The Peña Adobe Historical Society celebrated Native American heritage on Saturday, October 4th from 11am - 2pm.  Just under 160 visitors met with 5th generation Peña descendant Darlene Coombs Steward and Kim Clary and Native Americans of Yaqui, Chiricahua Apache, Lakota and Miwok descent!  Native Americans have a deep cultural and spiritual connection with birds, which play significant roles in their traditions, beliefs, and ecosystems.  Don Hildebrandt, Director of the California Hawking Club, Chris Kerr and Pete Martin brought six Harris Hawks and a Peregrine Falcon to share with park visitors! 

When park visitors weren’t visiting with members of Woodland’s Cache Creek Conservancy and the Suscol Intertribal Council from Napa, they had an opportunity to play a flute!  Flute maker Fernando Borrayo of Sacred Sounds Flutes played several of his flutes while nearby park visitors met drum maker Richard Flittie.  Richard Flittie’s drums come from his traditions of the Oglala Lakota and Sioux.

Miwok Elder Marge Grow Eppard sang traditional chants accompanying herself on one of Flittie’s Native American drums while under tall oak trees, Armando Perez performed a Chiricahua tribal dance and Chippewa Tribal Dancer Al Nutlouise also performed.

Tours of the former home of the Peña family and adjacent Museum were conducted by Peña Historical Society Docents.  Kiddies (& a few adults!) made corn husk dolls and shell necklaces on Native American pump drills, and everyone enjoyed cookies before saying goodbye until next month when our guests will be the Congressional Gunfighters of America and the American Historical Brass Band Society!