Native California Peoples

Native America peoples of what is now southern California usually had names for themselves other than the ones will I give here. Here are many of the popularized ones I remember. There are many more: Chumash, Alliklik, Kitanemuk, Serrano, Gabrielino, Luiseno, Cahuilla, Kumeyaay, Hoopa.

Of course other native peoples made their presences strongly felt in California. For example: Shoshone, Paiute, Yakee (Yaqui), Mohave, Apache, and many others.

There was cultural and economic commerce between and among these people. Trade was carried on to the Northwest US and beyond, to deep into Mexico, up and down the Colorado and beyond.

Each of these peoples have their stories and their history.

The Chumash, for example, traded up and down the Pacific coast in their well-made, brea-caulked boats. They also were know for introducing new religious ideas to inland peoples.
The Chumash were among those to bear much of the brunt of contact with European explorers and conquerors. They were among the first to contact the Spanish and in very early times had unfriendly dealings with the Russians and their Native allies. It's not surprising that Chumash made these contacts first, as they were a sea going people and the Spanish, Russians, English and a surprising number of others first came by sea. The Chumash may also have traded with Chinese and perhaps Japanese.

A Question of Indians

What kind of food was "pechita" among Spanish speaking Indians near the boarder of Northern Mexico and Southern California?

Who has information about the hot and cold water wells of Coachella Valley Indians from the earliest times?

What did "Piatopa" mean to Coahuila Indians and how was it related to Mt San Gorgonio?

In What ways are the Pima similar to the Cocomaricopa?

How are the Apache similar to the Yuma?

What is the history of the Yaqui as miners?

Is there a good translation of Geronimo Boscana's ethnographic work on the Luiseno of Southern California? It was written not long before 1830.

Where can I get information about the Yaqui-Mayo rebellion of 1740?

What is known of the early sea trade of the Yaqui with people of Baja California? The trade was active in about 1800. At that time Yaqui were crossing the gulf in their 'canoes' from Guyams to Loreto about 140 miles across pretty rough water.

Was there and Apache revolt in New Mexico in about 1680?

Who will tell us something about the Hachedun Indians who lived along the Colorado River?

Thoughts While Driving

My calculations did not keep me from enjoying the countryside. Did not stay completely in the `here and now` for my memory was taken back to times of WW II. Seem to be getting ahead of myself a bit. Still let me give you a sample memory.
I was not yet five years old, I find myself sitting with my father at a tiny fire far out on the desert. He is drunk. With us (or we with them) are two indians; they do not speak English. They do not speak much at all. They are thin muscular men as short as my father. They have open white shirts and dark skin. The dark skin shines in the fire light. They look very much alike and could be brothers. They may have drunk some with my father, but I now suspet that they were high on something other than alcohol. Thinking back I now also suspect that they were Yaqui.
They `sang` to the coyotes. Maybe it is better said that they spoke beautifully with the coyotes. I liked it. It seem that they spoke and the coyotes answered. It seemed that the coyotes spoke and they answered. It was an intimate than loud conversation.
I may have felt safer had my father been sober, but still the memory is good.

Looking back I suspect that it was not a good time for my parents. I think my father was having troubling thoughts about being a husband and father. I think he had just hepled my mother to get a late term abortion and that she was begining a depression. I think that the abortion was badly done and left long term phisycal damage as well as lasting psychological damage.

The spell check here is in Spanish. I hope you will forgive my spelling errors.

Thoughts while traveling often differ from the thoughts typical of home.

Travel Where?

I've been thinking.
I've kind of decided "what." Now seems like a good time to consider "where."
Being awake, alive, alert as I follow my nose or toes is a way. I've enjoyed and learned that way.
It's not the way I have been thinking of.
Recently I have been thinking of attractive ways of looking for a home. That has led me to think of Thailand. Thailand is a place of helpful, beauty loving people, who respect their elders. They give value for value. The food is tasty and wholesome. One may find an elephant in ones alley or ones seat in peculiar temple. The dollar goes far and there a lots of fine things to learn. I enjoy the wide variety of interesting people one can find there.
Looking for a home has also led me to think of Uruguay. Uruguay is a land of farms and ranches and people willing to let you be. They are also willing to help when asked and they speak pretty good Spanish. There is plenty of fresh air and clean water there.
They have lots of meat, plenty of vegetables, and they're mostly organic. It has a compact stately, bright, cosmopolitan capital. I like the hot water spas there.

