California Flame Skimmer dragonfly (Courtesy of Wikimedia, Photo by Sjstein1)
Yes, You Can Call a Dragonfly
In many Native American stories, dragonflies, believed to be one of the oldest insects in the world, emphasize the power of communication. Our pandemic lockdown was in full force last year when we reached out to everyone with our first online issue of News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center and shared the Serrano and Cahuilla lullaby, the Dragonfly Song.
The Dragonfly Song offers a medicine of mindfulness, and a bit of natural wonder. You can call a dragonfly to come to you with this song.
A dragonfly painted on a feather, one of the many dragonfly-related artworks in and around the Center and the Siva home. (Siva Family Collection)
Elder Ernest Siva (Cahuilla-Serrano), president of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, has shared the Dragonfly Song for many years with people of all ages and from all walks of life. This is his “signature” song.
Learn to sing the Dragonfly Song, in a video by Ernest Siva: HERE.
A metal dragonfly hangs out outdoors with a metal sculpture bird friend. (Siva Family Collection)
Mehuun Terrux!
Ernest Siva reminds us what’s needed to succeed: “If you see a dragonfly hovering about and you sing this song, the dragonfly will either come to you, or stay away from you.
“It is a good sign if he comes to you, and not so good if he stays away. The teaching goes, if you are kind and have kind thoughts, he will come to you. Conversely, if you are troubled, nervous, angry, etc., he will leave your presence. The elders say, “Mehuun terrux!”, “Quiet your heart!” In other words, be calm and confident before proceeding with anything of importance.” (Ernest H. Siva, Voices of the Flute: Songs of Three Southern California Indian Nations, Ushkana Press, © 2004)
A dragonfly depicted in a spiraling swirl of water. (Siva Family Collection)
Stories about the Dragonfly Song
In this video, Ernest Siva tells stories about what happened when dragonflies responded to the Dragonfly Song. A dragonfly, for example, helped him in his courtship of his wife, June, who has been married to him for more than 51 years.
(A punchline to the third story is that one answer was, “That’s how he won his wife.”)
Dragonflies Everywhere
So, that’s why you see dragonflies depicted everywhere at Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. In art, activities, events, logos, just about everywhere.
Our logo of a dragonfly welcomes people to Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission Indians Gathering Hall in Banning. We look forward to seeing everyone again once it’s safe again! (Pat Murkland Photo)
One highlight of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center’s Dragonfly Gala is the Dragonfly Award. Bill Madrigal Sr. and family received the Center’s Dragonfly Award for soaring achievements in saving and sharing Native American cultures at the 2018 Dragonfly Gala.
Serrano: Qrinyiinyi' (Dragonfly)
Neyxka' Kimay (Comes to Me)
As hot weather arrives, you’ll start to see more dragonflies flying around. See more than 75 species of Southern California dragonflies and damselflies: HERE. Try singing the Dragonfly Song!
Dorothy Ramon Learning Center especially celebrates dragonfly artwork by children.
EMAIL your dragonfly artwork to us! Tell us what you’d like to see in News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, saves and shares Southern California’s Native American cultures, languages, history, and music and other traditional arts. Join us at dorothyramon.org and Dorothy Ramon Learning Center on Facebook. Thank you! Pat Murkland, Editor. May 5, 2021.