASE THAT COULD HARM HER CHILD. BIRTH ASSISTANTS WERE COMMON .

THE NAVAJO WOMEN COMMONLY GAVE BIRTH AT HOME AND WHEN LABOR BEGAN A MIDWIFE HELPED HER. SHE WAS CALLED " THE WOMAN WHO PULLS THE BABY OUT". A SACRED SINGER WAS PRESENT TO OFFER CEREMONIAL CHANTS.

SEMI NOMADIC WOMEN OFTEN GAVE BIRTH ON THE TRAIL. BUFFALO BIRD WOMEN, HIDATSA, SHARED HER LIFE WITH ANTHROPOLOGIST GILBERT WILSIN IN 1870. SHE HAD WALKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. ON A COLD NOVEMBER DAY HER BAND PITCHED TIPIS AT MIDNIGHT AND SHE GAVE BIRTH ON A BED OF GRASS WITH ASSISTANCE OF HER FATHER'S WIFE. AFTER THE CHILD WAS BUNDLED THE NEXT DAY, SHE CROSSED THE ICY RIVER WITH THE REST OF THE TRIBE.

IN MOST NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES THE PLACENTA HAD A SPECIAL PLACE FOR DISPOSAL. HOPIS BURIED IT IN SPECIAL HILLS. HAWAIIANS PLACED IT IN CUPULES (LAVA ROCK ART). WASHO MOMS BUNDLES IT WITH THE UMBILICAL CORD WRAPPED IN BARK AND BURIED IT.CHEYENNE PLACED IT IN SPECIAL BEADED BAGS.

TWINS IN MOST NATIVE COMMUNITIES WERE CONSIDERED TO BE A DISGRACE TO THE COMMUNITY. SOME MOTHERS KILLED ONE OF THEIR TWINS TO CONCEAL A MULTIPLE BIRTH. THERE WERE A LOT OF SUPERSTITIONS REGARDING TWINS AND CHILDBIRTH. THE MOMS AND BABIES WERE USUALLY KEPT IN SOME KIND OF SECLUSION. . SOME TRIBES HELD CEREMONIES THAT INITIATED THE INFANT INTO THE TRIBE. THE MOMS USED NATURAL PLANT MATERIALS FOR DIAPERS INCUDING SOFT CATTAIL DOWN, SHREDDED WILLOW, BARK OR SPHAGNUM MOSS. THEY HAD MOSS BAGS HELD IN PLACE BY A CLOTH OR LEATHER THONG.

NAMING THE CHILD WAS DONE BY AN ELDER AFTER IT WAS BORN. THE ARAPAHO BABIES WERE COVERED WITH BUFFALO MANURE WELL AGED AND GROUND. ONCE IT WAS WET THEY AIRED AND DRIED IT, POWDERED IT AND REUSED IT.

IN THE NAVAJO CULTURE THE RITUAL CALLED THE GIVE AWAY RITUAL AN IMPORTANT STEP IN MOLDING A CHILD'S CHARACTER. IF NOT HELD THE NAVAJO BELIEVED THE CHILD WOULD BECOME THE SELFISH AND UNWILLING TO SHARE. AFTER THE RITUAL THEY WERE GIVEN A BRACELET, NECKLACE, OR SILVER BUTTON. GIRLS WERE GIVEN A WHITE SHELL OR BEAD. IT GAVE THEM MEMBERSHIP.

THE PAPAGO AND CHEYENNE DID NOT SCOLD THEIR CHILDREN. THE CHEYENNE DID NOT SCOLD THEIR CHILDREN.THEY USED WATER TO CORRECT MISBEHAVIOR. THEY POUR DOWN IT'S NOSE IF A BABY OR CHILD CRIED TOO LONG!

OF COURSE THE ELDERS TOLD THE CHILDREN STORIES AND MYTHS AROUND A CAMPFIRE NIGHTLY.

MOST TRIBES DO NOT HOLD SPECIAL CEREMONIES FOR CHILDREN ONCE THEY ARE OVER THE AGE OF 10. HOWEVER, THE TEWA STAGE AN IMPORTANT CEREMONY. IT IS CALLED "THE WATER POURING RITE". ONCE THE CHILD IS 10 YEARS OLD, THE ADULTS START PREPARING FOR THIS CEREMONY. THE KIVA IS CLEANED . SOME OF THE ADULTS ARE CHOSEN FOR IMPERSONATING TEWA DIETIES. ON THE FORTH NIGHT THE YOUNG PEOPLE BRING GIFTS TO THE ADULTS SPONSORING THE EVENT. BOYS CHOP WOOD, GIRLS GRIND CORN. SPONSORS INSTRUCT CHILDREN IN TEWA LORE. ON THE FORTH NIGHT THE MASKED ADULTS ENTER THE KIVA AND CHILDREN RECEIVE A BATH. THEN THEIR INNOCENT DAYS ARE GONE AND THEY ARE GIVEN MORE RESPONSIBILITIES.

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FIRST HOUSE STORIES

MYTHS OF THE FIRST HOUSE ARE A PART OF MOST NATIVE AMERICAN TRADITIONS. MOST INDIAN MYTHS ARE SET IN THE BEGINNING OF TIME WHEN WHEN ANIMALS TALKED OR WERE ANTHROPOMORPHIC. THEY ALSO HELPED TO BUILD THE FIRST HOUSES. THEY ALSO HELPED TO BUILD THE FIRST HOUSES. MOST OF THE FIRST HOUSE STORIES HAVE DISAPPEARED. STORIES TOLD AS MYTHS REFLECT BASIC TRUTHS AND BELIEFS OF A TRIBE.







