CHEROKEE CLANS

ALL CHEROKEE COUNCIL HOUSES HAD SEVEN SIDES IN A CIRCLE WITH CENTER HEARTH. THERE WERE SEVEN SUPPORTING TIMBERS INSIDE AND BENCHES ON EACH SIDE. THEY REPRESENTED THE SEVEN CLANS : 1) WOLF, 2) DEER, 3) LONG HAIR , 4) BIRD, 5) WILD POTATOE, 6) BLUE, AND 7) IS PAINT. THEIR FAMILIES ARE MATRILINEAL AND CHILDREN BELONG TO THEIR MOMS AND MOTHER'S CLAN. IF SHE HAS A BOY THE TRAINING IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MOTHER'S BROTHERS VS. HIS FATHER!


ALL SEVEN CLANS WERE REPRESENTED IN ALL CHEROKEE TOWNS. THE WOLF CLAN WAS THE LARGEST SORCERERS AND OTHER MEDICINES PEOPLE CAME FROM THE PLANT CLAN. BECAUSE THE MAN LIVED IN HIS WIFE'S HOUSE, HE WOULD NOT ABUSE HER. WHEN EUROPEANS MARRIED CHEROKEES THEN THE CLAN SYSTEM BECAME DIMINISHED AND THE MEN WERE THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.


THEY HAVE A 7 POINTED STAR AT THE CENTER OF THEIR FLAG. THE CHEROKEES CAME FROM KEETOO-WA, AN ANCIENT TOWN. THE PEOPLE CALLED THEMSELVES, ANIKITU-WAGI, OR THE REAL PEOPLE. BY THE 1680'S THEY HAD 200 TOWNS IN NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, GEORGIA, ALABAMA AND WEST VIRGINIA.


THEY SPOKE THE IROQUOIAN LANGUAGE. THEY LIVED CLOSE TO CREEK INDIANS. EACH TOWN WAS AUTONOMOUS. IN 1673 THE BRITISH TRADED WITH THE CHEROKEES WITHOUT MANY DISPUTES. SINCE EACH TOWN WAS AUTONOMOUS THE ENGLISH WANTED ONE MAN WHO THEY COULD TALK TO ABOUT MATTERS OF OF TRADE. SO THE CHEROKEES EVENTUALLY APPOINTED A TRADE COMMISSIONER OF SORTS.


WHEN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION BROKE OUT A FACTION OF THE CHEROKEE NATION SIDED WITH THE BRITISH. THEY WERE KNOWN AS CHICKAMANGAS. MOST OTHER CHEROKEES WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND FARMS DURING THE MID 1980S TO WEBBERS FALLS, OKLAHOMA.


THE CHEROKEES AND BRITISH LOST THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IN 1802 JEFFERSON DECIDED TO MOVE ALL THE CHEROKEE. THEY WERE TAKEN BY THE U S ARMY TO LOCATIONS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN 1838. BUT IT WAS PRESIDENT JEFFERSON WHO ACTUALLY MOVED THIS TRIBE TO OKLAHOMA. THIS MOVEMENT WAS CALLED THE TRAIL OF TEARS. MANY CHILDREN AND OLDER FOLKS DIED. IN FACT, 1/4 OF THE TRIBE DIED FROM UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, WEATHER AND DISEASE.


