Ernest Siva at Gilman Ranch, © copyright artist Gloria “Toti” Bell.
This painting by Gloria “Toti” Bell of Banning captures a scene in 2013 when Elder Ernest Siva (Cahuilla-Serrano), president of Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, shared a traditional Native American song and opening blessing at a public event at the Gilman Ranch Historic Park and Wagon Museum in Banning.
This painting tells the story of Ernest Siva and how he leads the nonprofit Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. This year marks 20 years of saving and sharing Southern California Native American cultures, languages, history, and music and other traditional arts.
As shown in this painting, people who are from all walks of life and different cultures are gathered in an intimate circle as Ernest Siva shares a song, story, and a little about Southern California Native American traditional ways. This scene has repeated many times at many venues throughout the years.
While the nonprofit Learning Center strongly supports Native communities in the continuing tribal work to regain and restore languages and traditional knowledge, the Center also welcomes the general public. Center leaders Ernest and June Siva founded the Center and located it in downtown Banning to bring together Native and non-Native people in a greater understanding of Native American cultures, and build bridges toward community unity.
The view the other day of Ayaqaych from the Gilman Ranch porch. (Pat Murkland Photo)
In the painting, Ayaqaych, known on modern maps as San Jacinto Peak, also Mt. San Jacinto, oversees the circle of people and Ernest Siva’s songs that day at the Gilman Ranch. The mountain’s older brother, Qwirriqaych (Mt. San Gorgonio) on the other side of San Gorgonio Pass, also can be seen from Gilman Ranch. Both peaks overlook many lives for miles around, as they have for centuries.
The Serrano name Ayaqaych means “Gathering Mountain” in Serrano, and as Ernest Siva explains, “This is where our people would go to gather and process foods and medicine. People of spiritual power would also go there to learn their songs.”
He’s shared the deep personal relationship he has had with the mountain and how music changed his path in life.
We’ve also reflected before about the relationships that people have had through time and continuing today with Ayaqaych.
We’ll honor and reflect more about “Ayaqaych: Gathering Mountain” as the theme of the Learning Center’s March 11, 2023, 7th Native Voices Poetry Festival. The festival’s major sponsor is Idyllwild Arts Native American Arts Center.
The Native Voices Festival celebrates the Native voice in all the arts. But everyone is welcome to come to the Festival, from 10 am to 4 pm March 11, 2023, at 127 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning. Free family fun.
Ayaqaych: Gathering Mountain. Discover. Explore. Create.
Celebrate all the plants, animals, and beauty of the mountain at Native Voices Poetry Festival. Discover, explore, and be inspired by a deeper understanding of Native American cultures and their relationship with the lands around us:
Enjoy the Native voice in all the arts: traditional bird singing and dancing. Be uplifted by songs and stories and poems, both traditional and nontraditional. Enjoy the beauty of our own Native Southern California languages.
Explore Native American uses of native plants as medicine, materials for tools, and food, with Mother Earth Clan, Morongo Cultural Department, and more. Discover and taste traditional foods. Watch the short film documentary “Saging the World” and discuss with native plant specialist Rose Ramirez, one of the film’s creators.
Connect with community groups and cultural arts.
Create your own stories, poetry, and art in free workshops for all ages. Join in a community painting celebrating Ayaqaych: Gathering Mountain.
And thanks, as always, for reading, sharing, and subscribing to our free online newsletter, News from Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, from Center leaders Ernest and June Siva, and Editor Pat Murkland. We value your ideas: Please EMAIL. February 2, 2023.