LONGHOUSE PEOPLE IN NEW YORK SATE PROSPERED AND THRIVED. THEY INCLUDED IROQUOIS, CAYUGA, MOHAWK, SENECA, ONEIDA AND ONONDAGA. LONG HOUSES WERE WHAT UNIFIED THEIR TRIBE DURING ALL SEASONS, ESPECIALLY WINTERTIME. THEY WERE 15 - 20 FEET TALL AND ABOUT TWENTY FEET WIDE. WOMEN PLANTED CROPS - CORN, BEANS, SQUASH, AND COLLECTED NUTS AND FRUITS. MEN FISHED AND HUNTED. THEIR MYTHOLOGIES PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE BELIEFS. NEARLY EVERYTHING WAS SACRED. ELM TREES PROVIDED WOOD FOR THE LONGHOUSE AND BARK FOR HOUSE SHINGLES, CANOES AND BASKETS. ELMS WERE THOUGHT OF AS A SYMBOL OF UNITING THE WORLD. ELMS WERE COSMIC. CORN WAS IMPORTANT AS THE CENTER OF THEIR KEY RELIGIOUS CEREMONY. THE IROQUOIS HONOR THE CORN MOTHER IN AUGUST WHEN IT RIPENS. SOME OF THESE TRADITIONS ARE CARRIED FORTH. THEIR VILLAGES HAD 10 TO 20 HOUSES 50 TO 150 FEET LONG. EACH HOUSE HAD A WOODEN CARVING ABOVE THE DOOR OF THEIR ANCESTRAL ANIMAL. OUTSIDE THEY DRIED FISH AND CORN.





THE IROQUOIS FALSE FACE SOCIETY USES THE LONG HOUSES FOR CEREMONIAL REASONS. THEY ALSO HAVE HEALING CEREMONIES. THEIR MASKS REPRESENT HEALING SPIRITS. MALE MEMBERS OF THE MEDICINE SOCIETY PUT ON SACRED MASKS WHICH HAVE THE POWER TO CURE ILLNESS. IN SPRING AND FALL THEY VISIT HOUSES AND SWEEP DISEASES FROM THEIR HOUSES. THEIR GIFT IS TOBACCO. THEN ALL HAVE A FEAST AT THE LONGHOUSE.


THE FOLLOWING IS THE ORIGIN MYTH OF THE FALSE FACE SOCIETY. AFTER CREATION OF ALL THINGS, HAWENNIHYOH ADMIRED ALL THAT HE HAD MADE. HE CAME FACE TO FACE WITH ANOTHER BEING WHO WAS THE WIND SPIRIT. HE ASKED HAWENNIHYOH WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE. HE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD MADE ALL THINGS ON EARTH. SAGODYOWEHGOWEH CHALLENGED HIM. THEY DECIDED TO HAVE A CONTEST. WHICH EVER OF US CAN MAKE THE MOUNTASIN MOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL. THEY COULD NOT LOOK AT THE MOUNTAIN. SAGODYOWEH ASKED THE MOUNTAIN TO TO WALK TOWARD THEM. THE MOUNTAIN GROANED AND MOVED A LITTLE. THE HAWENNIHYOH ALSO ASKED THE MOUNTAIN TO WALK TOWARD THEM. THE MOUNTAIN MOVED JUST BEHIND THEM. HE SAID SEE I AM THE ONE WHO IS THE MASTER OF ALL THINGS.


SAGODYOWEHGOWAH TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD CURE SICKNESS, INTERPRET DREAMS, AND CONTROL MIGHTY WINDS. MY HELPERS WILL DRIVE SICKNESS AND DISEASES AWAY. HAWENNIHYOH AGREED AND HE WOULD INCREASE HIS POWER.



JEAN MONROE AND RAY WILLIAMSON

NEWSPAPER ROCK STATE PARK

IT IS A LARGE FLAT ROCK IN EASTERN UTAH WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST KNOWN COLLECTIONS OF PETROGLYPHS. THE GLYPHS ARE ON A 200 SQUARE FOOT ROCK OF SANDSTONE ALONG INDIAN CREEK CANYON. IT IS NOW AN HISTORICAL MONUMENT WITH A FENCE SO NO GRAFFITI CAN FURTHER DEGRADE IT. THERE ARE SUPERIMPOSED GLYPHS OF HUMANS, ANIMALS, ABSTRACT GLYPHS, AND GEOMETRICS, A SHAMAN MAN, A HERD OF DEER, A HUNTER SHOOTING HIS PREY AND A HORSE AND MANY UNDECIPHERED GLYPHS.

THEY ARE ETCHED ON A PATINATED SANDSTONE WALL THAT I HAVE VISITED IN THE 70'S. ARCHAEOLOGISTS PROPOSE THAT THEY DATE TO AT LEAST 1500 YEARS AGO.. ARCHAIC, BASKETMAKER, FREMONT, AND PUEBLOAN CULTURES LEFT THERE MARK AS DID HISTORIC NAVAJO TRIBESMEN.

I ALSO VISITED MANY ROCK ART SITES ALONG THE SAN JUAN AND IN THE FOUR CORNER AREA.

FERTILITY PETROGLYPHS AND SYMBOLS

ALL ANCIENT CULTURES HAD SYMBOLS THAT REPRESENTED FERTILITY OF THE EARTH, HARVEST AND HUMAN FERTILITY. HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WE HAVE BABY ROCK SITES THAT HAVE CUPULES OR SMALL PALM SIZED DEPRESSIONS CARVED INTO STEATITE OR BASALT ROCKS. IN THE POMO AREAS THE WOMAN WOULD GO SOLITARILY TO THE ROCK OR BOULDER AND WALK FOUR TIMES AROUND ONE WAY AND FOUR TIMES AROUND THE OTHER WAY. THEY WOULD GRIND SOME STEATITE AND MIX IT WITH WATER TO PAINT FOUR LINES ON THEIR ABDOMEN FROM CHIN TO THEIR PUBIC AREA. THEY WOULD THEN GRIND SOME MORE CUPULES IN THE ROCK FOR GOOD LUCK IN HAVING A BABY. THEY MAY HAVE SUNG SONGS AND RHYTHMICALLY PECKED THESE SYMBOLS. AS AN ASIDE THEY SAID IF THEY HAD INTERCOURSE THAT WOULD HELP AS WELL.



IN HAWAII THE WOMEN GIVE BIRTH ON LARGE STONE CHAIRS AND THEY PLACE THE BABIES PLACENTA IN CUPULES AS WELL FOR THEIR BABY'S GOOD LUCK. THE ISLAND OF VANCOUVER HAS FEMALE PETROGLYPHS PECKED INTO AROCK FORMATION THAT RESEMBLES A VULVA. THERE ARE TWO FEMALE SYMBOLS AS HANDS AND HEADDRESS THAT SHOW JOY. THEY ALSO SHOW VULVA, WITH HANDS UPRAISED LIKE SOUTHWESTER MOTHER DIETIES. ETHNOLOGIST T. MCILLWRAITH HEARD THIS BELLA COOLA STORY ABOUT MAKING PETROGLYPHS - THEY (LEADERS) PICKED OUT THE ROCK IN TIME TO THE MUSIC FORMING IN THEIR MINDS. (MOORE 1998).