IN THE MEANTIME THE ENGLISH TRADERS HAD MARRIED CHEROKEES. SOME CHEROKEES EVEN ADOPTED SLAVERY. SOME CHEROKEES EVEN ADOPTED SLAVERY. THEIR CLOTHES CHANGED TO ANGLO CLOTHES. THERE WAS A CHIEF WHO DECIDED TO CONTRACT WITH THE ARMY TO COMPLETE THE CHEROKEE REMOVAL TO OKLAHOMA. THERE WERE 13 DIFFERENT WAVES OF PEOPLE MOVING WESTWARD. ONCE THERE THEY NEEDED TO REBUILD EVERYTHING. THEIR CAPITAL WAS TAHLEQUAH. AT THIS TOWN THEY HAD A SQUARE WHERE A LARGE SHELTER WAS BUILT TO GATHER, ALONG WITH TWO SMALL LOG CABINS. BY 1802 ALL CHEROKEES HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM GEORGIA ACCORDING TO JEFFERSON'S ORDERS.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR CHIEF JOHN ROSS IN THE CHEROKEE NATION SAID THE CHEROKEES WERE TO REMAIN NEUTRAL AND OUT OF THE WAR. HE ASKED THE PRESIDENT TO REQUEST THAT THE TROOPS BE SENT TO THE CHEROKEE NATION TO ENSURE NEUTRALITY. THE U. S. HAD SIGNED A TREATY TO PROTECT THEM FROM DOMESTIC STRIFE. INVASION IT WAS IGNORED. MANY MEMBERS DECIDED TO FIGHT FOR THE CONFEDERACY. THEY WERE MOSTLY SOUTHERNERS. MANY WERE STILL SLAVE OWNERS.

STAND WAITE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. HE DECLARED A CONFEDERATE CHEROKEE NATION WITH WAITE AS CHIEF. MANY FULL BLOODED CHEROKEES ORGANIZED THEMSELVES AGAINST WAITE'S CONFEDERATES. THEY FOLLOWED THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY AS WELL. THE CHEROKEES FOUGHT EACH OTHER WITHIN THEIR NATION, SIMILAR TO THE CIVIL WAR IN THE U.S.. MANY HOMES WERE BURNED. CHIEF ROSS FLED THE NATION OF THE CHEROKEES. MANY CHEROKEES SOUGHT REFUGE IN KANSAS, ARKANSAS, TEXAS, AND OTHER STATES. THIS CIVIL WAR LEFT MANY PEOPLE HOMELESS AND THE CHILDREN WERE ORPHANED. THEY ESTABLISHED ORPHANAGE . STAND WAITE WAS THE LAST CONFEDERATE TO SURRENDER IN 1865. THE WAR ANNIHILATED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE FIVE INDIAN NATIONS.

THE CHEROKEES WERE STILL IN A TIME OF UNREST. BY THE EARLY EARLY 1840'S THE NATION ENTERED INTO A GOLDEN AGE.. SCHOOLS WERE BUILT AND THESE WERE THE FIRST FREE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD. MOST TEACHERS WERE CHEROKEES. THE REFUGEES RETURNED TO OKLAHOMA DURING 1865 AND THEY HAD TO START ALL OVER.

CORN WAS THEIR MAJOR CROP BEFORE EUROPEANS CAME INTO THEIR TERRITORY. THEY HAD MYTHS ABOUT IT. KANATI, THE GREAT HUNTER OR THE FIRST MAN AND HIS WIFE, CORN MAIDEN, SIGNIFY THE ORIGINAL MALE HUNTER AND THE FEMALE FARMER . KANATI ALSO BRINGS THE RAIN. SULU, HIS WIFE, COULD PRODUCE BEANS RICE FROM HER BODY ANYTIME.

THE CHEROKEES ALWAYS PRODUCED ABUNDANT CORN CROPS AND STORED THE DRIED CORN FOR THE WINTER. WHEN THE CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT THE ENGLISH DESTROYED THEIR HOMES AND THE ABUNDANCE OF CORN SURPLUS. CHEROKEES DEVELOPED POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS. IN 1978 THESE GROUPS MET TOGETHER AND ELECTED A PRINCIPAL CHIEF OF THE NATION, JESSE MILAM. HE WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL CHIEF UNDER FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT. IN 1950 THE CHEROKEES STILL WANTED TO REMAIN ISOLATED. IN THEIR OWN TOWNS AND LIVE A TRADITIONAL LIFESTYLE.

IN 1963 THE CHEROKEE NATIONAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS FORMED AND THE CHEROKEE HERITAGE CENTER WAS BUILT IN TAHLEQUAH. IT IS A MUSEUM WITH OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATRE AND A TRIBAL OFFICE AND OTHER BUILDINGS. IT HOUSES VARIOUS CONTEMPORARY ART AND HAND CRAFTED ITEMS AS WELL AS ARTIFACTS, SCULPTURES. THE CHEROKEES ARE PEOPLE WHO ADAPT WELL, PROSPER, FACE ADVERSITY AND EXCEL.

