So many history books have that first chapter that discusses Native Americans in older times, and then you never see Native Americans mentioned much more in the chapters — and centuries of history — that follow.
Obviously Native Americans aren’t stuck in the past. At Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, instead we honor and call in the Ancestors by saving and sharing Native American cultural knowledge now, for the future.
From 5-6 pm Thursday, November 10, 2022, artist Gerald Clarke, and his daughter, Emily Clarke, a poet, of Cahuilla Reservation, will discuss living in these intersections of past and present Native life.
They’ll be at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at California State University, San Bernardino, which currently is hosting an exhibit of art from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, “Through Their Eyes: Selections from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.”
According to the museum, “Cahuilla tribal members Gerald and Emily Clarke will discuss their work and their thoughts on being a Native person in the 21st century.
“Through their knowledge of history and traditional culture, each will speak about how they address these issues in their artwork and poetry. While Gerald and Emily are knowledgeable about traditional Cahuilla culture and history, both express their thoughts about the intersections of history and contemporary American life. The presentation will be composed of an intermix of images of Gerald’s artwork and Emily’s original poetry.”
In addition, the artwork of Gerald Clarke, Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s 2022 Dragonfly Award winner, is on display at the museum in “Through Their Eyes.”
Gerald Clarke (right) discusses his “Rattle Blanket Painting” with Dorothy Ramon Learning Center board member Tom Long at the exhibit opening. (Pat Murkland Photo)
If you can’t make it to the museum, they’ll be streaming live on YouTube:
Calling in the Ancestors
Sing the songs. Tell the Stories. Kim Marcus (Serrano-Cahuilla) of Santa Rosa Reservation, our 2021 Dragonfly Award winner, tells how Calling in the Ancestors through songs and stories brings the Ancestors’ knowledge and power into the present.
You’re invited on Monday, November 14, 2022, to “An Evening with Kim Marcus” at Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s San Manuel Gathering Hall, 127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning.
The Coyote Dance (Carlos Puma Photo)
Kim Marcus plans to make a cultural presentation and share the Coyote Dance, and tell and sing stories such as “The Old Man and the Quail,” as taught by the late Cahuilla Elder Alvino Siva. He also plans to sing some Serrano bighorn sheep songs with Center president Ernest Siva.
The program starts at 6 p.m. Your $10 will help the nonprofit Center save and share Southern California’s Native American cultures, languages, history, and traditional arts.
And if you come early (we’ll be there starting around 4:30 p.m.), you’ll have time to shop for some exquisite Native American jewelry and art. All proceeds from these sales directly benefit the 501c3 nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center.
Thank you for your support! News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center welcomes your EMAIL. Thanks from Center leaders Ernest and June Siva, and Editor Pat Murkland, November 9, 2022.
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