THE EGYPTIANS, ROMANS, AND OTHER ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS USED THE FEMALE SERPENT AS A FERTILITY SYMBOL.

PETROGLYPHS AND THEIR INTERPRETATION

SABRA MOORE DESCRIBES SOME PETROGLYPHS THAT SHE HAS SEEN THROUGH NORTH AMERICA AND CANADA. AT AGAWA ROCK IN LAKE SUPERIOR PROVENCIAL PARK IN ONTARIO THERE IS A FAMOUS RED PICTOGRAPH. IT DEPICTS AN UNDERWATER PANTHER 'MICHIPESHU" AT THE ROCK. IT IS ONE OF 17 PANELS THEREPAINTED IN PINK GRANITE CLIFFS. MOST OF THESE PICTOGRAPHS WERE MADE BY SHAMANS. THIS PANTHER HAS BEEN LAYERED WITH SUCCESSIVE PAINTINGS. THE PANTHER HAS TWO GIANT REPTILES ALONG WITH PEOPLE ROWING A CANOE.



TWO OF THE ARTISTS ARE KNOWN. AN ANTHROPOLOGIST, HENRY ROWE SCHOOLCRAFT, INTERVIEWED OBJIBWAY ARTIST-SHAMAN SHINGWAUK. OTHERS ATTRIBUTE SOME PAINTINGS TO "THE LITTLE WILD MEN".CHIEF NORMA FOX OF THE OJIBWA DESCRIBED THE AS SUPERNATURALS. THE PYGMIES CAN CAPTURE OR KILL THE GIANT SNAKES AND USE ITS BLOOD TO PAINT ON THE CLIFFS. OTHERS ASSOCIATE THE SNAKES WITH COPPER. THE CANOE MIGHT HELP CREATE THE ILLUSION OF WATER. THIS PANTHER IS SPINY WITH A SPINY TAIL.



AT ANOTHER PARK, NANAIMO PETROGLYPH PARK, THERE ARE VERSIONS OF DRAGONS. THE KWAKIUTL SISIUTL IS A DOBLE FACED SERPENT WITH A SNOUT LIKE THE SEA SNAKES. HE CAN TRASNFORM HIMSELF FROM LIGHTNING TOSKY, FROM FISH TO A CANOE. LIKE QUETZALCOATL, HE CAN BE BOTH BIRD AND REPTILE. IN 1791 A SAILOR ON THE COLUMBIA WITNESSED A MONSTROUS REPTILE EMERGING FROM THE WATER.



AT SPROUT LAKE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND, BRISH COLUMBIA THERE ARE PETROGLYPHS OF DOG FACED SALMON. THEY ARE UNDERWATER DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THET WERE PLACED TO EMERGE AND SUBMERGE ACCORDING TO THE TIDES. NOOTKA SHAMANS MAY HAVE INCISED THESE CREATURES WHILE FASTING IN ICY WATERS. IT COULD BE A SEA SNAKE ?



THESE PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT SALMON WERE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN A VILLAGE UNDERWATER. EACH YEAR THE SALMON PEOPLE WOULD CONCEAL THEMSELVESAS FISH AND MIGRATE UPSTREAM TO SACRIFICE THEIR FLESH FOR HUMANS . THE SALMON BONES WERE SAVED AND PLACED BACK INTO THE SEA SO THE SALMON PEOPLE COULD BE REBORN. FRANZ BOAS IN 1890 WROTE "THIS CEREMONY ACCOMPANIED BY A PRAYER TO THE FISH TO COME, WILL CAUSE THEM TO ARRIVE AT ONCE."



IF THE FISH RUN WAS LATE THE PECKED IMAGES WERE PAINTED IN RED ORCHE. THE STORY IS THAT SALMON RAN OFF WITH A CHIEF'S DAUGHTER. YOU COULD SEE THE COUPLE RETURNING EACH YEAR AND LEAPING OUT OF THE WATER. THEY WOULD PAINT THESE PICTOGLPHS BEFORE EATING THE FIRST SALMON.


PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN PECOS, TEXAS, FOR 9,000 LIVED IN ROCK SHELTERS AND THEY PAINTED COLORFUL PAINTINGS ON THE CANYON WALLS. THERE WERE VARIOUS CULTURES HERE AND THEY ALL LEFT THEIR MARK - COMANCHE, APACHE, COMANCHE, JUMANO, KIOWA, CIBOLA, AND KICKAPOO. THEY DREW MT. LIONS, POSED ABOVE TALL HUMAN FIGURES FACING THE VIEWER, WAVING THEIR ARMS. THE LARGE MT. LION IS PAINTED IN RED ON THE WALL OF THE SEMUNOLE CANYON SHELTER DATING AFTER 3000 B.C. THESE ARE FELINE DEITIES WITH PRICKLY TAILS.


IN WYOMING THE LAKOTA PAINTED BULL ELK TO ASSIST YOUNG MEN IN COURTSHIP. A MAN WHO DREAMED OF ELK COULD BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ELK DREAMERS SOCIETY.

TALENT CHOIR SPECIAL PRESENTATION

LAST SATURDAY I WENT TO THE TALENT CHOIR AT CHURCH. THERE WERE AT LEAST 50 PEOPLE IN THE CHOIR AND THEY HAD A VERY QUIRKY TYPE OF PRESENTATION THAT MADE EVERYONE LAUGH. THE CHOIR DIRECTOR INTRODUCED THE CHOIR AND THEY SANG SOME INTERESTING AND SIMPLE SONGS THAT WERE NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, BUT WE COULD TELL THAT THEY WERE HAVING FUN AND THEY MADE US LAUGH.

ANOTHER MEMBER CAME RUSHING DOWN AND HE SAID THE GIANTS ARE WINNING! WHO IS A BASEBALL FAN? WHO ISN'T A BASEBALL FAN?
THEN WE SANG TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME TAKE ME OUT TO THE GAME.

AFTER INTERMISSION THEY HAD SOME VERY WACKY TYPE OF SINGERS DRESSED IN HALLOWEEN TYPE COSTUMES. THEIR SONGS WERE LESS ARTISTIC THAN THEIR COSTUMES.

