Presentation for school groups NATIVE AMERICANS: THE KUMEYAAY Do the general greeting and introduction first (See GENERAL INTRODUCTION FOR WALKS) Today we are going to talk about the people who lived in this area 150 - 200 years ago. Does anyone know what name we call these people today? Has their name changed over time? Why has that happened? Where are the Kumeyaay today? Right, some of them live on land, called a reservation, and others live in communities with us. Are any of you Native American or part Native American? Many years ago there were many different tribes of Indians living in California. They did not all speak the same language, build the same types of houses, eat the same foods, practice the same rituals, or have the same ceremonies. However, they did all respect the earth and the plants and animals that live on it. They considered many animals their brothers and sisters. Many called the earth, their Mother. From the earth, they gathered or made everything they needed in the way of food, clothing, and shelter. The Kumeyaay would like for us to know about their culture, way of life, language, and understand what happened to them many years ago. This morning we will look at some of the clothing, tools, cooking items, weapons, musical instruments, ete. used by the Indians. Many of the items you will see were bought from the PaiPai Indians who live in Baja California. Kumeyaay Indians have come to Torrey Pines and talked to us about the life of their ancestors and also show us what plants were used for food, medicines, and ceremonies. (Select children to come forward and participate in the program. Involve as many children as you can. Two docents can do this program together if you like. One can do the narrative while the other places the clothing on the children; hands out the weapons, baskets, ollas, etc.) Where did the Kumeyaay buy their clothing, food, tools, etc.? Right, they had to make everything from things they found in their environment; plants, soil and animals. Often, they traded with other groups for things they did not have. The Kumeyaay who lived along the coast had a wonderful resource for food that the Indians in the mountains did not have. What might that be? Right, animals and plants found in the ocean. These things they would trade for items they could not find in this area. The Kumeyaay moved from area to area, if necessary, to find food. Many of the pathways and trails they used have become our roadways today. (You do not have to use all of the items that we have for this program. Pick and choose those you are most comfortable with; and do, more or less, depending on the interest and attention span of your audience. Remember the most important part of their visit is the hiking. They are going to learn as they walk.) WILLOW BARK SKIRT: The women wore skirts made of the inner bark of the willow tree. It looks like an apron. They usually wore two. One covered the front and a thicker apron covered the back. This is because the women kneeled and sat a lot as they worked. During cold weather, they wore capes of rabbit skins. LOIN CLOTH: Worn by the men and tied by a leather thong around the waist. They could carry some items by securing them to the thong. They used rabbit skins sewn together during the colder months. CHILDREN: Wore no clothing during the warm seasons of the year. Clothing was adopted around the age of 10 years. During colder weather they used rabbit skin capes and blankets. Emphasize that the climate has not always been as it is now in the San Diego area. It was much warmer and actually it is nice not having to think about what you are going to wear when you get up in the morning. Your Mom didn't get onto you to pick up your clothes or put them away! 1
Who usually did the hunting in the family? Right, the men and older boys. Some of the tools they made to use are: BOW AND ARROW: The one we have is made of hickory but they also used other woods. How did they find arrows that are so straight? They didn't! They made a tool called an ARROW STRAIGHTER to do this job. Once they had selected a nice branch; they soaked it in water to make it pliable; then heated the arrow straighter stone; then moved the branch back and forth through the straighter until it was a straight as they could make it. This process had to be repeated many times to accomplish the task. Feathers were added and the point was sharpened or a point of some sharp material was secured to the shaft. After shooting, they always hoped to recover their arrows for further use. QUIVER: To carry arrows and keep hands free. Made from skins. Can show the deer skin and drape it over the man's shoulder. THROWING OR RABBIT STICK: Made of a hard wood. What does this tool remind you of? Right, a boomerang. Many different indigenous people around the world used similar tools. This was thrown at a small animal to knock it to the ground then they used a club to kill the animal. While the men did most of the hunting, who made the baskets, ollas, gathered seeds, ground the acorns and nuts, took care of the babies, dug roots, prepared and sewed the skins? Right, the women. They had to make all of the tools and equipment they needed for these jobs. BASKETS: These were made from reeds, grasses and needles that the woman collected. She needed baskets of many different sizes and shapes. This one (ours) is made of willow branches. It would be used to collect such things as acorns, nuts, and berries. The baskets could be woven so tightly that they would hold water or liquid. The Kumeyaay women cooked their food in baskets. Stones were heated in a fire then placed in the basket with the food, in order to cook it. OLLAS: Jars of various sizes and shapes were made from clay. This involved collecting the clay earth, working the material, building (the coil method) and shaping the pot, gathering material for a fire, and then baking the pots in the fire. Do you think they could make a pot in one day? Pretty hard work isn't it? AGAVE OR YUCCA FIBER CARRYING TOTES, FISIDNG NETS, SANDALS: Plant fiber was used by the women for a variety of things they needed. The agave and yucca plant both have long leaves that have sharp points on the tip. This tip was used as a needle. This is another job that requires quite a bit of time. First they had to gather the leaves from the plant; then the leaves were soaked to soft them; next, the soft green material was scraped from the tough inner fiber of the plant; then the striped fibers were twisted to make them even stronger; now, the woman was ready to sew with it or fashion a net, mat, etc. This style of sandal (hold up our sandal) has been used by various people around the world for thousands of years. The Kumeyaay were usually barefoot; but, when hiking any great distance over rocky terrain or hot sandy trails, they wore sandals. WOODEN DIGGING STICKS: These heavy sticks with different shapes on the ends were used to dig roots, loosen flower stalks from their base, and to chase rodents and small animals from their nests or burrows. WOODEN STIRRER, MORTAR AND PESTLE, CLAM SHELL, BONE, ETC.: These are all tools made from natural materials that were used fur a variety of tasks. Small bird bones were used for piercing leather or making fish hooks. Shells can be sharpened and were used to cut and scrape. The mortar and pestle were used for grinding. What did Ms. Kumeyaay do with her baby when she had all of these jobs to do? Right, she put the baby into something called a CRADLEBOARD that was made of plant fiber and sometimes animal skins. She could carry her baby with her and still have her hands free to do other things. Sort of like the backpacks many of you use. The cradleboard was made in such a way that she could also hang it from a branch on a tree. She could keep her eye on the baby and the baby could sleep or enjoy watching everyone. 2
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