Ukiah High celebrates Native American Heritage Month by hosting speakers, teachers, and craftsmen in classrooms on November 12th and 13th. All students, teachers, and staff members are invited to join in a lunchtime celebration on Wednesday the 12th.
Ms. Frith, a Native American Counselor on campus and organizer of the event shares why it is so important: ¨it is a whole missing piece of history. In a lot of ways, the history that we’ve taught over the years has been very much written from a certain perspective. Our school is really making an effort to highlight history from different perspectives. It gives students an opportunity to recognize some of the local history, that really isn’t from too far in the distant past. I think it’s very important for people to have more understanding because it gives them more of a connection to this place in which they live. They need to understand how people were living on this land before colonization. The land is very abundant here and people have lived here for thousands and thousands of years. We were living a certain lifestyle here before colonization and modern society emerged.”
Ms. Frith emphasized the importance of teachers signing up saying: “I really want teachers to contact me and start getting signed up. I have a good amount of people signed up but I would love to get more. The people that we have coming in are truly amazing people. On November 12th during lunchtime in the large tri, we’re going to have some dancers, which is going to be really beautiful, and then we’re going to have some different booths from some tribal education centers. We’ll have tables set up for kids to do basket weaving and make their own necklaces.
Buffie Campbell, the teacher of the Pomo Language Program at Ukiah High, learned from her mother to be a Pomo Dancer, Pomo regalia maker, Pomo basket weaver, and Indigenous food and medicine gatherer. Buffie’s cultural knowledge, passed down from her mother and father, has given her a desire to share old ways to the youth and elders, and everyone in between.
Ms. Campbell spoke to the celebration’s importance: “Native American Heritage Month is important because it brings awareness to people who might not know and might not have any exposure to the Native community in this area that we all live in. There are a lot of Native American people in this area. There are over 20 tribes in Mendocino, Lake, and Sonoma counties, and a lot of these people are living with you in your area, working with you.”
She finished with a strong message to all people at the high school and in the greater community: “I want everyone to know that we are walking among you. We’re sitting in the same classrooms as you, working with you, and living with you. I know that a lot of people have friendships with Native people, and maybe you didn’t know that. That’s okay, because you really shouldn’t be so focused on labels. Not just this month, every month, every day, we’re here practicing our cultures within our own community, here at the school, remembering where we came from and the proud people that we are.”
Presenters are joining us from various tribes across Mendocino County and beyond to share aspects of their rich and vibrant cultures:
Nick Garcia is from Redwood Valley Rancheria. He is a local ¨Money Maker,¨ singer, regalia maker, and storyteller. He will be sharing the history and current uses of Pomo ‘Money’ and traditional economy as well as leather medicine bag making.
Julian Maldonado shared some of his backstory: “As a young boy I spent a lot of time with my uncle Ramon Billy Sr. who taught me about our Pomo culture and tribal government. I am a traditional Pomo dancer and a Roundhouse dancer. I make regalia for the male dancers, feather skirts, flicker bands and back pieces. I also make clapper sticks for the singers. I prepare the dancer arbor and dance grounds for cultural gatherings. I enjoy gathering our traditional foods and medicinal plants and teaching others how to prepare them. I have served as the Chairperson for the Title VI Native American Parent Committee at Ukiah High School District for over 20 years. I also have shared my Pomo culture and history at UUSD for 25 years. I am honored to teach youth the Pomo traditions and ways of life of my ancestors.”
Corine Pearce spoke about her origin: “I am from the Redwood Valley Rancheria Tribe. I have been a basket weaver for 40 years. I grew up in a native home active in community and traditions. My mother ensured that I was exposed to, and participated in all parts of my culture so that I could learn and pass down the knowledge. I am a traditional dancer, singer, and regalia maker. I have taught many aspects of Native culture including basketry, food processing, traditional games, local and general native history, songs, instrument making as well as environmental protection in a variety of settings, from classrooms (k-12), Museums, cultural centers, tribal gatherings, as well as out of my own school and wellness center. In 2017, I released my first book, Pomo Cradle Baskets: An Introduction. I was a featured artist on the PBS program Craft in America and worked with the LA school district to create a native art education component for their curriculum. I travel the globe teaching and sharing Art and Native Culture, but being close to home and sharing with the local community is where my heart lies.”
Vaugh Pena is an enrolled member of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians with descendants from Navajo. He has been working in Information Technology for the Pinoleville Pomo Nation for the past three years, supporting the community’s technology needs and helping improve digital access and cybersecurity awareness. He is also passionate about learning and teaching Native American cultural activities, traditional hand dancing, and hand game playing, helping to keep traditional practices alive, and sharing them with others.
Jacqueline Sanchez gave herself a quick introduction, saying, “My name is Jacqueline Sanchez, I am a member of the Susanville Indian Rancheria. I am an active beader and artist. I am Paiute and Shoshone. I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2005 with degrees in Native American studies and ethnic studies. I am currently working on my Masters in History with an emphasis in Education from Grand Canyon University. I have volunteered in Youth Sports since 2007 and currently work with youth career counseling. I volunteer now as an assistant coach at the Ukiah High School for the girls’ basketball program. I was an assistant and head coach at Mendocino College for 10 years before stepping down. I want to give back to the community and lead by example.”
Monique Sonoquie is a cultural educator from California with 30 years of experience in local food and art. She will be sharing what local plants are used to make tea, giving taste tests and sharing local foods.
Theo Whitehurst is a Wailaki/Cherokee and is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes. Theo has been teaching workshops in schools and community events for over 10 years and works to promote sustainability, traditional ways, and respect for the land.
Additionally, Buffie McQuillen will share about local Native American history, and Nicole and Barbara Graumann will speak on acorn processing and traditional foods.
Happy Native American Heritage Month, and see you on Wednesday!
Salvio Senerchia was born in Santa Rosa and has lived in Mendocino County his whole life. He is a Freshman and in his first year of Journalism. He has a deep care for the world, its imperfections and inequalities. Salvio loves all things soccer, and is interested in law. He is an avid Liverpool F.C. fan and hopes to visit the city and attend a match! He loves learning, especially History, Math, and any and all reading and writing. He enjoys writing about current and past events and conflicts. Salvio loves traveling, exploring the world and learning about the places he visits.