THERE WERE A BOUT FIVE GUYS THAT SANG AN INTERESTING SONG, WITH EACH ONE TAKING LEAD POSITIONS.

THEN THE ENTIRE CHOIR CAME INTO PLACE AND SANG SOMETHING ABOUT "WHO AM I?" THEN THE CHOIR DIRECTOR FOLLOWED UP BY LEADING SOME SONG THAT THE CHURCH USUALLY SINGS WHERE THE AUDIENCE SINGS ALONG.

IN ANY CASE IT WAS A FUN INTERACTIVE EVENING AS WE GOT OURSELVES INVOLVED IN SOME SINGING.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

YESTERDAY I WENT TO CHURCH AND THE THEME WAS GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT. REVEREND EDWARD SAID TO PLACE YOUR EMPHASIS IN THE ARTS AND AESTHETICS IF THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT. HE MENTIONED JULIA CAMERON WHO HAD GOD'S WILL. IN HER BOOK SHE SAYS TO RELEASE YOUR NATURAL ABILITY - WHATEVER THAT MEANS. GEORGA O'KEEF SAID NO ONE REALLY SEES A FLOWER - IT TAKES TIME TI LOOK AT ALL OF IT'S PARTS REAL CLOSE. IT'S LIKE DEVELOPING A FRIEND, IT TAKES TIME.

JUST DO MORE OF WHAT WORKS FOR YOU - NOT NECESSARILY TO HAVE A GOAL TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING. JUST BE THE BEST OF WHO YOU ARE. HE ASKED ARE YOU GETTING IN THE WAY OF YOURSELF? WHAT ARE YOU DOING WHICH SUPPORTS YOUR GROWTH? EACH OF US HAS A SPIRIT TO SUPPORT OURSELVES... BECOME ALLERGIC TO WHINING. SHIFT TO A MORE SATISFYING WAY OF LIFE.

THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH LOVE YOU HAVE TO GIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. WE FINISHED BY SINGING HOLY, HOLY, HOLY GROUND.

GEORGIA TRULL - YOROK

GEORGIANA AND JOHNARE YUROKS WHO LIVE IN HOOPA, 19 MILES FROM THE BRIDGE OVER THE KLAMATH RIVER. THIS LAND IS STEEP AND THICKLY FORESTED WITH OAKS, PINES, FIRS, MAPLE AND MADRONE TREES. THEIR HOUSE OVER LOOKS THE RIVER AND THEIR LIVING ROOM HAS PHOTOS OF ALL SORTS. OF CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. SHE IS 77 YEARS OLD BUT SEEMS YOUNGER AND SHE IS PEACEFUL. SHE EASILY LAUGHS AT HER HUSBAND'S JOKES AND STORIES.

THEY ARE FROM THE SHREGON VILLAGE, 1/2 MILE FROM HERE. IT USED TO BE THE BIG VILLAGE. WHEN ASHE WAS YOUNG THERE WERE NO ROADS, OR CARS, AND WHAT WE WERE ISOLATED. WE WOULD RIDE A HORSE TO THE STORE FOR GROCERIES. IN SO MANY WAYS IT WAS A BETTER LIFE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO ALCOHOL AND NO DRUGS.. THEY WEREN'T LONELY BECAUSE THEY WENT DOWN TO THE VALLEY TO BE WITH THEIR PEOPLE. THEIR ENTERTAINMENT WAS TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE'S STORIES. THEN AS VILLAGE LIFE BEGAN TO FALL APART, THERE WAS MORE DRINKING.

WE YUROK HAVE NEVER BEEN ORGANIZED, YET WE'VE SURVIVED AS INDEPENDENT . THEY HAVE WORKED HARD AND NEVER HAD GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF THEY WANT ANYTHING THEY HAVE TO WORK HARD FOR IT. GEORGIA KNOWS HER LANGUAGE AND TEACHES IT TO YOUNG PEOPLE. SHE JUST RETIRED. SHE TAUGHT PART TIME AT SCHOOL FOR 20 YEARS. SHE TAUGHT KINDERGARDEN AND FORTH GRADERS. THEIR PARENTS HAVE NOT LEARNED THE LANGUAGE - THAT'S SAD. SHE SAID IF YOU KNOW YOUR LANGUAGE THEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE - IT'S THE BASIS OF OUR CULTURE. THERE ARE ONLY TWO YUROKS WHO KNOW THEIR LANGUAGE. AND ONLY 11 FOLKS IN THE EUREKA AND KLAMATH AREA THAT ARE FLUENT IN THEIR LANGUAGE.

DURING THE BRUSH DANCE THE SONGS DON'T SOUND ALL THE SAME AS WHEN THE OTHERS USED TO SING THEM. THE CHILDREN SHE HAS TAUGHT DON'T GET THE ACCENT. THE BOAT DANCE IS PART OF OUR CEREMONIES EVERY TWO YEARS.

MANY INDIANS SAY WE CAN'T LEARN OUR LANGUAGE - IT'S SO HARD. THEY GO UP TO CHIMNEY ROCK TO PRAY AS DO THE TOLOWA AND KAROK. THEY SPEAK ALL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. HER GRANDCHILDREN WILL HAVE TO LEARN TWO DIFFERENT CULTURES. ONLY THE MEN SWEAT. HER GRANDMA HAD ARTHRITIS AND HER MOM PUT ROCKS IN A BIG WASH TUB AND POURED HOT WATER IN IT AND SHE SET HER MOM ON A CHAIR OVER THE TUB. THEN SHE WRAPPED HER IN A BLANKET FOR HER TO SWEAT. EVERYONE DID THEIR OWN PRAYERS SECRETLY. WHEN SHE GREW UP EVERY TYPE OF REGALIA FOR THE CEREMONIES WAS MADE BY HAND. NOW THEY USE ELECTRIC DRILLS FOR MAKING BEADS.

AT THE VILLAGE EVERYONE GOT PART OF A DEER AND NOTHING WAS WASTED. THEY FISHED UNTIL EVERYBODY HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED FOR WINTER. THEY WOULD USE A NET SO OTHERS COULD FISH AS WELL. THEY NEVER SOLD THE FISH. HER MOM FEEDS EVERYONE AND GAVE THEM A PLACE TO STAY. TODAY PARENTS DON'T SPEND TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THEY DON'T WANT TO TEACH THEM OR TAKE THEM OUT. (?)

