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The Healing Power of the Old Ways: Linda Navarro The Twenty-first Annual Traditional Indian Health Education Program gathering, held July 18-20 at Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park in Pine Grove, drew more than three hundred and fifty participants. Highlights of the gathering included roundhouse ceremonies on Friday and Saturday mornings with prayers and songs led by Gen Denton (Miwok), who was from the local area, and Anita Silva (Kashia Pomo). Sweatlodge ceremonies were led by Beverly Hunter, Art Martinez, Bill Leonard, and Clarence Atwell. The Maidu Traditionalists, led by Rose Enos and Frank LaPena, provided a cultural presentation of songs and dances in the roundhouse on Friday evening; the Bird Singers from Southern California, led by Michael Mirilez (Cahuilla, Torrez Martinez Reservation), provided a cultural presentation of bird songs on Saturday evening. Workshops focused on healing diseases with traditional approaches to health and wellness. Dr. Linda Aranaydo (Creek), CRIHB Medical Consultant; Stacey Kennedy, Nutritionist; Barbara Hart (Pawnee), Public Health Nurse; and Linda Navarro (Cahuilla-Shasta) spoke about the benefit of native diets in the healing process. The workshop included a cooking demonstration of all natural foods in a "three sisters stew" of corn, beans, and squash simmered with onions, chili, and herbs. These particular blends of native foods are especially healthy and are available from Native Seeds/SEARCH in Tucson, Arizona. Barbara Aragon (Crow) provided a workshop for youth on storytelling and encouraged each young participant to tell a story; then the group talked about whether there was a lesson to be learned from the story. This workshop was very enjoyable and toward the end of the session some youth felt very comfortable in telling their stories and were encouraged to be enthusiastic and animated in their storytelling. Healing circles and talking circles were held each day. California Rural Indian Health Board’s American Indian Tobacco Education Network Coordinator Mark LeBeau conducted a workshop for the youth on tobacco issues, including the sacred use of tobacco. Mary Carpelan (Shasta) demonstrated basketweaving, and Julia and Lucy Parker demonstrated traditional acorn grinding and cooking methods. Elliot Henry (Yurok) prepared and cooked salmon on redwood sticks over hot coals, a traditional Yurok cooing method. The demonstrations provided wonderful opportunities for participants to observe, ask questions, and learn more about the tribal traditions that are being kept alive and will be passed on to the younger generations. A great time was had by all and the evaluation results show that participants are asking for more information about healing ceremonies, native diets, and traditional approaches to the treatment of alcohol and substance abuse to be included in future conferences. The Committee For Traditional Indian health will review and take into consideration each and every suggestion and recommendation received through the evaluation process and will make efforts to address the subject areas in next year’s program. Linda Navarro (Cahuilla-Shasta) is program director for the Traditional Indian Health Program of the California Rural Indian Health Board (CRIHB). Native Seed/SEARCH. Native Seed/SEARCH is a nonprofit organization based in Tucson, Arizona. The staff conserves and distributes various agricultural seeds and their wild relatives, and documents the role these seeds play in cultures of the American Southwestern and The organization offers a large variety of delicious foods and cultural items by mail or e-mail order, including giant posole kernels, numerous beans and herbs, mole blends, native teas, cholla buds, and hand-carved bowls and utensils. They also offer a treasure trove of seeds. Membership is free to Native Americans from tribes in the service area, including Mojave, Chemehuevi, and Quechan people. A map is available on the website. There is a generous seed purchase policy for Natives who want to grow their own gardens. Native Seeds/SEARCH Reprinted with kind permission from the Tribal Health Advisor, Summer 2001, Vol. 32 No. 3. |
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© News from Native California, 2006 |