More recently, I have been thinking or Europe. I admit that the thought of the prices there brings a film of perspiration to my brow. Still there have have been reasonable flights to London from NY. I remember one very inexpensive flight from NY to Luxembourg via Iceland. Took a very nice layover in the unspellable capital of that country.

I could go to Portugal from England and from there on to Holland and up to Denmark. If the weather seemed warm enough I could head on to Norway and from there to Russia via Finland. If the weather were turning cool when I got to Denmark I could heat to East Germany and from there rapidly south to Turkey and beyond.
I'd like to check out a lot of old Prussia and a lot of the hot water health spas of Eastern Europe. With days in hot water I could handle cold weather.
If the weather were already getting cold when I got to Portugal I could head to Morocco and then overland to Egypt and then on south as far as necessary.

Ah, well.

Flower Dream

A Yaqui flower dream can point a good way, even when I dream. I don't know the dance, but the way is good. This purification has no toloache, no alcohol, no special mushroom or cactus. All flowers have their beauty, even the yellow flower of the bitter gourd has its goodness. Still it is best to choose well.
Not perfection, rather perfecting is the way.
Souls get sick, but Yaquis can bring beautiful flower souls.
Powers come and go. Jesuits left. Still there are strong souls and flowers bloom.
Yaquis lost energy with Obergon, still they are wise enough.
They know responsibility for purification of these worlds.
They have been enslaved and value freedom as free beings. The cultivate flowers and wild flowers bloom through a nearly silent spring.
Yaqui flower near Tucson and north of Cuidad Obregon and there and there. Some practice strengthening purification. Some have seen a weakened dear dance. Some can still find the 16th flower world with four fours.
Fawn flower; garden flower; water flower; all good. The fruit of the bitter melon splits and grows before me after its yellow flower. Rain comes to the flower ground and better fruit splits and grows fine flowers.
Yaqui did not die when the Franciscans did not come. The nigh hawk returns and the thunderbird too. The mesquite blooms and brings powerful fruit. Deer flowers are still willing to feed many. Little hoofed brother flower is still willing. There are sticks and sounds of sticks.
There is a tree bent down, rich with flowers. Where is it? Out there in the sage? A flower branch, bent down with flowers.
Look there in the brush. Can you see doves. Can they be in the water?
Surely you can see three walking in the flower world dawn.
Can a bush squirrel still sound large. Can we hear it like and old enchanter?
Can we sleep in these flowers?
Who crawls in these flowers?
Dead grass stands shaking in the wind, there in the flower world. A blue cloud, grey water, mist will reach down, will rain down.
Will we break down the beavers door to kill it? Will we kill it? Kill it with a bow and arrow?
Do you know the cholla flower? Flowers with the body of a young deer? Can you see there where you stand to rub your antlers? How can a deer with antlers stand to rub them beneath a cholla flower? Still the deer and the cholla are willing. It is as it was.
I do not will flowers to move; the flowers will to move. They move. A road of flowers move. The cloud will break. Cloud breaks. Smart energy is available.
Each can cooperate with another. All Cahita were not always friends. Yaqui did not always love Mayo. Navajo does not always love Apache. Cahita were many and many. They farmed the desert too. They knew Pima and Papago and cotton by the old names. Some in the racherias know powerful ways of uniting, of cooperating. Can the find 16 flower souls?
Their vanity let the Spanish divide them. They were divided even knowing the purification of the four principle soul worlds. This is now. Think of sixteen. Now frown or pain.
How is the flower? Answer truly. Be willing to purify in a loving, healthy way. You will move. No need to fight. You will move. Purification is a good way; flowers purifying, perfecting these worlds and this world. Eliminating harm; each flower important.
I can say four fours need no gas and Easter is good enough.
I am not a Yaqui. Yet I speak. I speak of a now big and long. I know a flower road that is strong today and today. What can a Yaqui remember, find in mind, find in the sun, in a pure flower dream?