VISIT TO CALIFORNIA'S HISTORY : CONEJO CENTERS OFFER LESSONS ON CHUMASH.Byline: Victoria Giraud Special to the Daily News A few hundred years ago, as many as 50,000 American Indians American Indians: see Americas, antiquity and prehistory of the; Natives, Middle American; Natives, North American; Natives, South American. lived peacefully in numerous small villages and settlements throughout the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by area. They left behind many of their artifacts artifacts see specimen artifacts. and cave paintings to attest to their way of life, and their traditions have been remembered and carried forward by local descendants. The Chumash Interpretive Center at Oakbrook Regional Park in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. and the Satwiwa Native American Indian American Indian or Native American or Amerindian or indigenous American Any member of the various aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Eskimos (Inuit) and the Aleuts. Culture Center at its national park site in Newbury Park have both gone a step further and created museums and outdoor areas honoring this unique culture. Satwiwa, which is free to the public, is the largest area, especially for hiking, but visitors need to bring their own food and water. The Chumash Center, which has a larger, more comprehensive museum, offers a small concession area with drinks, snacks and drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. . Since this facility is nonprofit, donations are requested and memberships are encouraged. Established only 15 months ago, the Chumash Center is staffed by native Chumash docents and offers an interactive, ``touchy-feely'' museum and guided nature walks on weekends. A beautifully carved ``dream tomol'' (Chumash boat) is on display at the walkway entrance to the center. Inside, exhibits show the many facets of Chumash life through paintings and cases filled with artifacts. A variety of the items used in everyday life, from tools to jewelry, including plants used for building, eating or medical purposes, are on display. Animal skins - bear, buffalo, rabbit, coyote coyote (kī`ōt, kīō`tē) or prairie wolf, small, swift wolf, Canis latrans, native to W North America. It is found in deserts, prairies, open woodlands, and brush country; it is also called brush wolf. , sea otter and peregrine falcon - are there to be touched. A mock cave has a painting of an Indian shaman creating an original cave drawing like those found in the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. . The center has a library, an outdoor amphitheater and facilities for group workshops, demonstrations and seminars, with a slide presentation of Chumash history. The gift shop offers handmade and novelty items for sale including T-shirts, baskets, posters, musical instruments and jewelry as well as reference and story books. In September - a specific date has yet to be announced To be announced (TBA) A contract for the purchase or sale of an MBS to be delivered at an agreed-upon future date but does not include a specified pool number and number of pools or precise amount to be delivered. - the annual Oakbrook Hitachi Celebration (a powwow powwow American Indian ceremony or gathering of various kinds. Powwows originally were healing ceremonies, but the word could also refer to exuberant celebrations, with dancing and singing, of success in hunting or victory in battle. ) is planned at the center. Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in Newbury Park offers miles of hiking trails that connect to Sycamore Canyon and beachward to Point Mugu State Park Point Mugu State Park is a large park located in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in Southern California. It is in the Western Santa Monica Mountains. The park can be accessed from the north in the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center and from the south . Satwiwa, in Chumash, means ``the bluffs.'' The lyrical name becomes obvious when gazing at the exposed rock of Boney Mountain, which forms a backdrop for the American Indian area and its ``Ap,'' a traditional Chumash home of willow and cattails. The park's recently opened Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center features photos and Chumash artifacts and a book store. The National Park Service schedules a variety of American Indian host speakers Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Upcoming hosts include Abel Silvas, an acjachemen, who will perform mime and tell stories at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday. Richard Bugee, a Payoomikachoom host, will be presenting a slide show and talking about Luileno and Kumiyaay plant use and culture July 7. On July 14, noted Chumash Charlie Cooke will lead a nature walk and discuss Chumash life and their use of the land. Dee Dominguesz, a Yokut, is a storyteller, doll maker and basket weaver, who will demonstrate her art and tell stories about life among the California American Indians on July 21. INDIAN CULTURAL CENTERS The Chumash Interpretive Center: The center at 3290 Lang Ranch Parkway off Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Guided tours of the surrounding acreage also are available at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Information: (805) 492-8076. Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa: The park at the intersection of Potrero and Pinehill roads in Newbury Park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. It features miles of hiking trails and the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center. American Indian speakers are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. CAPTION(S): Photo, box Photo: (color) Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa in NewburyPark features an ``Ap,'' a traditional Chumash home of willow and cattails on one hiking trail. BOX: INDIAN CULTURAL CENTERS (see text) |
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