INDIAN CENTER OPENS : VISITORS VIEW SATWIWA CULTURAL FACILITY.

Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer

Although Charlie Cooke has accepted many modern conveniencies as part of his daily life, he has not forgotten his Chumash Indian heritage, and always tries to educate others about his culture.

On Sunday, Cooke, also known by his Chumash Indian name Tiq Slo'w or ``Eye of the Eagle,'' gazed at the newly built Native American Indian Culture Center at Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa, and smiled as dozens of visitors entered to learn more about his people.

``It's one of my dreams that has . . . materialized,'' said Cooke, 60, who is president of the Friends of Satwiwa, people of many ethnic backgrounds who share respect for American Indians.

``I hope they will leave with a better feeling of Mother Earth,'' he said. ``I hope they will have a better understanding of their own being, their own existence, just by learning how other people lived.''

The Native American Indian Culture Center opened officially to the public Sunday after two decades of hope by people such as Cooke for such a place.

The center is on National Park Service land where a Chumash Indian village once existed, near Potrero and Pinehill roads. Visitors got a taste of how American Indians once thrived in the Conejo Valley.

Inside the center, paintings, photographs and tools show how American Indians lived. Outside the center, a traditional Chumash home built from reeds and wood, gathered locally, was a popular destination.

Visitors also enjoyed watching traditional dances and hearing a Cherokee flute player. They flocked to catch a glimpse of two American Indians dressed in traditional garb that included feathers and animal fur.

For Barbara Coleman of Newbury Park, there is much to be learned from the lifestyles and cultural beliefs of the American Indians, especially their respect for nature and life in general.

And she hopes the opening of the center will make a difference.

``I'd like to see more influence of the Indians' ideas of treasuring the Earth. We can learn a lot from them,'' she said.

``We should concentrate on appreciating each other's cultures instead of killing what you don't know. There's so much you can learn from different cultures.''

The newly opened center will feature programs aimed at preserving the heritage of all American Indians, officials said.

``So many cultures have been lost over the years,'' lamented Cooke. ``Now, people are trying to redeem most of that.''

Officials plan to have different programs representing different tribes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday. The center's opening hours may be expanded to other days in the future.

Arthur Eck, superintendent of the Santa Monica National Recreation Area, said the $240,000 project that includes the 1,296-square-foot building is part of efforts to preserve America's history.

``Whether it's the Statue of Liberty, Old Faithful or the (culture) of the Chumash Indians, all of these represent the best of our nation and serve as the inspirations for us in the future,'' he said.

Nancy Weisberg, a member of the Camarillo YMCA Indian Maiden Program's Chumash Rainbow tribe, visited the center and said she was impressed by the Indians' knowledge of nature.

``We have a lot to learn from them,'' she said. ``What people don't realize is the importance of Mother Earth and the environment and that was always the key to the Native Americans.''

For more information about the center, interested people may call the Park Service at [phone].

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color in CONEJO edition only) The audience jo ins in as Matt Waiya of Newbury Park leads a Chumash bear dance Sunday at the Native American Indian culture center.

(2) Mary McComas and Frank Fedelli, foreground, look at one of the indoor exhibits at the new American Indian center in Newbury Park.

Evan Yee/Daily News