ROBERT CONLEY

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

THIS WEEK AT CHURCH THERE WERE SEVERAL LARGE SCULPTURES AT THE STAGE. AN ELECTRIC VIOLINIST PLAYED SOLO TO SOME RECORDED MUSIC. THE MINISTER SPOKE ABOUT HOW WE CAN EXPRESS OURSELVES MORE. BY PIERCING THE MUNDANE WE CAN FIND OURSELVES HAVING MUCH MORE CREATIVITY. HE WAS SPEAKING AS A COACH WOULD TO STEP INTO THE UNKNOWN AND FIND NEW THINGS OR NEW PLACES THAT YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED YET. BECOME CREATIVE ABOUT HOW YOU OPERATE YOUR LIFE. HE PLAYFULLY SAID TO OVER COME FEAR AND BE CREATIVE.

WE SANG SOME JOYFUL SONGS.

HE SUGGESTED ASKING OURSELVES WHO WOULD WE BE IF WE LIVED OUTSIDE THE BOX? HE SAID TO BE BOLD AND BE FEARLESS - CREATE SOME ADVENTURE IN YOUR LIFE. FREEDOM IS THE THING WE NEED TO DO TO OVERCOME FEAR. REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING YOU DO IS PART OF CREATION.

THE CHURCH IS CHANGING IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. THEY ARE HIRING A CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER WHO WILL RUN THE CENTER.

SPIRIT EXPRESSING ART SHOW

LAST WEEKEND I WENT TO MY CHURCH'S ART SHOW WHICH IS WIDELY ATTENDED. THERE WERE PROBABLY 250 PEOPLE THERE VIEWING ALL TYPES OF ART PIECES AND ARTIFACTS HAND. ONE LONG TIME ARTIST DESCRIBED HIS STONE SCULPTURE WHICH HAD A CELTIC WEAVE ON FOUR SIDES OF A JADE LIKE STONE. HE HAS BEEN WORKING IN STONE FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. THEY HAD AN UNUSUAL TRIO PLAYING A VARIETY OF OBOES IN THE UPSTAIRS GALLERY. THEY ARE VERY QUIET INSTRUMENTS.

THEY ALSO HAD A SERIES OF SLIDES OF ARCHITECTURE FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES.

I ENJOYED LOOKING AT MANY TYPES OF HAND MADE JEWELRY. THEIR WERE SOME BEAUTIFUL QUILTS THERE THAT WERE NOT FOR SALE. SOME STUDENT ART WAS ALSO ON EXHIBIT AND THEY WERE PROUD OF HAVING THERE WORK ON DISPLAY.
THEY HAD A DELIGHTFUL AMOUNT OF FREE DELICIOUS FOOD. I GOT STUFFED.

CARBON FOOTPRINT

OUR WORLD NEEDS TO HELP REDUCE THE USE OF OUR CARBON - MEANING THAT WE NEED TO USE LESS FUEL AND TRANSPORTATION OF ALL OUR GOODS, INCLUDING FOOD. IN ORDER TO PROTECT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGES WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WAYS TO GREENHOUSE, GAS EMMISIONS BY USING GREEN ENERGY, PLANTING MORE TREES, CARPOOLING, USING BIKES MORE, AND GROWING BIO FUELS.

CARBON FOOTPRINT IS A MEASURE OF HOW YOUR DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES ARE AFFECTING YOUR ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF GREENHOUSE GASES YOU PRODUCE PER YEAR.

SOME OF THE MAIN SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GASES DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES ARE BURNING FOSSILS AND GAS, DEFORESTATION, LIVESTOCK RAISING, PADDY RICE FARMING, AND LANDFILL EMMISIONS. MANY NEWER STYLE SEPTIC TANK SYSTEMS THAT ENHANCE FERMENTATION PROCESS ARE MAJOR RESOURCES OF METHANE, USE OF CHLOROFLORIDES IN REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS, ANS THEIR USE IN FIRE SUPPRESSION, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, USE OF FERTILIZERS (COMMERCIAL) LEAD TO HIGH NITROUS OXIDE LEVELS. COAL USE IS THE HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR TO CARBON IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.