HERBS WERE HER MEDICINES AND THEY WORKED. HER DOCTOR SAID SHE'S THE HEALTHIEST PERSON FOR HER AGE THAT HE HAS SEEN. THEY USED TO LIVE AND GATHER PLANTS FROM THE FOREST AND NOT HAVE GARDENS.
AFTER HER MOM'S GENERATION THEY STARTED PLANTING GARDENS. THE YOUNG GENERATION SAYS EVERYTHING HAS TO BE ORGANIC. SOME FOLKS STILL GATHER MOST OF THEIR FOOD - ACORNS AND OTHER PLANTS.

SANDY JOHNSON

HOPLAND SOLAR INSTITUTE

THE HOPLAND SOLAR INSTITUTE IS A GREAT PLACE THAT MY FAMILY HAS VISITED MANY TIMES. EACH TIME I DISCOVER SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO LOOK AT. I FIRST DISCOVERED THIS ECOLOGY CENTER BY DRIVING BY IT ON THE WAY TO MY FOREST SERVICE JOB WHEN MY SON WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD. I TOOK HIM UP THERE AND THEY HAD OUTSIDE THE MAIN BUILDING A NEAT SAND WORKS AND TUNNEL FOR THE KIDS TO DISCOVER HOW WATER AND EROSION WORK. THEY HAD A SANDY AREA AND BUILT A CEMENT FUNNEL FOR WATER TO FLOW ALONG. ORIGINALLY THE CHILDREN NEEDED TO PUMP AN OLD FASHIONED HANDLE TO GET THE WATER INTO EITHER A BUCKET OR INTO THE FUNNEL. THEN THEY COULD PLAY WITH THE WET SAND AND BUILD DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE WATER WENT UNDER A SMALL BRIDGE. MY SON WOULD OCCUPY HIMSELF WITH ALL THIS FOR HOURS!

THIS SITE WAS OWNED BY REAL GOODS ORIGINALLY AND THE IN 1998 IT BECAME A NONPROFIT SOLAR INSTITUTE CALLED HOPLAND SOLAR INSTITUTE. THERE ARE VARIOUS WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS THAT WE HAVE ATTENDED. IT PROMOTES SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND SOLAR TRAINING THROUGH INSPIRATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND WORKSHOPS. THERE ARE 12 ACRES AVAILABLE RIGHT ALONGSIDE HIGHWAY 101 WITH A HUGE WATERFALL IN A COURTYARD TO REDUCE THE TRAFFIC NOISE. IT IS AN UNUSUAL DESIGN WITH A CIRCULAR COPPER TUBE WITH SMALL HOLES DRILLED IN IT AND PLACED ATOP A 15 FOOT TALL PLATFORM WITH GRAPE VINES GROWING ALONG SOME POLES. AS THE WATER FLOWS DOWN INTO THE CENTER OF THE COURTYARD IT DRAINS BY THE CHILDREN'S SAND YARD AS WELL AS GOES INTO A FRESHWATER POND WHERE VARIOUS TYPES OF FISH ARE FOUND.

THIS POND AREA HAS A PYRAMID BUILT OF CORN COB BRICKS WHERE YOU CAN GO INSIDE AND PLAY. THERE ARE SOME FIELDS OF EDIBLE PLANTS AND THEY ALSO ALLOW VISITORS TO GET SPRINKLED WITH A DRIP WATER SPRINKLER OUTSIDE DURING HOT SUMMER MONTHS.

THE MAIN BUILDING IS MADE OF CORN COB CONSTRUCTION AND THEY EXPLAIN HOW IT WAS CONSTRUCTED INSIDE SO THAT IT IS WELL INSULATED FROM THE HOT TEMPERATURES HERE.

THEY HAVE A BIG SECTION OF BOOKS ABOUT WEAVING BASKETS, NATURE, POETRY FROM NATURE, AND ALTERNATIVE LIVING TECHNIQUES, AND HOUSES THAT ARE DOWN TO EARTH. THEIR GIFT STORE ALSO HAS INTERESTING NATURAL CLOTHING AND VARIOUS COOKWARE AND OTHER THINGS FROM FOREIGN LANDS THAT ARE MADE OF NATURAL FIBERS.

OUR FAMILY HAS PICNICKED HERE DURING TRIPS AS IT IS A BEAUTIFUL NATURE PRESERVE IN AN AREA WHICH HAS SUMMER TEMPERATURES OVER 100 DEGREES.



THE BUILDING ITSELF IS A UNIQUE STRUCTURE MADE OF CORN COB

LAVINA WHITE - HAIDA ROYAL FAMILY

THESE PEOPLE LIVE OFF THE TIP OF ALASKA'S PANHANDLE , CANADA'S WESTERNMOST ISLAND. THIS LAND REPRESENTS TO THEM THEIR HISTORY AND THEIR CULTURE. THEY CALL THE RAVENS THEIR BROTHERS. THEY NEVER SIGNED A TREATY WITH CANADA AND THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE A SOVEREIGNN NATION.


LAVINA IS A TALL SLENDER LADY FROM AN ARISTOCRAT FAMILY. SHE SPEAKS AS A FIERCE WARRIOR FOR HER PEOPLE'S CAUSES AS THEY HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CULTURE. THE INTERVIEWER MET HER AND HER HUSBAND IN VANCOUVER.


HER INDIAN NAME TRANSLATE AS 'many copper shields'. SHE HAS MANTY RESPONSIBILITIES.. HER GRANDPA WAS A GREAT ARTIST.THE HAIDA NATION HAS RAVEN AND EAGLE CLANSAND WITHIN THEM THERE ARE MANY MORE. SHE IS UNDER THE RAVEN CLAN. A RAVEN CANNOT MARRY A RAVEN.... THIS WAS IN THE OLD DAYS. SINDCE THEN MARRIAGE LAWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN. THERE WERE ONLY 500 HAIDA SINCE THEY HAD MANY EPIDEMICS FROM BEING TOGETHER WITH THE ANGO FOLKS. SHE IS 73 NOW AND REMEMBERS HEARING HER ELDERS SPEAK ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT EPIDEMICS. THERE USED TO BE 80,000 HAIDU ON OUR ISLAND. TODAY THERE ARE ABOUT 6,000 PEOPLE. THE ISLAND IS ABOUT 80 MILES OF THE MAINLAND.

