THE POMO HAD A BELIEF IN A CREATOR WHO COULD BENEFIT OR SEND CURSES TO THEM. MOST EQUATED THE CREATOR WITH COYOTE, A TRICKSTER. THEY BELIEVED AT ONE TIME WHEN ANIMALS COULD SPEAK THEY CHANGED TO PRESENT FORM. SUPERNATURAL FORCES ABIDED IN EVERYTHING. ONE FORCE MIGHT CAUSE COMA OR DEATH. THE POMO DO THE KUKAU DANCES AND THE DANCERTS IMPERSONATE CERTAIN SPIRITS. THEY PREDICTED DEAD AND LOSS OF WHITE FOLKS IN 1870'S. THEY WERE ALSO TOLD THE WORLD WOULD BE DESTROYED UNLESS THEY GATHERED IN IN LODGES. MANY POMO CAME TO CLEAR LAKE TO WATCH THIS EVENT. IT NEVER HAPPENED AND THEY SUFFERED HARDSHIP AND SOME STARVATION! THEY WERE NOT PREPARED FOR LIFE TO GO ON. MOST POMO KNEW NOW BELONG TO TO SOME CHRISTIAN CHURCH, BUT MANY STILL FEAR CONSEQUENCES OF BREAKING OLD TABOOS.
SHAMANS MAY PREACH OR CONDUCT CEREMONIES AND PHOPHESIZE. THEY MAY FUNCTION IN A SPECIAL FUNCTION OR INHERITED THE POWERS THROUGH A DREAM INSPIRED BY APPRENTICESHIP.. MANY EARLY SHAMANS WERE MEN.
THE POMO HOLD CERTAIN CEREMONIES. THE KASHAYA STILL HOLD IN MAY THE BLESSING OF THE STRAWBERRIES-THE FIRST FRUITS- IN MAY; IN FALL THE ACORN FESTIVAL; IN SUMMER 4 NIGHTS OF SACRED DANCING ENDING WITH A FESTIVAL IN THE 4TH OF JULY AND ANOTHER DANCE IN WINTER. IF A FAMILY HAS A SICK MEMBER A DANCE MAY BE HELD.
EVERYCULTURE.ORG
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