JUST BY ELIMINATING MEAT TO YOUR DIET COULD SAVE UP TO 4000 POUNDS OF CARBON PER YEAR . FOOD PACKAGING ADDS ANOTHER 60 POUNDS OF CARBON PER PERSON PER YEAR. BUYING LOCALLY GROWN FOODS CAN GREATLY REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT.

BUY CUTTING YOUR SHOWER TO 3 MINUTES PER DAY 700 POUNDS OF CARBON CAN BE SAVED AND 5000 GALLONS OF WATER CAN BE SAVED. RECYCLE PAPER AND SCHEDULE BUILDING CLEANING SHIFTS TO OVERLAP WITH REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS TO SAVE ON LIGHTS AND HVAC SYSTEMS.

BRING RECYCLABLE CLOTH BAGS TO THE GROCERY. HOME ELECTRONICS SUCH AS COMPUTERS, TV, CELL PHONE CHARGES, AND OTHER ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT USE ELECTRICITY EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN USE! TURN OFF POWER STRIPS WHEN NOT IN USE.

FISH POISON OF CALIFORNIA INDIANS

VARIOUS PLANT POISONS WERE USED TO CATCH FISH. THEY CRUSHED PLANTS AND THREW THEM IN THE WATER TO STUPIFY THE FISH. WAILAKI USED SOAPROOT AS DID THE POMO TO STUPIFY THE FISH. THE RAPID AND FAST FLOWING STREAMS DID NOT ALLOW THE POISONS TO WORK, ONLY STILL STREAMS OR POOLS.

THE CHILULA TRIBE POUNDED SOAPROOT WITH ENOUGH WATER TO MAKE SUDS AND USED THE SOLUTION IN CREEK HOLES FOR TROUT. THE MIWOK USED A COMMUNAL. EFFORT TO CATCH FISH. THE SOAPROOT WORKED WHEN THE WATER WAS LOW. SEVERAL BUSHELS OF BULBS WERE DUG AND AND POUNDED INTO A PULP ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER. THEY MIXED IN SOIL AND THREW IT INTO THE RIVER. THE STUPIFIED FISH ROSE TO THE SURFACE AND THEY SCOOPED THEM INTO BASKETS.

THE MATTOLE BELIEVED SOAPROOT AFFECTED THE VISCERA OF THE FISH. THEY TOOK THE FISH AND EVISCERALED IT. MOST INDIANS BELIEVED THAT THE BULB DID NOT POISON THEM AFTER EATING THE FISH.

BUCKEYES ALSO WERE USED IN A SIMILAR WAY. THEY WERE GROUND AND MIXED INTO WATER TO STUPIFY THE FISH. THE YOKUTS USED TA'DAD AND YA'AHA TO POISON FISH. THE NOMLAKI USED SOAPROOT AND TURKEY MULLIEN FOR POISON IN STAGNANT WATERS.

THE LASSICK AND WAILAKI TOOK SUCKERS AND TROUT WITH SOAPROOT, TURKEY MULLIEN AND MANROOT. THE SINKYONE USED MANROOT AND SOAPROOT. THEY ALSO USED WORMWORD, WILD PARSNIPS, AND COW PARSNIPS.

BEAR RIVER FOLKS USED BUCKEYE, SOAPROOT, AND TURKEY MULLIEN, MANROOT AND WILD ONIONS POISONS. THE TUBATULABAL TRIBE SCOOPED UP FISH USING SOLOMAN'S SEAL.

THE POMO PRIMARILY USED CRUSHED SOAPROOT. THEY HAD A FISHING CHIEF WHO DIRECTED THE COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES OF GATHERING PLANTS, MAKING WEIRS AND SO FORTH...THEY SOMETIMES POUNDED WILD TOBACCO AND MIXED WITH TURKEY MULLIEN. THE COASTAL POMOS CAUGHT OCTOPUS, EELS, AND SEA FISH IN POOLS USING MANROOT (MANAH FABACEOUS).