HER PRINCIPAL CAUSE IS FREEDOM. SHE REMEMBERS WHEN SHE WAS FREE- FREE FROM POLICE, FREE FROM POLICE, AND FREE FROM HARRASSMENT. IT'D DIFFICULT FOR HER TO GIVE UP THE STRUGGLE BECAUSE SHE WANTS HER PEOPLE TOE XPERIENCE FREEDOM. SHE BELIEVES THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAQKE DECISIONS, AND TO GOVERN THEMSELVES. AND THEY WANT CONTROL OF THEIR LANDS AND OF THEIR RESOURCES.

THERE IS MUCH SUICIDE AMONG THE YOUNG PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO REASON TO LOOK FOR HOPE - IT WAS FOREIGN TO US BEFORE THE ANGLOS CAME HERE.

SANDY JOHNSON

SONNY BILLIE - SEMINOLE

SONNY WAS BORN IN 1889 AS A MEDICINE MAN DESCENDED FROM JOSIE AND INGRAHAM BILLIE. THESE FOLKS WERE THE TWO MOST FAMOUS TRADITIONAL SEMINOLE MEDICINE MEN OF THE 20TH CENTURY. SONNY WAS 6'2" AND HIS HEALING POWER S HAVE BEEN SHROUDED IN SECRECY. THEY LAUNCHED THE THE SONNY BILLIE FOUNDATION FOR NATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES IN THE EVERGLADES IN MAY, 1993. SONNY'S GOAL IS TO HAVE A NURSERY AS A CONTINUING SOURCE OF HERBS IN THIS NOW POLLUTED AREA.


THE NATIVES SPEAK TWO LANGUAGES. SEMINOLE MEANS RUN ALWAYS. THERE ARE ABOUT 2000 SEMINOLES LIVING ON 5 RESERVATIONS IN FLORIDA. SONNY WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MEDICINE. HE KNEW THINGS EARLY IN HIS LIFE, BUT HE JUST WANTED TO BE A NORMAL PERSON. HE MARRIED AND HAD A BABY. ONCE THE BABY WAS 1 and 1/2 YEARS OLD, HIS WIFE PASSED AWAY FROM HEART DISEASE THAT HE NEVER KNEW SHE HAD. HE SPOKE TO HIS MOM AND AT THAT TIME HE DECIDED HE WOULD STUDY HERBAL MEDICINE..


JOSIE BILLY, HIS DAD, WAS A FAMOUS MEDICINE MAN. HIS HERBAL TEA WAS STUDIED BY UPJOHN. FOR YEARS HIS TEA HAD BEEN CURING PEOPLE FROM "BRAIN SICKNESS." HE SAID THE SPIRIT OF THE MEDICINE COMES FROM INSIDE THE MAN WHO HAS THE POWER.


JIMMIE, ONE OF HIS UNCLES, WAS ALSO A FAMOUS HERB DOCTOR. HE TAUGHT US ABOUT HIS MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE. HIS MOM SAID HE'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF TRAININGS TO BECOME A MEDICAL MAN. NOTHING IS IN WRITING. YOU MUST MEMORIZE THE TEACHINGS. THE HEALERS DIDN'T WANT THE WHITE FOLKS TO KNOW EVERYTHING SO THEY MADE IT NON READABLE. HE WAS TAUGHT TO MEMORIZE THE MEDICINE ON HIS ONE SIDE OF THE BRAIN AND THEN USE THE OTHER SIDE OF HIS BRAIN FOR HIS FAMILY. THEY ANNOUNCED IN PUBLIC THAT HE WOULD BE A DOCTOR. ANYONE IS ABLE TO USE YOUR SERVICES. AFTER THEY ANNOUNCED IT A LOT OF FOLKS CAME TO HIM. AS HE GOT OLDER THE MORE HE GOT TO STUDY. HE REALIZED THAT THE ANGLOS ALSO STUDY MEDICINE THE SAME WAY. HE DECIDED TO CREATE A HEALING PLACE TO GROW HIS OWN MEDICINES.


HIS SECOND DAUGHTER HAD ASTHMA AROUND 6 YEARS AGO. HE WENT TO DIFFERENT INDIAN DOCTORS TO FIND OUT HOW TO HELP HER. HE FINALLY IMPROVED SOME ASTHSMA MEDICINES BY BREAKING IT DOWN TO HEART, LUNG, LIVER, KIDNEY, AND OTHER SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE BODY. HE LEARNED WHAT HERB WOULD FIT A CERTAIN ORGAN OF THE BODY. THEN HE TRIED TO FORMULATE A MEDICINE TO HEAL HIS DAUGHTER'S ASTHMA.


ON SOME DAYS THE LUNG'S DON'T FUNCTIONFOR SOMEONE WITH ASTHMA (I.E. RAINY DAYS). HE STUDIED HARD AND HE THOUGHT HE GOT IT. HE REMARRIED AND SPOKE WITH HIS WIFE. HE TOLD HER WHAT HE WAS WORKING ON AND THAT HE WANTED TO TREAT HIS DAUGHTER. SINCE SHE WAS ALSO HER DAUGHTER HE THOUGHT I CAN'T TAKE COMPLETE RESPONSIBILITY. HIS DAUGHTER DECIDED SHE DID NOT WANT THE MEDICINE AT THIS TIME. HIS GIRL HAD LISTENED AND SHE UNDERSTOOD WHAT SHE HAD WANTED HER TO DO.


LATER AFTER SHE GOT MARRIED, SHE STARTED HAVING MANY ASTHMA ATTACKS. APPARENTLY HIS WIFE HAD FOUGHT HIM TO NOT GIVE HER THE MEDICINE EARLY ON AND SHE HAD HEARD THAT CONVERSATION. AT HER OLDER AGE SHE SAID SHE WANTED TO TAKE IT. HE SAID TO WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS. HE WANTED TO PICK UP THE HERB AND REFORMULATE IT. HE ASKED IF SHE SPOKE TO HIS WIFE. NO, SHE SAID IT WAS BETWEEN YOU AND ME AND THE MEDICINE. SHE TOOK IT AND HAD A REALLY TOUGH TIME BREATHING FOR ABOUT 12 HOURS. BUT AFTER THAT SHE HAD NO MORE ATTACKS! HE THEN IMPROVED THE MEDICINE AND HIS NEXT PROJECT WAS TO WORK ON THE SUGAR PROBLEM WITH DIABETICS. HIS WIFE HAD A SUGAR PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. HE TESTED HIS MEDICINE ON HER WITH HER CONSENT.


