Gilroy
– Members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band will host a cultural
day this weekend at Las Animas Veteran’s Park, where local families
can learn about tribal culture and its ancient language through
games and other activities.
Gilroy – Members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band will host a cultural day this weekend at Las Animas Veteran’s Park, where local families can learn about tribal culture and its ancient language through games and other activities.
Volunteers will teach children how to make necklaces from abalone and miniature boats from Tule reeds. Kids will also learn traditional games such as the “hoop and spear” and play bingo using the Mutsun language.
The Mutsun tribe flourished in Gilroy and its environs prior to the late 1700s, when the Spanish began herding natives across California into missions. In recent years, the Mutsun tribe has attempted to rediscover its culture and language.
This weekend’s activities each cost $2 or children can participate in all activities for $10. Proceeds will benefit the Humunya Foundation, which supports the tribe’s efforts to preserve its culture and gain federal recognition.
“A lot of what the foundation is is to bring the culture back, both to our members and the general public,” said Liz Orozco, president of the Humunya Foundation. “Things like this will give people of Gilroy an idea of the natives of the area.”
Restoring tribal culture and demonstrating its survival over the last century plays a crucial role in helping the tribe gain federal recognition, a status that entitles members to federal assistance for education, housing, and other basic needs.
It also represents the first step in reclaiming the tribe’s ancestral lands – 6,500 acres of rolling hills in South County, just south of Gilroy, known as Sargent Ranch.
The Amah Mutsun cultural day takes place Sunday, May 1, from 11am to 4pm at Las Animas Veteran’s Park.
Details: 510-531-2019 or ei*******@ms*.com.
