 AUKA: COMMUNICATION FROM THE NATIVE PEOPLES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA
By Horacio Gonzãlez Moncada, Javier Ceseña and Steve Dryden
The Kumiai of San Antonio Necua are building a bright future for themselves by developing a sustainable economy and lifestyle based on the perpetuation of traditional and cultural values. Over the last several years the Mexican government, other agencies, private institutions and volunteers (all with good intentions) have tried to aid the Kumiai by developing several projects and business enterprises that might allow them to maintain a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. First, they tried to create a vineyard management program that would have the Kumiai growing grapes and selling them to the local wineries in Valle de Guadalupe. It was a brilliant idea, but it didn’t work out. Although that vineyard concept has been recently resurrected in the Kumiai community of San Jose de la Zorra with the aid of the Viejas Tribe of the Kummeyaay in San Diego. Then it was decided that the Kumiai could find success as beekeepers. The buzz was that it was a “stingingly” great idea, and somewhat “smokey” but it also failed. And finally, someone decided to construct a beef jerky plant so you the Kumiai “could be like the Native Americans in Montana. Good idea, but the plan dried up!
When myself, Horacio Moncada, Javier Ceseña (Kumiai) and Laura Wong from The Baja Times decided to create a column in 2006, AUKA, that would educate the world about the Kumiai, create self esteem. build pride among the Native Peoples communities, and hopefully help to promote a sustainable economy based on the preservation of tradition and culture. Some people came forward with criticism of our plan and warned us not to bother helping the Kumiai as “millions of dollars had been wasted on the Native Peoples of Baja California in the past.” I thought about that possibility and decided to consult a Native American Professor from the University of Arizona about this situation. My thinking was that as a member of the wine industry in Valle de Guadalupe, everyone should be included in the economic boom, including the Native People who have lived here for over 7,500 to 10,000 years. At that time in 2005, the average weekly income for a Kumiai community member was about $10 us. and they had been suffering from chronic disease due to poor water quality since occupation. Employment was about twenty percent.
I admire Native Peoples throughout the world as they’ve continued on with their culture and lifestyle despite all the hardships encountered by occupation, genocide, racism, slavery, and abuse. I understand their pain, the alcohol and drug abuse and the high suicide rate among these people that have been treated horribly with all the atrocities committed against them in the name of civilization, religion and progress. During one of my careers as a Naturalist, Environmental Educator, and Natural Resource Manager for the National Park Service, Idaho State Parks, Idaho Department of Public Lands, Idaho Fish and Game, California State Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service I have worked with the Native Peoples of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California, Hawaii and Tonga. That experience working with Native People and observing their behavior and lifestyle has convinced me that they will be the only people that will carry on and survive into the future, as we aware souls (those not in denial about reality) are discovering and witnessing that modern society is now in the process of self-destruction and mass extinction. And, the bad news is that we’re well beyond the turning back point.
Anyway, that wise professor from the University of Arizona told me that nothing will ever work for Native Peoples until the world just allows them to “be themselves.” Simply spoken, “they are basically happy living in harmony with the land, hunting and gathering, farming, making baskets, pottery and jewelry, and living in a close-net culture based on family, culture, tradition and respect for the land.” And, those words of wisdom from a Native American professor are turning out to be quite true. Personally, I think Native People will survive quite well without 7/11 stores, Mc Donald’s, Walmart, Starbucks, George Bush, the Catholic church, freeways, shopping malls and reality TV shows! What do you think? What is it that modern society can give them that they don’t already have? OK, other than better medical and dental attention and basic education.
The Native Peoples are doing much better these days by sustaining themselves with the creation of traditional baskets, pottery, dolls, jewelry, and other hand-crafted items. And, members of San Antonio Necua in Valle de Guadalupe are making adobe bricks and are building homes in and around Guadalupe valley using natural materials. I suspect that they’ve been involved with the new and trendy “green” movement for about 7,500 to 10,000 years.
Several weeks ago I decided to build a small winery/studio on my vineyard site in Valle de Guadalupe. After considering the various building options, availability of natural building materials and contractors in the area, I’ve hired a Kumiai contractor from San Antonio Necua to build my studio at Tierra Santa using “earth friendly” materials and Native Peoples technology. Beforehand, I was told that they’d never show up once I paid them a deposit, but they did actually show up on time and are doing everything they promised. This is something I’ve never experienced before with contractors and developers in Mexico or the US. Yesterday, they dug the footings for the adobe walls, and today, nobody showed up. No big deal, I thought, yesterday was blazing hot and besides it’ s Mexico ~ we have a different concept of time. But, I was wrong, just after I sat down to write this column, well after darkness, they showed up with a dump truck full of huge rocks for the footings. How did they get those huge rocks into that old truck? And, don’t these people ever sleep? So far, the Kumiai are making me take a deeper look into who and what they are, and all the rumors and criticism about them have been distorted and over-exaggerated.
My winery, Viñas Sierra Blanca, will probably be the smallest winery in the America’s with a vineyard of two hundred vines and a total production of one French oak barrel of Nebbiolo wine per year, thus one bottle per day for one year! I’m apprenticing with one of the top winemakers in the world and with one of Mexico’s best enologists, so I’m hoping in time and with some patience that this will be one great barrel of wine! But, the greatest pleasure will come from knowing that I supported our Native Peoples in hopes that they can sustain their culture for future generations. I’ll keep you posted on this new adventure with my Kumiai brothers and hopefully you’ll get an opportunity to discover this amazing culture for yourselves right here in Baja California.
This column, AUKA, will keep you posted about upcoming events, craft and art shows, rodeos and cultural demonstrations in the four Native communities of Baja California Norte. Now that summer is here, remember that our “uncrowded and tranquil” campground is always open and is similar to a California State Park campgrounds around 1900, except we’ve got hot showers and a campground store.
Horacio Goñzales Moncada is Director of ADESU, Javier Ceseña is ADESU Project Manager and member of the Kumiai community. Steve Dryden is the Guadalupe Valley contributor for The Baja Times and is the one who wrote this particular article. For additional information about ADESU visit their web site at: www.adesu.org or call 646 178-8093.
|