TODAY HE SEES BOTH INDIAN AND ANGLO DOCTORS WORKING TOGETHER. HE DOESN'T WANT TO CONFUSE ANGLO DOCTORS. HE JUST COOPERATES WITH THEM. HE SINGS A PRAYER SONG ABOUT EDUCATION AND BEFRIENDING ALL NATIONALITTIES. THEY SAY IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN HELP OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE WILL BE JEOLOUS OF YOU. THE SEMINOLE LANGUAGE HAS NO WORDS TO SAY I'M SORRY. HE REMEMBERS THE ANGLOS HAVING MANY WORDS FOR SAYING I'M SORRY.

HE REMEMBERS THE PRIESTS TELLING THEM THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER USE THEIR MEDICINE. THAT'S WHAT KILLED SO MANY OF US. THERE'S ONLY SIX OF US WHO KNOW HOW TO PREPARE THIS MEDICINE AND THAT IS WHY HE CONTINUES WITH HIS WORK.




SANDY JOHN

MILDRED CLEGHORN - APACHE PRISONER OF WAR

APACHE PRISONER OF WAR, MILDRED, SERVED AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE OKLAHOMA INDIAN AFFAIRS COMMISSION AT FORT SILL. SHE HAS BEEN HANDCRAFTING RAG DOLLS WEITH BEADWORK FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. THEY ARE REPLICAS OF AUTHENTIC COSTUMES DATING FROM 1900 AND EARLIER. THERY ARE IN MANY MUSEUMS INCLUDING THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. SHE HELPED DESIGN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN IN WASHINGTON.


HER GRANDPA WAS GEORGE WRATTEN A WHITE MAN WHO LIVED ON THE RESERVATION AND SPOKE THE APACHE LANGUAGE VERY WELL. I GUESS HE RODE WITH GERONIMO AND WAS AN INTERPRETER. GERONIMO SURRENDERED IN 1887 TO THE ARMY AND THAT ENDED GUERRILLA WARFARE IN THE US. MILDRED'S COUSIN MADE A SCULPTURE OF GERONIMO AND HE WON A MEDAL OF THE ARTS .

MILDRED CAME FROM FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. SHE WAS BORN IN 1910 IN PRISON OF WAR CAMP. THERE LIVED 3 YEARS. HER FATHER WAS MOVED TO SAINT AUGUSTINE , FLORIDA. THEY STAYED A YEAR AND THEY BECAME ILL. AND MANY DIED.

TWO NUNS TOOK ACTION TO HELP CONDITIONS AND THE CHILDREN. THEY GOT PERMISSION TO USE A CELL FOR A CLASSROOM. THEY TAUGHT THEM ENGLISH AND RELIGION. THEY HAD THE REMAINING PEOPLE MOVED TO MT. VERNON IN ALABAMA UNTIL 1894. THEY MOVED TO FORT SILL WHERE WE LIVED UNTIL 1913. THEN THEY WERE GIVEN A CHOICE OF GOING TO MESCALERO, NEW MEXICO OR GETTING ALLOTMENTS IN OKLAHOMA. 82 STAYED IN OKLAHOMA, AND THE REST WENT TO NEW MEXICO. SHE MOVED TO THE FARM. HER PARENTS STAYED AT FORT SILL. KIOWA. COMANCHE, AND APACHE WERE ALL LOCATED THERE. WHEN THEY WANTED TO VISIT RELATIVES THEY TOOK A 12 MILE
RIDE IN A HORSE AND WAGON.

SHE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THERE WERE ONLY FIVE INDIANS THERE. SHE GOT MARRIED IN 1949 TO OTO CLEGHORN. SHE WENT TO A COLLEGE AND GOT A DEGREE IN HOME ECONOMICS AND BECAME A HOME DEMONSTRATION AGENT.
SHE HAD BEEN IN KANSAS AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO OKLAHOMA.

IN THE LATE 70'S SHE GOT INVOLVED IN TRIBAL AFFAIRS. I FELT I NEEDED TO HELP OUR PEOPLE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN MY TRIBE AND IN MY CHURCH.

FRANK WRIGHT, A CHOCTAW, ESTABLISHED AN ORPHANAGE IN 1895 AT FORT SILL FOR THE REFORMED CHURCH. THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO DO THEIR CEREMONIES.

IN 1976 THEY ORGANIZED AT THE FORT SILL APACHE TRIBE AND MILDRED WAS ELECTED CHAIRPERSON.

SHE HELPS KIDS GET LOANS FOR SCHOOL AND PEOPLE GET HOUSING. IN 1980 THEY GOT A LAND GRANT , AN OFFICE, AN ALL PURPOSE BUILDING WITH A GYM. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 350 PEOPLE. HONESTY WAS A MUST FOR THIS GROUP. THEIR SPIRITUAL LIFE WAS NOURISHED BY THE REFORMED CHURCH. IT'S AMAZING HOW THE VALUES THEY LIVED BY THEIR INDIAN FAITH WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE BIBLE. WHEN THEY DANCE AROUND THE FIRE. EVEN THOUGH THE APACHES WERE LATER BROUGHT UP WITH THE CHRISTIAN FAITH THEY STILL HAD HISTORIC CEREMONIES.

THE PUBERTY FEAST IS ONE OF OUR MAIN CEREMONIES. IT LASTS FOR EIGHT DAYS IN PUBLIC AND 4 DAYS ALONE WITH THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY. A MEDICINE LADY TAKES CARE OF THE CEREMONY AND IS LIKE A GODMOTHER. SHE DRESSES HER AND DOES HER HAIR. THEY USE PAINT AND CORN POLLEN, WHICH IS OUR MEDICINE . SHE IS HER TEACHER AND MUST TEACH THE GIRL HOW TO LIVE.
THEY HAVE A FOUR DAY DANCE OF THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS. THE GIRLS WEAR BUCKSKIN DRESSES, SKIRTS, AND BLOUSES. THE MEN WEAR THE SAME TYPE OF SKIRTS IN THEIR DANCE WITH HEADPIECES. THE PEOPLE EXCHANGE GIFTS.