PAUL CAMPBELL

MEAT PREPARATION OF NATIVE TRIBES

A CAHUILLA ELDER SAID HE PLAYED IN THE MOUNTAINS ALL DAY AND WITH OTHER BOYS WOULD HUNT GAME AND THEIR MOMS WOULD COOK IT. THE BOY COULD NOT EAT THE ANIMAL HE KILLED. SOMETIMES THE MEN CAUGHT A DEER AND THE FATTY MEAT WAS A PIECE FOR THE FATHER. SHE SAID BOYS SHOULD NOT EAT FAT.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MEAT WAS A PRECIOUS COMPONENT OF THE INDIAN DIET, AND A SPIRITUAL ONE AS WELL. RELIGIOUS CUSTOM ENVELOPED THE HUNT, THE BUTCHERING, AND THE PREPARATION OF THE MEAT. BEFORE AND AFTER A DRIVE. THE MOUNTAIN MAIDU MADE OFFERINGS OF BEADS AND FOOD TO THE MOUNTAIN SPIRITS AND TO THE DEER. ONLY THEN WAS THE ANIMAL BUTCHERED. THE DEER MEAT WAS DIVIDED EQUALLY AMONG THE HUNTERS. THEY HAD OBSTAINED FROM THEIR WIVES AND WERE CAREFUL NOT TO ALLOW DEER BONES BE THROWN AWAY OR BURNED. THE LIVER WAS EATEN DURING THE HUNT. NOW THEY COULD EAT THE MEAT. DURING THE HUNT THE DEER'S LEG BONES WERE PLACED ON A PLATFORM IN THE TREE BRANCHES WHERE THEY MADE OFFERINGS AND PRAYED TO THE DEER.

FOR THE HUPA IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NONE OF THE ANIMAL WAS WASTED. THEY DRANK THE BLOOD FIRST. THE STOMACH WAS BURIED IN ASHES, COOKED AND EATEN. THE EARS WERE A DELICACY AFTER ROASTING! THE BONE OF THE LEGS WAS SAVED TO MIX PAINT. SINEW WAS SAVED FOR THE BOW. THE BRAIN WAS DRIED AND USED TO DRESS THE HIDE. MEAT NOT EATEN IMMEDIATELY WAS CUT UP INTO STRIPS AND DRIED OVER A FIRE. SOME MEAT WAS BOILED IN A POT. PEOPLE WASHED THEIR HANDS IN A WOODEN BOWL AND THAT WATER WAS THROWN OUT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.

THE WESTERN MONO OF THE SIERRA NEVADA HAD ONLY SKILLED HUNTERS WHO HAD DREAM POWER FROM DEER DIVIDED THEIR KILL. THE DOCTORS AND SHAMANS GOT THE BIGGEST PIECES, THE CHIEF DID NOT CARE WHETHER HE GOT ANY MEAT. IN THE BEAR RIVER TRIBE IF TWO MEN SHOT THE SAME DEER, THEY GAVE PIECES TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN HUNT. WHEN THEY SNARED AN ELK THEY SLIT ITS THROAT AND SKINNED AND GUTTED IT. THE HEART AND LIVER AND STOMACH WERE TIED FOR TRANSPORT TO CAMP. THE HIND QUARTERS WERE SLUNG OVER THEIR SHOULDERS TO BRING TO CAMP. THE FRONT QUARTERS WERE HUNG IN A TREE IN THE SHADE WITH ROPE TO KEEP THE OTHER ANIMALS AWAY UNTIL THE HUNTERS COULD RETURN. AT CAMP THEY DIVIDED THE MEAT ONE'S SHARE WAS CUT UP OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. ANTLERS WERE USED FOR KNIVES AND FISHHOOKS. MEAT WAS SMOKED FOR TWO DAYS.


WOMEN COOKED MEAT AFTER IT HAD BEEN SMOKED AND DRIED BUT NOT THE RAW MEAT. ONLY MEN CUT UP AND COOKED FRESH MEAT. THEY USED COOKING POTS. THEY COVERED THE MEAT WITH YOUNG ALDER LEAVES AND COVERED IT WITH HOT ROCKS AND SAND. THEY MADE BASKET PLATES TO EAT THEIR FOOD.


