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Program helps students learn true nature of Native Californians

By Sandy Mouat
CORRESPONDENT

It's cold and flu season. What do you do if you are an early native Californian with a stuffy nose, and there are no pharmacies in existence yet? As Marilyn Talken's fourth-grade class at Happy Valley Elementary School learned, you find a bay leaf, bend it in half, and take a deep whiff for the antihistamine-like effects.

Authentic artifacts, traditional storytelling, woodland creatures, and treasures from the Earth provided a unique perspective into the daily lives of early Californians during "Native Californians Day," presented by Lafayette Arts & Science Foundation instructors Barbara Butlin and Pati Connett.

"Their program is invaluable because it really brings the study of history to life, so much more than the textbooks can," said Talken. "The children get so much out of the lessons, and they retain much more of the information this way. It is such a fun way to learn!"

Butlin's and Connett's thorough and thought-provoking overview of the Native Peoples of California quickly gained everyone's avid attention. They gave each student a native Californian name for the day like "Coyote," "Rabbit," "Willow," "Poison Oak," "Great Blue Heron," "Corn," and "Sunflower." The names came from "living things," the students learned, because the Native Californians believed that all living things had spirits that were helpful during life.

In the elaborate, hands-on museum set up by the two LASF instructors, students found and studied authentic artifacts, and learned about the many ways in which early native Californians made everything they needed, by being creative and inventive with what they could find in their natural surroundings.

In the "kitchen" area, Butlin gave a demonstration of how Native Californians used a mortar and pestle to grind acorns into powder, then removed the tannic acid, and cooked the acorn mush, without metal pots, by moving a heated stone held by a stirring stick, through the mush. She explained that they had to be careful to not to drop the stone, lest it burn right through the woven cooking basket!

In the ceremony and toy area, students could see how dolls were made out of tules, and dice were made from walnuts. At the end of the day, they had a chance to try their luck at a few games of chance and skill.

"This is a great opportunity for us, getting to see and touch these things that were actually made and used by the early natives," said student Hsin-Hung Lin. "This is a chance we might not have otherwise, or again."

Students saw currency made from small shells, and intriguing fishing implements. They were surprised and amused to learn that the natives threw crushed buckeye into the water, and swished soap root through the water, in order to disorient and stun the fish.

Fourth-grader Makenzie Quinn, said "I like to learn about people from our past. The native Californians thought of ways to make so many of the things that we have today."

They also learned of the deep respect the early natives had for animals, and for the gifts of survival that the animals provided. No part of the animal was wasted. This point was demonstrated often, no more so than in the "instruments room," where they shook a funeral rattle made from deer toenails.

In the sewing and weaving area, students learned how the natives stretched animal sinew into thread, and then strung it through a small bone that was used as a sewing needle. (Later, in the tool area, they got the chance to try the pump drill, which was used to bore the small holes in the needles.) They also learned about the time-consuming, intricate art of making a tightly woven basket.

Fourth-grade student Corrinne Bozzini was amazed by all of the artifacts. "I used to think that the early natives would not know very much because it was so long ago, but now I see that they knew how to do everything, how to make everything they needed. They knew more than we do today."

This comment brought a delighted smile and pride of accomplishment to Butlin's face. "Students come away with a better understanding of life long ago among the first people who inhabited this land of plenty."

Chantal Chan said, "I thought studying Indians was boring, but when you can see these artifacts and do crafts just like the Indians did, it really brings it all out for us." Added Brendan Kapoor, "The craft was fun and I really liked the artifacts, especially the arrowheads."

Many were surprised to learn about the medicines made from plants, and expressed amazement at the ingenuity of the early inhabitants of California. Butlin and Connett discussed each of the artifacts in detail, and answered many questions from their eager audience.

Fourth-grader Brenna Williams said, "I was amazed at how smart the native Californians were, at how they knew how to make medicines from plants."

Connett next led the class in their craft project, making hair combs from prickly teasel cones. With clear instruction and demonstration, she helped the students follow the steps to create their own teasel combs.

The day also included a Native California Myth about the creation of the first man, told by Butlin. It demonstrated the deep respect and admiration that the early natives had for animals.

"This program makes me think about how animals are treated today, and I want to know why we lost the respect and admiration for animals, said student Charlie Ennis. "Why don't people still treat animals with the same respect today?"

The day ended with a slide presentation that included a look at the people and their life taken at Coyote Hills, Point Reyes, the Oakland Museum and Grinding Rock State Park.

"We hope to instill a lifelong love of learning in our students, no matter what the subject," said Connett. "Even after teaching this class for more than 20 years, we are still learning new things, and excited about bringing new items and facts to our students. Every new artifact opens another door to learning for us, and for our students."

01/21/04 Reprinted with permission. Visit the Contra Costa Times on the web at www.contracostatimes.com.

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