THESE NATIVES HAD MEDICINE FOR TUBERCULOSIS. AND THE PATIENT HAD TO BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD WORK. THEY USED SONGS AND POLLEN AND THEY STILL DO TODAY. YOU GIVE AND YOU GET AND THAT'S WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

SANDY JOHNSON

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

WE VISITED THE EVERGLADS A NUMBER OF TIMES. I HAVE VISITED THIS PARK WITH MY FAMILY WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE. I ALSO VISITED IT WITH MY HUSBAND AND SON. WE TOOK NOT ONLY THE WALK THROUGH THIS JUNGLE ON RAISED WOODEN TRAIL HEADS BUT ALSO A BOAT RIDE. THE BOAT GOES VERY FAST THROUGH THE MARSHES AND YOU ARE ABLE TO SEE MANY CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS AS WELL AS MANY TROPICAL BIRDS THAT ONLY LIVE IN THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. WE TOOK MANY PHOTOGRAPHS AND HAD A GOOD TRIP . THEY EVEN LET YOU TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF AND WALK THROUGH THE MARSHES AND IT IS VERY MUCH LIKE A BOG AREA AND THE MUD SQUISHES BETWEEN YOUR TOES.

APPARENTLY WHEN WE VISITED THEY WERE DOING A RESTORATION OF SOME OF THE PLANTS IN THE TRAIL ALONG THE HEAVY MARSH. YOU COULD SEE ALL KINDS OF DRAGONFLIES AND BUTTERFLIES AS WELL. THEY DID NOT WANT ANY FOOD DROPPED INTO THE MARSH NOR ANYONE TO FEED THE ALLIGATORS.

GEORGE WASINGTON 'S BIRTHPLACE NATIONAL PARK

THE BUILDINGS IN VIRGINIA HERE ARE REPLICAS OF THE 1730 KITCHEN AND HOUSE AND PLANTATION. THEY HAVE COLONIAL FURNISHINGS. IT HAS A FARM WITH ANIMALS AND A BLACKSMITH SHOP. IT WAS THE SECOND FARM OF HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER JOHN WASHINGTON WHO EMIGRATED HERE IN 1656. IT OVERLOOKS THE POTOMAC RIVER. THE VIEWS ARE FANTASTIC HERE AND THE RIVER IS QUITE WIDE.

WE VISITED THIS PLANTATION AS WE EXCAVATED SOME HISTORIC SITES IN 1975. I KNOWN THEY HAVE EXCAVATED SOME OF THIS SITE FOR TESTING BEFORE THEY REBUILT IT. AND THEIR ARE SOME OF THE CERAMICS AND ARTIFACTS IN THE ROOMS.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

THEODORE ROOSEVELT WAS BORN IN NEW YORK CITY IN 1858. IN 1970 HIS FAMILY TOURED EUROPE. AND IN 1883 HE BOUGHT A RANCH IN NORTH DAKOTA. THE NATIONAL PARK IS ON THE BORDER BETWEEN NORTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING. WE COMPLETED A NUMBER OF SURVEYS THERE FOR A PRIVATE ARCHAEOLOGY FIRM AND FOUND NUMEROUS TEMPORARY CAMPSITES. THERE WERE BUFFALO AND DEER ABUNDANT IN THIS PARK. IT IS A VERY RUGGED TERRAIN WITH BADLANDS AND VERY EROSIVE SANDSTONE SOILS. WE ALSO SAW PRAIRIE DOGS, ELK, DEER, EAGLES, AND PRONGHORN ANTELOPE.

ROOSEVELT PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THE 1800'S IN PRESERVING MANY LANDS FOR NATIONAL PARKS. THIS PARK IS NOT VERY HEAVILY USED OR KNOWN BY THE PUBLIC. ROOSEVELT'S FIRST WIFE DIED EARLY AND HE REMARRIED IN 1886.

AS WE HIKED THROUGH THIS PARK TO SURVEY DRILL SITES FOR MINING COMPANIES WE WALKED ALONG THE DRY DRAINAGES AND SAW PREHISTORIC BISON BONES EXPOSED IN THE ERODED CREEK CLIFFS, BUT DID NOT HAVE TO RECORD THEM.

ROCKY MOUNAIN NATIONAL PARK

OUR FAMILY WENT TO THIS PARK DURING A SUMMER TWO WEEK VACATION, AND VISITED ABOUT FIVE OTHER NATIONAL PARKS WITH OUR TEENAGE SON. THIS PARK IS IN COLORADO AND HAS AMAZING ANIMAL LIFE THAT ARE VISIBLE EVEN FROM THE ROAD. THERE ARE SEVERAL VISITOR CENTERS AND I BOUGHT A BOOK ON SMUDGING AND HOW TO USE DIFFERENT CRYSTALS FOR HEALING.

WE VISITED DURING THE SUMMER AND BECAUSE OF IT'S HIGH ELEVATION FROM 8000 TO 14,000 FEET IT IS VERY COLD DURING THE NIGHT. THERE IS STILL SNOW ON SOME OF THE GLACIERS. WE CLIMBED SO MANY HILLS AND HIKED ON NUMEROUS BEAUTIFUL TRAILS. THE ANIMALS THAT ARE VISIBLE INCLUDE RED TAIL AND OTHER HAWKS, BIGHORN SHEEP , ELK, MOOSE, DEER, COUGARS, AND MULE DEER. IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO ADAPT TO THE HIGH ELEVATION.

WE CAMPED IN A CAMPGROUND WHILE IT RAINED, AND THERE WERE BEARS AROUND SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR TABLE CLEAN. WE SAW A MOOSE THERE IN AN OLD CAMP WITH HOUSES FOR THE TIMBER CREWS. WE HIKED IN A BEAUTIFUL MEADOW WITH SOME WILDFLOWERS BLOOMING AND A HUGE ARRAY OF BUTTERFLIES.

WE TOOK A CAR TOUR ALONG AN OLD JEEP TRAIL THAT WAS OPPOSITE A GLACIER. THE TRAIL WENT ONE WAY ALONG A STEEP MOUNTAIN PASS AND THROUGH A TUNNEL AND IT TOOK ABOUT AN HOUR. PEOPLE FROM ALL COUNTRIES WERE VISITING THIS PARK.

THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE RUNS NORTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE CENTER OF THE PARK.