News From Native California - Spring 2015 Volume 28, Issue 3 | Page 2

editor’s notes news from native california PUBLISHER: Malcolm Margolin FOUNDERS: Malcolm Margolin, David W. Peri, Vera Mae Fredrickson EDITOR: Lindsie Bear CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Tiffany Adams, Dugan Aguilar, Brian Bibby, Marina Drummer, Margaret Dubin, L. Frank, Jeannine Gendar, Leanne Hinton, Julian Lang, Frank LaPena, Vincent Medina, Beverly R. Ortiz, Sage Romero, Terria Smith, Paula Tripp-Allen, Linda Yamane OUTREACH COORDINATOR: Vincent Medina INTERNS: Amanda Gallegos, Analisa Tripp GRAPHIC DESIGN: Rebecca LeGates PROOFREADING: Kim Hogeland PRINTING: Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS NEWS FROM NATIVE CALIFORNIA Volume 28, Number 3, Spring 2015 (ISSN 10405437) is published quarterly for $22.50 per year by Heyday, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational corporation, located at 1633 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703. Phone: [phone], Fax: [phone] Mail Address: Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709. Periodical postage paid at Berkeley, CA and additional mailing offices. Internet address: www.newsfromnativecalifornia.com [email protected] Subscription rates $22.50 per year. Single copies $5.95. Foreign rates $42.50 per year. Copyright © 2015 by News from Native California except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited. Opinions expressed in articles and columns are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. Printed on 10% post consumer waste recycled paper. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to News from Native California, Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709. USPS 002704 my favorite California Indian phrase is “in a good way” (followed closely by “aaaayeeeee” after a joke, but we’ll talk about that later). Friends of mine talk about raising their kids in a good way, meaning feeding them nutritious traditional foods, teaching them their Native languages, and showing them how to care for elders and carry on the meaning of their ceremonies and traditions. I hear basketweavers talk about gathering in a good way that helps their plants grow straight and healthy. Fishermen use it as shorthand for respecting the runs of salmon that sustain their way of life. I’ve heard it used as a term of healing for friends who are battling the illness of addiction and looking for a good way to live that respects their bodies and ancestors. People whose work is educating us about traditional ecological knowledge talk about tending the land in a good way, one that nurtures all living things, using techniques like burning to encourage the fertility and balance of their homelands. It seems to encompass kindness, hard work, joyfulness, empathy, patience, expertise, honesty, humility, and responsibility, among many other values. Really, I can’t begin to fathom all of the subtleties and meaning wrapped in this simple turn of phrase. As far as I can see, it takes a lifetime to unpack. Which is one reason we were so thrilled to work on this issue featuring the voices of California Indian elders, the treasured folks who have honored us by sharing insights into the good ways they have come to understand from their own elders and are passing on now to their grandchildren. They are the living threads of tradition. As Rose Ennis reminded us in her interview, whether we’re able to understand their stories right away or just wait for them to sink in later, we’re fortunate to be able to sit down and listen to our elders talk about their good ways. Speaking of working in a good way, we’re happy to welcome Sage Romero (Paiute/Taos Pueblo) from Big Pine as our newest contributing editor. Among his many projects, Sage founded and runs AkaMya Culture Group, which gives youth a positive place to learn about culture and healthy lifestyles through song, dance, video, art, photography, and music. Those of you who follow us on Facebook have seen many of AkaMya’s fantastic videos. Sage is a respected force in his community and we’re grateful that he’s sharing those good ways with us here at News. Funny story: when I told my mom that we were working with Sage, she exclaimed, “Oh, I used to take Zumba from him in Big Pine years ago! He’s wonderful.” Further proof our elders are just cooler than we can imagine. We’d also like send out a big thanks to Rebecca LeGates, who has been designing News with a generous spirit and kind heart for ten years, and is handing off the magazine to focus on her book work. Rebecca built the first News website and has been responsible for the vibrant layouts that many of you have written in to compliment over the years. We wish her the best on her future projects and are glad that she’ll still be just down the hall from our office to regale us with stories of her adorable kids. —Lindsie Bear, Editor ON THE COVER: Rose Enos (Nisenan Maidu/ Washo), dance captain of the Maidu Dancers and Traditionalists, at the Bear Dance in Susanville, 2009. Photo © Dugan Aguilar, 2015. BACK COVER: Willow baskets by Lois Davis filled with mugwort and California bay at the Sierra College Big Time, 2015. Photo by Lindsie Bear.