The Ohlone Indians By Marcia Kalapus, president - pinole Historical society pinoleHistoricalsociety.org I’d like to introduce you to the earliest native aboriginal Coastanoan (coastal) Indians of the San Francisco- Monterey bay areas. More than 250 years ago they flourished in a region rich in all kinds of sustainable resources — wildlife, fish, food, (grains, seeds, fruits/ berries, acorns, freshwater creeks full of fish). They lived without any major complications in their lifestyle. They were food gatherers and hunters, part of a vast complex of about 50 or more distinct groups in Northern California. Their language is part of the Utian family. Pinole’s Coastanoan Indian tribe was known as “Karkin” or “Carquin.” They lived on the south side of the Carquinez Strait as we know it today. On the map we see their territoy was about the size of the El Rancho Pinole land grant. Their language dialect was different than the rest of the other bands. According to research, these bands were very sociable, interacting peoples. They inter-married, traded goods and other items, and practiced their religions and cultural activities together. Their religion was Kuksu. Their population was more than 10,000, in villages ranging from 50 to 200 people. They excelled in basket weaving, and used their skills in making boats/canoes out of the tules (waterproof reeds that lined the waterways). They had ceremonial dances. The women were involved in body tattooing and other piercings. There is not much recorded about their actual religious rites, but it is believed that they used shamans for their spiritual ceremonies, mourning, and coming of age, with highly decorated costumes and dances. Shamans were also healers and supplied herb remedies. As with many of the Indian tribes throughout America, shamans also represented a form of spiritual mysticism in their practices. Modern-day Ohlone tribal members are working to bring back their sacred and religious narratives and folklore about the coyote, eagle, and hummingbird, all very important in their storytelling. Their clothing was sparse, mostly none. In the cooler weather they used animal skins for warmth; the women wore aprons or skirts made from the tule reeds. They made jewelry from bones, beads, abalone, and other decorative shells. Land custodians The tribes burned the grasslands annually to get rid of all the old growth so they could get to the new fresh seeds that were part of their daily diet. American Indians were good custodians of the land and used only what they needed to sustain life. They were good fishermen and had a diet loaded with mussels, abalone, other shellfish, and freshwater fish (salmon, perch, and stickleback). Grizzly bears, elk, and deer were also available. They didn’t shy away from having all kinds of fowl on their menus, such as geese, duck, quail, and other small 74 MARKETPLACEcontrac osta .com december 2014
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