The great power of the Pacific has infused the life of California’s coastal tribes since the beginning of thought and memory. Out here on the western edge of the land, ‘oolok unu (“Ocean Mother” in Coast Miwok) is the big boss. As children, we were taught how to behave around her. Pay attention with your eyes and your ears. Don’t turn your back on her. Don’t horse around too much; don’t be loud. Stay aware and alert. It is a way of respect that is very much like that paid to elders.
The ocean influence is evident in diverse aspects of tribal life, secular and sacred.
Up here along the Marin, Sonoma, and Mendocino county coastlines, stories from when the earth was young introduce us to ocean species that are central to our being and understanding of the world and our sustenance. Our water here is cold and the ocean diet is astoundingly varied, providing low-fat protein, minerals, and vitamins. Although commercial overfishing and poaching has significantly depleted once-thriving fish stocks, we are still able to enjoy large and small fin fish, shellfish, sea greens, and salt. Our tribal cousins to the north, all the way up to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C.) and Alaska, share culinary kinship to us through these species. The salt, and also the beautiful shells from this area continue to be valuable in a continuing trade economy.
Jacquelyn Ross
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