Today we’re bringing together three things that don’t seem to go together. Hope you enjoy how they do.
Number 1. The beautiful Native American art collection of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center leaders Ernest Siva (Cahuilla-Serrano) and his wife, June Siva.
Ernest and June Siva, leaders of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, in the nonprofit’s Gathering Hall, with ledger art by renowned artist Terrance Guardipee (Blackfeet), from their art collection. (Pat Murkland Photo)
This collection came back home this week to Banning after spending about three months on exhibit at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at California State University, San Bernardino.
John Fleeman, RAFFMA’s assistant director and exhibition designer, transformed Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s Gathering Hall into an art gallery, with beautiful groupings and presentation. Included on this wall are works by Gerald Clarke, the Center’s 2022 Dragonfly Award winner, and the late Billy Soza Warsoldier. (June Siva photo)
Number 2 on our list of three things: Come and enjoy this art, along with holiday cheer, at the Center’s open house from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2022. Come to 127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning, and enjoy a fun gathering, stories, music, and more with us as we all celebrate saving and sharing Southern California’s Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts. Then stay for Banning’s Christmas parade in lights along Ramsey Street, starting at 5 pm.
So far, easy. These two things definitely go together. Next …
Number 3. University of Southern California football. OK …
Let’s tackle this.
Dorothy Ramon Learning Center is filled with the passion that co-founders Ernest and June Siva have for USC Trojans football. For instance, some may think it’s just a coincidence our Center doors are USC cardinal red.
Elder Ernest Siva, president of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, opens the doors to the San Manuel Band Gathering Hall at the Center. (Pat Murkland Photo)
USC is special to the Sivas. They met there more than 50 years ago when singing together in the USC Concert Choir. “That’s one of the top choirs and it still exists,” June Siva says. “I ended up getting all three degrees there, BA, MS, PhD in biology. Ernest has a bachelor of music in music education and master’s degree in choral music.” He also played in the USC Trojans marching band. California State University, San Bernardino, later awarded him an honorary doctorate in fine arts.
Along with being faithful USC alumni, they’ve kept singing through the years, and are getting ready for another Pass Chorale concert on Dec. 11. Also tried-and-true Trojan football fans, they held season tickets for many years, and through many seasons, both really good, and really bad.
During football season you often will see them sporting their USC fashions.
This is illustrated in artwork presented to Ernest Siva several years ago by Morongo Reservation School. The photo is iconic.
And here they are, waiting for a parade several years ago while also getting ready to cheer for USC. (Pat Murkland Photo)
Football discussions also have made their way into the nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, where we save and share Southern California Native American cultures.
Although the ancestors didn’t have football in their Serrano vocabulary, that’s never challenged Ernest Siva. He’s a Serrano sports writer. He frequently used to share his write-ups of the latest SC football game with his Serrano language class. Here’s a sampling from 2008, when USC trounced Notre Dame, 38-3.
Play well, and win well, the Serrano sports writer says:
USC vs. Notre Dame, 2008
“Mit Pernat…Hamukpii..
Maybe it’s Nothing … Then again …
Chenyuu Troynu'yam hakupim nyipkin ama' chekayshu' ater'ac', Chenem. (Chenyuu Neerht.)
Our Trojans really beat our big rival, Notre Dame. (Our Lady.)
Weerr taaqtam kwenevu' petaqaym ah'av:
‘Ivi' terxpich mit qay hiit cherrupuk.’
Mit pernat, ‘keym huwam. Pana'm werraverran'. Nypkinich qay anowpa'.’
Many people were saying to each other: ‘This game isn’t important.’ ‘It seems inconsequential,’ others said. That’s the way they were talking. Winning was a given.
Hamukpii. Atahtermerav, pavaypa' howpk kayshu' ataq perckin, ama' huwac kayshu', kwan nypkin inach. Nowk nowva' hihiin. Qay hawayt pana' mih, werrenk hohowpki.
Then again, over the years, when one rival puffs himself up, the other wins decidedly. I have seen this with my own eyes. It doesn’t always go that way, but once in a while it does.
Amatunga' mehuun turrux keym taaqtam nahtavuniniam'. Inachich peyika'm chamaqan.
Therefore, focus, the coaches in charge say. Respect them (your rivals).
Yengk, aam torxpi' iam huna' puh' pa' m erva' kwa'm hawayt nypk huwamii. Pana' mih tengk.
Of course, those players who are stronger should always win. That’s how it goes.”
Football and the Art Exhibit
While we were at the opening reception of the art exhibit in San Bernardino on September 10, 2022, USC was beating Stanford.
Opening reception, “Through Their Eyes,” with Ernest and June Siva (Pat Murkland Photo).
June and Ernest Siva were thrilled with the exhibit and the reception. Yet during the reception, the faithful Trojans discreetly checked on the score and game’s progress now and then. (Final, USC, 41-28.)
John Fleeman, the exhibit designer and museum assistant director, got a kick out of this. After returning the artwork to Dorothy Ramon Learning Center this week and hanging the art to make exciting and full use of the Gathering Hall, he reflected with the Sivas on the art exhibit. And he presented them with an artful gift.
USC vs. Notre Dame, 1974
Yes, it’s an autographed photo of famed Trojan Anthony Davis. June Siva explains:
“We call the 1974 USC-Notre Dame Game the Ultimate Football Experience! At halftime the score was 24-6 when the Trojans scored a touchdown but missed the extra point.
Most of us at the game had radios tuned to our play-by-play broadcast. At the start of the second half, he said, ‘It’s been an Irish afternoon.’
But seconds later Anthony Davis took the ball in the end zone and returned it for a touchdown! The Coliseum went wild. No one sat down for the rest of the game. We were all hugging each other.
When it was over the score was 55-24 USC. It’s a treasured memory for Trojan fans who experienced it. The autographed Sports Illustrated cover is a treasured gift, bringing back the Ultimate Football Experience.”
Thanks, John Fleeman!
Naam Huuna'! (Fight on!)
Read more about the art exhibit here: Art From the Heart.
Catch up with Gerald and Emily Clarke’s November 10, 2022, talk at the museum, HERE.
See the beautiful new ways the art is now exhibited at our Gathering Hall. YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR OPEN HOUSE ON DECEMBER 17, 2022, from 2-4 p.m. at 127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning. Stay to see the Banning Christmas parade along nearby Ramsey Street starting at 5 p.m.
Thanks for supporting our 501c3 nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center and joining us in saving and sharing Southern California’s Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.
News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center welcomes your EMAIL. Thanks from Center leaders Ernest and June Siva, and Editor Pat Murkland, who wrote this, December 7, 2022.
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