FAWNS AND SQUIRRELS WERE AVOIDED. COTTONTAILS AND BIRDS WERE SKINNED AND CLEANED AND ROASTED OVER A FIRE. BLACK BEAR, DEER, AND ELK WERE SKINNED AND CLEANED. THE FLESH WAS CUT UP AND PIECED COOKED THE MEAT WAS OVER THE FIRE SO THE FAT WOULD DRIP DOWN. THE FAT WAS SAVED AND POURED OVER THE VEGETABLES IN WINTER.

THE SALINAN PEOPLE IN WESTERN CALIFORNIA BACKED THEIR MEAT OVERNIGHT IN THE EARTH OVEN AND IT WOULD KEEP FOR A DAY. IF THEY PRESERVED THE IN COOKING BASKETS. THEY ATE EVERY KIND OF ANIMAL EXCEPT SKUNK.

THE YOKUTS GENERALLY DID NOT EAT BEAR. MOST CALIFORNIA GROUPS BUTCHERED LARGE ANIMALS WITH STONE KNIVES AND SOME USED CANE KNIVES.

LUISENO PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CLEANSED THEMSELVES WITH SAGE BEFORE GOING ON A HUNT. IT WOULD GIVE THEM GOOD LUCK.

IN THE SANTA CATALINA REGION THEY OFTEN BOILED SMALL MAMMALS AND GROUND FLESH AND BONES. RABBITS WERE ROASTED, SOME BOILED FIRST AND THEN ROASTED. THE COCOPAH USUALLY COOKED IN CLAY POTS OVER THE FIRE.

PAUL JOHNSON

CALIFORNIA HUNTING MAGIC

CALIFORNIA HUNTING WAS DONE WITH THE USE OF SPLIT TWIG FIGURINES, ATLATL DARTS, CRYSTALS, PICTOGRAPHS OF BIGHORN SHEEP, AND A FEATHER BUNDLES. MOST OF THE ARTIFACTS WERE DATED ABOUT 1500 BC AND INDICATED A HUNTER SOCIETY THAT WAS IN THE SOUTHWEST AND GREAT BASIN.

ONE OF THE SPLIT TWIG FIGURINES HAD STICKS INSERTED FOR LEGS AND THE HEAD. INSIDE THE BODY OF THIS DEERLIKE FIGURE WAS A CHALCEDONY FLAKE WRAPPED IN DRY GRASSES. IT WAS FOUND IN A CAVE ALONG THE MOHAVE RIVER, WHERE BIGHORN SHEEP TYPICALLY ABOUND. THEIR WERE NO ARTIFACTS WHICH REPRESENTED DAY TO DAY FOOD PREPARATION - INDICATING IT WAS A SPIRITUAL SITE.

SPLIT TWIG FIGURINES WERE FIRST FOUND IN THE GRAND CANYON AROUND 2000 B.C. THEY WERE FOUND WITH DEER DROPPINGS IN THE CHEST CAVITY WHICH SUGGESTED MAGICAL FUNCTION OF THESE ARTIFACTS. JAMES FRAZ SPOKE OF 2 TYPES OF SYMPATHETIC MAGIC: HOMEOPATHIC - REPRESENTATION OF AN ANIMAL IN A CAVE PAINTING OR STICK FIGURES; AND CONTIGIOUS - CONTROL OVER AN ACTUAL PART OR DROPPING OF AN ANIMAL. WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE EXACT HUNTING RITUALS OF THE ARCHAIC FOLKS. ALN DAVIS AND GERALD SMITH SAY THE FIGURINES WERE MADE WITH LONG SLENDER WILLOW WITHES WHICH ARE COMMON ON TREES. HE REPRODUCED THIS SPLT TWIG FIGURINES. HE KEPT THE RED BROWN BARK SIDE OF THE TWIG ON THE OUTSIDE. FIGURINES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN OVER 20 CAVES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN NEVADA, ARIZONA, AND UTAH.

PAUL JOHNSON