​Native American Heritage Month: Learning about our Native Brothers and Sisters

The history of Natives in California goes back thousands of years, and continues today. Before the arrival of the Spanish and settlers from the East, there was a large population of Indigenous peoples who lived here. They had their own languages and culture, living in harmony with the land. Once the Spanish and settlers arrived, things changed dramatically for the Indigenous peoples. Even so, the presence and contributions of our Native Brothers and Sisters is evident in northern California and Sonoma County.

It is helpful to learn about the history of our Native Brothers and Sisters. everal books are available in the Incarnation library that are excellent sources of information. Several other resources are provided below.

• We Are The Land: A History of Native California by Damon B. Akins and Wiliiams J Bauer, Jr.
• An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
• Braiding SweetGrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
• Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources by M. Kat Anderson.
• The Episcopal Church, Office of Indigenous Ministries celebrates the longstanding presence and influence of Native Americans throughout the history of The Episcopal Church and provides resources for growing this ministry in our communities. Here is a link to the resources.
• The California Indian Museum and Cultural Center - Weaving Native Culture Into The Future provides education for the public about the history, culture, and contemporary life of California Indians and to honor their contributions to civilization. Here is a link to the museum webpage.
• Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa Intercultural Center
• There is a calendar of events to honor Native American Heritage Month.Here is a link to the calendar.
• Native Events in Sonoma County and Beyond (facebook page)
• This facebook page is open to everyone and provides information about upcoming events. Here is the link.
• Redbud Resource Group is a local Indigenous-owned non-profit that helps to build bridges between Native and Non-Native communities. They offer a course called “Going Beyond Land Acknowledgment.” Here is a link to their webpage.

What will you do to learn more?