Native Teachings
The California Institute for Community, Art, and Nature gathered an exceptional group of native artists and cultural leaders to present to a full-house of attendees at Goldman Theater of the David Brower Center in Berkeley for a series of morning presentations. Our speakers shared personal reflections on the value of the lessons they learned, how knowledge is conveyed, and the wisdom embedded in a variety of Native institutions, beliefs, and practices. They discussed to what degree this knowledge has been transferable to mainstream America. Additionally, a number of non-Indians who have had long and deep engagement with Indian communities added commentary on what they have learned and how it has shaped their life. Panelists who participated in this remarkable morning include:
- Jennifer Bates, Central Sierra Mewuk, helped found the California Indian Basketweavers Association, organized the Indian Market of traditional artists at Tuolume Rancheria and is a teaches traditional processes and materials for weaving and cooking.
- Ron Goode, tribal chair of the North Fork Mono Indians, he is a cultural leader, fine artist, storyteller, and maker of traditional arts and crafts from bows and arrows to skin tanning.
- Corrina Gould, Confederated Villages of Lisjan/Ohlone, founded the West Berkeley Shellmound Campaign to save the 5000 year old, landmarked village and sacred site – the oldest in the Bay – from development.
- Frank LaPena, renowned Wintu-Nomtipom/Tenai painter, writer, singer and ceremonial leader, founded Maidu Dancers and Traditionalists and teaches Art and Ethnic Studies at CSU Sacramento,
- Malcolm Margolin, Executive Director of California ICAN, founded Heyday Books and News from Native California and wrote The Ohlone Way. He is editing the West Berkeley Shellmound (Spring 2019) with the Hearst Museum of Anthropology, Archaeological Research Facility, Indian People Organizing for Change and others.
- Toby McLeod is a journalist who works in film, video, print, and still photography. Project Director of Sacred Land Film Project, he has worked with indigenous communities for over 40 years.
- Vincent Medina is an Ohlone whose ancestry is East Bay, fluent speaker of Chochenyo (Berkeley’s original language), storyteller and leader in the revival and adaptation of traditional practices for the 21st century.
- Benjamin Porter is the Director of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
- Fred Velasquez lives in Miwok country in the Sierra foothills. He is a longtime participant in and supporter of Miwok cultural life and is a master craftsman working in stone, bone and shell.
- Linda Yamane, Rumsen Ohlone, is a basketweaver, Tule boat-builder, tribal historian and language advocate who has revived the Rumsian language, an original Ohlone language from the Monterey Bay.
“Thousands of years of accumulated wisdom, practical knowledge, and beauty is in the earth beneath our feet and in the hearts and practice of Native people today. Meet some of California’s most skillful Native artists and highly-regarded cultural leaders for an exploration of Native California’s deep past and living present.”—Malcolm Margolin, Director of California ICAN and Benjamin Porter, Director of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum