#maidu

[squidinkarchives]

Harry Fonseca 1979, “Coyote, When Coyote Leaves the Res”

Acrylic on canvas

Harry Fonseca began his art career using imagery from his Native American Maidu heritage in his art. His Coyote Series of paintings started in 1979. These works use the coyote as the trickster of Maidu ancestral stories, depicted in nontraditional clothing and settings. In this painting Coyote is dressed in black leather and other aspects of queer-dress experienced by the artist in San Francisco, expressing Fonseca's personal narrative as a gay Native American living off-reservation.

[source: Swann Galleries]

[turtleterrain]

maidu women and children listening to a mourning ceremony at night

[uboat53]

Not sure who can use this information, but the Maidu Center (local Native American Tribe) in Roseville, California sells seed balls of local seeds you can toss into a landscape. It's the best resource I've found in the Sacramento area so far.

If you learn and put into practice a SINGLE thing from my blog, it should be this: the most important work YOU can do to prevent mass extinction is not "Buy Different Product" or "Buy Product Differently."

Instead, it involves going outside and looking at the land immediately surrounding you physically and understanding that you have been appointed its protector, and then learning working contacting messaging organizing planting teaching informing organizing organizing organizing to take care of it.

There are old ladies with no email address in your community that are handing out more native plants than you knew existed, there are nature preserves and wildlife parks literally like on their knees begging for volunteers, you have neighbors and friends and acquaintances and family that you can teach and inform, there is at this very moment someone else in your community that would LOVE to start a community garden.

Learn to grow native plants and you can literally just hand them out to strangers for free and everyone loves it

I started volunteering at a nature center and now I have more contacts than I know what to do with. literally just look up anyone working in ecology or conservation in your area and email the crap outta them.

you can organize with members of your community to protect a vacant lot or a random pond or to put in foot paths or get rid of invasive species in a park or anything

[egoschwank]

al things considered — when i post my masterpiece #1192

first posted in facebook may 18, 2023

judith lowry -- "welgatim's song" (2001)

"when i began to formally exhibit, many of my works were visual interpretations of the maidu/pit river creation stories that my father told me, stories that his grandmother told him. these tales had come down to him through many generations, and now to me and to his grandchildren. with my father's encouragement and blessing, i came to consider my work to be a modern extension of the tradition of storytelling" ... judith lowry

"in 'welgatim's song', lowry portrays the native california story of inundation. the protagonist is welgatim, wife of the mythical coyote weh-pom. weh-pom has fallen in love with the beautiful deer suh-mim and so plots to murder his wife. each morning, welgatim reappears unharmed and makes breakfast for her husband. she warns him of terrible consequences, but weh-pom will not be dissuaded from his plots. the next morning he awakens to an empty home and when he sets out to hunt finds all the light and heat extinguished. using song and prayer, welgatim has summoned all the clouds and rain to the earth as punishment" ... crocker art museum

"oral traditions are being threatened by modern pressures, distractions, and the passage of time. before these allegories are lost in the fog of a distant past, i work to preserve these stories by making them visible. it’s a calling and a responsibility because i also recognize that the old maidu stories are allegories. they paint a picture of the moral values of my ancestors, who were peaceful, industrious, reverent people who walked gently upon the earth. now more than ever, their ways should not be forgotten" ... judith lowry

"every story tells a picture, don't it?" ... al janik

[norts-trolls]

MIKU DAY!!! DAY FOR MY BABIES!!

[glitch07deity]

Backgrounds were never my strong suit

[charring58]

While erigmally made as toys for young children, Pomo and Maidu dolls became popular with collectors for their unique appearances

[poem-today]

A poem by Janice Gould

Six Sonnets: Crossing the West

1

Desert heat, high clouds, and sky the color of lapis. On this journey, anything seems possible, so we stop by an ancient cottonwood to kiss. The beauty trembles, doesn’t say a word, just watches me, so open. Small birds fly by, flock in the shady tree above us. What settles in her heart? What congeals? Hope? Despair? Far off, the river churns in its sandy banks, swallows veer, turn in fiery air. Will these kisses seal her to me? I her lover, she my wife? Is all of this a dream, my whole life?

2

She is just this side of wonderful, and suddenly the glamorous world fills itself with shining and we laugh at highway monuments that explain how hard the trek had been for Franciscans in the Indian wilderness, poor fellows— conversion is the devil's own work! Then the stones of her dream turn up under her feet, the back of a huge land turtle. I know we must be circling Paradise because the ants enter the fleshy petals of the roadside flowers with evident joy and purpose (oh, my dark, pretty one).

3

Music, my adored. When is there never music? My accordion puffs up with drinkable melodies. I spill her tunes into your listening ear, one after the other: the squeeze-box enters the dance of the plaintive gypsy with its hard rhythms, lilts the back- breaking labor song the worker croons to earth, warbles romantic notes of dissolving borders. You melt like a woman beneath her lover's touch. Music is happy and pitiless when it sets fire to combustible souls. Even the raspy bandoneon's voice is lyric.

4

Sacred. Sacred. Sacred. Sacred. (Speak in a whisper.) We slip into this space half cognizant. The land is very large indeed: bones of the earth worn down, though she is a living thing. See how she exposes her grace? Antelopes graze on the far plain—their high, white tails—the red soil throbs its slow heartbeat, and the blue sky clears so smartly, perfectly, like radiance. Are the ancestors near? What can we know? We decide to wander around this prairie, mistaken for Utes, buy commodities in little towns.

5

Late afternoon we head west along the willow-banked Malheur after the long curve of the Snake River plain. (Above the falls where the Shoshone went to pray we soaked our feet in cold water, and I observed the arch of her brown foot.) Rabbitbrush and sage along the highway, juniper on far hills and bluffs. Sundown, and dusk falls over the wide basin of land. In Burns we eat eggs in a cafe, take a room in the Motel 6. In the dark, I can see her black hair, black against the pillows. Its clean scent makes me think of corn. At dawn, I hold her and there are kisses. Then more kisses. Then more. The day is cold; a north wind blew last night. But the land is open. Rain falls in showers of light.

6

Her hand on my thigh, my shoulder, in my hair. She leans over to kiss my cheek. We look at each other, smile. For miles we travel this way, nearly silent, point with eyes or chins at the circling hawk, the king- fisher on the snag above the swollen creek. One night I weep in her arms as she cries, “Oh, oh, oh!” because I have touched her scars lightly: throat, belly, breasts. In that communion of lovers, thick sobs break from me as I think of my love back home, all that I have done and cannot say. This is the first time I have left her so completely, so alone.

Janice Gould (1949 – 2019)

Photograph: Janice Gould (from her blog)

[saltyncute]

wheres the native option bro

Remaking an earlier post to clarify some of the wording

Note that strength in sense of identity doesn't necessarily mean you love living in your country, state, region, etc. nor does it mean you uncritically agree with the government of your government, state, municipality, only that you find it important to your understanding of who you are culturally.

Please reblog this version instead, the notes have gone insane on the earlier version with clumsier wording and I really do want to learn more about this. Also I will be making a non-U.S. specific version of this post soon. As usual, if you're not from the U.S. please don't vote on this poll but feel free to shoot me a DM for a screenshot of the results in progress!

[perfectsolutionsgarage2]

Nature and Recreation Harmony: Maidu Regional Park Near Johnson Ranch

Nestled within the enchanting embrace of Johnson Ranch's residential community, Maidu Regional Park unfolds as a haven of serene leisure and invigorating outdoor pursuits. This expansive 152-acre park seamlessly blends natural splendor with recreational delights, featuring picturesque multi-use trails, expansive play areas, sports courts, and a museum dedicated to preserving the rich culture of the Nisenan Maidu, the original inhabitants of this region.

The interweaving of historical, cultural, and natural elements at Maidu Regional Park not only caters to a diverse array of interests but also invites visitors to delve into the comprehensive tapestry of the area's heritage. As we navigate through the various facets of Maidu Regional Park, compelling reasons emerge for further exploration of the opportunities this local gem extends to its visitors.

Unveiling Maidu Regional Park's Charms

Showcasing a myriad of attractions, Maidu Regional Park beckons visitors with a plethora of recreational activities and historical wonders to explore.

The park is home to a museum, library, and an outdoor amphitheater, all harmoniously nestled amidst the beauty of nature. The Maidu Museum, a gem within the park, offers a profound journey into the land's rich history and the stories of its original inhabitants, the Maidu Indians.

For those eager to step into history, the park hosts the Maidu Indian Village, a historic site offering guided tours, allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Maidu people. Meanwhile, sports enthusiasts can revel in the park's sports complex, boasting well-maintained baseball and soccer fields, basketball courts, and an engaging skate park, ensuring a spectrum of physical activities.

Maidu Regional Park caters to everyone, fostering a genuine sense of community and belonging.

Outdoor Adventures at Maidu Regional Park

Beyond being a historical trove, Maidu Regional Park unfolds an array of outdoor activities, appealing to both adventure seekers and those who prefer a leisurely pace.

Sports Enthusiasts Can Enjoy:

Baseball or soccer matches on pristine fields.

Basketball games in dedicated courts.

Nature Lovers Will Discover:

Opportunities for wildlife exploration with diverse bird species.

Serene walking trails weaving through the park's natural beauty.

For Those Craving Relaxation, the Park Offers:

Picnic areas equipped with barbecue facilities.

A peaceful museum and historic site for unhurried exploration.

Whether you're fueled by athletic passion, a love for nature, or a desire for tranquil moments, Maidu Regional Park extends a warm invitation, fostering a shared sense of community and appreciation for the great outdoors.

[mindblowingscience]

For the first time in almost 75 years, beavers were released into California waters as a part of conservation efforts by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Maidu Summit Consortium. A family of seven beavers swam their way through Tásmam Koyóm, a tribal community in Plumas County that are ancestral land to the Mountain Maidu people. This new family will join a "single resident beaver in the valley" with the goal to re-establish a breeding population, according to the CDFW. Ben Cunningham, chairman of the Maidu Summit Consortium, said the valley had beavers years ago, but due to pioneer interference, the population disappeared.

Continue Reading.

[kvetchlandia]

Uncredited Photographer Young Boy, Maidu Nation, Northeastern California 1874

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I got a copy of Erdoes and Ortiz's American Indian Myths and Legends (1984) for Christmas and it is fascinating to me how various Native American tales portray romance between humans and non-humans. Especially compared to the European takes on that motif, which usually center on the relationship being doomed from the start, because humans belong only with humans. But this does not seem to be the default in the Native American tales in this collection!

There was one story which did portray the relationship as doomed (Tolowim woman and butterfly man, Maidu) and one where a human woman was taken against her will and gladly rescued by her husband (The stolen wife, Tewa). But there is also a tale where a wife is willingly taken by a great buffalo and when her human husband steals her back and kills White Buffalo Chief, she mourns him so that her jealous husband kills her (Apache chief punishes his wife, Tiwa).

That last tale, while tragic, already goes out of its way to show that the woman was happy with the powerful buffalo, and there are four stories in the collection that make a point of ending in happiness:

The industrious daughter who wouldn't marry (Cochiti)

A beautiful young woman who is a master at making beautiful garments spurns all her human suitors, until it is widely known that she doesn't care for young men. Coyote hears of this and goes to court her, dressed in his finest clothes. He does not offer her any gifts, but he dances very well and he brings a branch of blackcurrants, which are her favourite. She is pleased with him, so she takes him home, sleeps with him, and gives birth to two little coyotes. Her parents are dismayed and the other people turn away from her, but Coyote brings her to his home under the ground. There he has all kinds of clothes just as fine as the ones she makes, and she lives there happily with him ever after.

The Serpent of the Sea (Zuni)

The beautiful daughter of the priest-chief of the village Home of the Eagles cannot abide dust or dirt. Every day she spends almost all her time bathing in the sacred spring of the Serpent of the Sea and this angers him. He changes himself into a beautiful baby boy and she finds him and takes him home to care for him. As soon as she falls asleep the Serpent takes his true form again, coiling himself all around the maiden and all around the room. In the morning the whole household panics, but the girl’s father understands what happened and begs the Serpent to let his daughter return to her family once more, even though she now belongs to him. The Serpent moves enough to release her, finally waking her. She is very frightened, but after four days of ceremonies she bids her family goodbye and goes with the Serpent. As they travel the Serpent takes the shape of a beautiful young man, and speaks in a kinder and kinder voice, until she dares to look at him. Startled she asks him where the terrifying creature has gone. He explains that he is the serpent, but that he loves her, and that if she will consent to come and stay with him they will live and love each other forever in the Waters of the World. The maiden goes with him, forgetting her sadness and forgetting her family, and lived with him ever after.

The man who married the moon (Isleta Pueblo)

The great leader, weaver, and medicine man Nah-chu-rú-chu (the bluish light of dawn) got tired of all the young women trying to win his affection. He proclaimed that he would marry the girl who could grind corn meal so fine that it would stick to his pearl water dipper. The only woman who could do it was the Moon, who was an Isleta maiden before she went to live into the sky. He marries her and loves his moon-wife above all things. Two sisters, the Yellow Corn Maiden, are so jealous that they persuade the moon to admire her reflection in the water of the well, and push her in to drown her. The chief mourns so deeply that it no longer rains and all the crops begin dying, until they bring him a mysterious flower from a mound in the forest where his wife disappeared. He performs a sacred ritual and the moon is brought back to life. The corn maidens are changed into helpful, gentle snakes as punishment, and the moon lives happily with her husband.

The woman who married a merman (Coos)

A girl who refuses all her suitors and goes swimming in the creek every day becomes pregnant without understanding how. She gives birth to a baby that always cries unless it is left outside, where someone brings it seal meat to eat. The young mother watches over her baby and at night is approached by a man who says he is her husband and promises she will be safe if she goes with him. The merman takes his wife and child to the bottom of the sea, where many people lived. Her husband was one of the five sons of the village chief and the couple lived there happy and satisfied. She goes to her relatives once to get arrows for her little boy to play with, and once to visit her brothers. The second time they see her shoulders are turning dark and scaly like those of a sea serpent. She never returned again, but sea serpents came into their harbour, and every summer and winter they would send a whale ashore, a gift to their kinsmen above the sea.

Erdoes and Ortiz even draw a parallel between the tale of the Serpent of the Sea and Beauty and the Beast, but I rather love the girl running off with the Coyote and "the woman who married a merman" is such a lovely counterpoint to the selkie and mermaid stories I grew up with. I'm really happy with this book~

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this press release from the Department of the Interior:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding more than $6.4 million to federally recognized Native American and Alaska Native Tribes to benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitats. This year’s funding will support 35 Tribes for conservation projects across 15 states, benefiting a wide range of wildlife and habitat, including species of cultural or traditional importance to Indigenous communities. 

Examples of projects approved this year include:

Sitka Tribe of Alaska (Artificial Intelligence for Subsistence Salmon Monitoring and Management) - $200,000 to install artificial intelligence enabled video that will produce automated real-time counts of Redoubt Lake sockeye salmon, reducing real-time monitoring costs.

Navajo Nation (within Arizona, New Mexico and Utah)(Estimating Abundance, Preserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Resolving Human-Bear Conflict of Black Bears on the Navajo Nation) - $100,000 to assess black bear population on Navajo Nation lands, preserve Traditional Ecological Knowledge in effective habitat management and minimize human-bear conflicts. 

Mooretown Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (Tribal Wildlife and Postfire Restoration for Habitat Connectivity, Pollinator Species and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Plants around Feather Falls) - $197,300 to restore and manage ancestral lands which were devasted by the 2020 North Complex fire, including hiring staff, expanding the Tribal youth program and developing a restoration plan that incorporates Traditional Ecological Knowledge to prioritize culturally significant and endangered species such as the California spotted owl, bald eagle, Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and California red-legged frog.

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians (within Minnesota) (Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians White-tailed Deer and Golden-winged Warbler Critical Habitat Restoration Project: Setting Back Forest Succession to Promote Early Successional Wildlife Species) - $199,872 to create 350 acres of early successional forest habitat, supporting deer population recovery and increasing habitat for golden-winged warblers during breeding season.

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska (Tallgrass Prairie Resource Management) - $199,965 to hire staff to restore, maintain, and enhance habitat for ecologically and culturally significant wildlife species within the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska reservation, including invasive species removal and buffalo management.

Seneca Nation of Indians (within New York) (Seneca Nation Wood Turtle Survey) - $42,713 to tag wood turtles, a culturally important species, with GPS transmitters to track and map home areas and nesting grounds. 

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (within North Carolina)(Leveraging DNA Sampling to Understand and Manage Resources) - $200,000 to continue cutting-edge non-invasive resource management techniques and use environmental DNA (eDNA) and a variety of non-invasive methods (camera, trapping, acoustics, etc.) to evaluate and manage bear populations, sicklefin redhorse, native brook trout, bats, otters, fish, aquatic communities, birds, and amphibians.

Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe (within Washington) (ESA Species Critical Coastal Habitat and Traditional Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring) - $198,928 to continue improving the conservation status of the western snowy plover and streaked horned lark and implement essential fish habitat assessments, eDNA and visual monitoring and restoration actions to support climate resilience and adaptive capacity of these species on Tribal lands.

[norts-trolls]

> It was lively tonight. Many conversations all across the bar. Teasing of potential pitch crushes. Meeting up with a friend. Or simply being left to their own thoughts. It was the type of scene that was your favorite to watch over. Lopard belongs to @sasster

Wicata and Nakaou belongs to @goldenguillotines

Kietha belongs to @ambivalence-and-torpor

[glitch07deity]

I left him in the dryer