Native Americans explore balance with nature in Thousand Oaks
Anyone can compete and win!
By Alex Wilson 02/11/2010
Ventura County residents have a chance to connect with nature and learn how Native Americans lived in harmony with their surroundings during weekend events in Thousand Oaks.
The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center is easy to overlook when hiking and biking through beautiful Sycamore Canyon and other trails into the Santa Monica Mountains, but is definitely worth a visit. The Rancho Sierra Vista area was inhabited by Chumash Indians for many centuries before it was used as a ranch in modern times, and then finally handed over to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Park Ranger Leilani Wayne says programs are presented by Native Americans from various backgrounds and include descendants from tribes all across the nation. “The culture center offers Native Americans and visitors alike the opportunity to interface and meet one another in person through many of the events that we have throughout the year,” says Wayne.
“We have a number of presenters that share their unique crafts and skills and storytelling directly with the public on a regular basis, on everything from making dolls out of tulle and indigenous plants in the area, to gourd making and different craft and skill building activities,” she says.
Some upcoming cultural workshops include a Feb. 21 presentation by Native American students who attend Sherman Indian High School in Riverside County. On Sunday, March 7, Dennis Garcia will teach about Chumash songs and stories. Sunday, March 21, brings a celebration of the spring equinox with Chumash elder Charlie Cook. All presentations are held twice a day from 10 a.m. to noon and again between 1 and 3 p.m.
The center also features art exhibits, a replica Chumash structure and a garden of native plants traditionally used for food, medicine and other purposes. On sale are a variety of gifts, toys and books on topics like Chumash ethnobotany. “When they go on a hike they can learn how to identify the plants by their uses, by their scientific name and their family,” says Wayne.
Many exhibits and speakers illustrate how native cultures were tied to the natural world and respect what it has to provide.
“They were definitely in tune with the land, and I think they can offer a point of reflection with our modern lifestyle because they were completely sustainable,” says Wayne. “We look at people and the way they lived in the past, and we see technology as progress, which it most definitely is. But when I think of the Chumash and the people that are here, they have an incredible skill base and knowledge of the resources, and an intimate connection with the land and with each other, and a place in the universe and community that we could return to.”
Ojai resident Maria Carranza is part Chumash and enjoys running in the park as well as contemplating nature and her heritage. “It’s wonderful. It helps our people stay together and be proud of our nationality and have other people enjoy it as well. So we really love it out here,” says Carranza.
Carranza says everyone can take something away from learning about Native American culture. “I think they can learn that we have endured a lot of things in our life; we’re very peaceful people.” says Carranza. “We love nature, we are in tune with nature, and other people can learn from us to do the same to have more peace in their life.”
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