"We live, we die, and like the grass and trees, renew ourselves from the soft earth of the grave. Stones crumble and decay, faiths grow old and they are forgotten, but new beliefs are born. The faith of the villages is dust now ... but it will grow again ... like the trees." – Chief Joseph, Nez Perce (1840-1904) 

 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The moon, as well as the sun, played an important role in stories and myths in most ancient cultures. 

The myths of the California Indians are intertwined with many of their spiritual observances. Of course, thousands of years ago when the stories were told and retold to one another, the intricate characteristics that make up each individual story and their descriptions, distinctive identities and explanations of daily life have been altered, or masked in the retelling process.  

In the book entitled, "The Way We Lived: California Indian Stories, Songs and Reminiscences," edited by Malcolm Margolin, the celestial features, sun and moon, were often viewed as people in most California Indian cultures. 

American anthropologist Edwin M. Loeb obtained detailed Pomo Indian creation myths in the early 1900s when he was working for the Department of Anthropology of the University of California.  

One Pomo Indian myth, derived from William Benson, holds that Coyote created the ocean because he was thirsty, before creating people and the moon. 

After he plucked a plant from the wetlands, water gushed up and then back down, making tides, and this action allowed for hunting along the shores. Coyote also created the four winds, which allowed for distinct seasons. 

Coyote determined that buzzard was the bird fast enough to position sun into the sky and then buzzard was promptly paid for this with a woven receptacle filled with beads. 

After this, Coyote directed the sun to shine each dawn and to conceal itself each night. Next, Coyote created more stars than there were grains of sand and finally, created the moon. 

To the moon Coyote bestowed his own garments to allow the moon to split itself into segments, so that it was not always full. Coyote then decided the moon should know all about growing food for a good harvest, such as acorn and buckeye. 

There was much for Coyote to do in the way of the world and he instructed hodjaj, or Fire-man, to make sure to keep it cooler during certain months so that plants would not grow then. 

Coyote taught many songs to the people he created so that they would not live in fear, and there were songs for Daylight-woman and Daylight-man to sing. Their instructions were to make the seasons equivalent in their durations, and never to forget those directions. Water-man was created to cool things off and to allow for the creation of many bouquets of various colored flowers. 

Coyote was not done yet, as he needed to then create various races and villages of peoples, who were then directed to take time to celebrate, feast and dance – but not too often, or this would cause immense problems such as famine, flood or fire. 

Loeb listed the Clear Lake Pomo moon calendar as beginning in winter, or the first moon when it is difficult to hunt. 

According to the calendar, June is the eighth moon, when the time is close to journey to the coast to trade for shells. 

Local archaeologist Dr. John Parker lists the Pomo moon calendar and its 13 moon cycles on his www.wolfcreekarchaeology.com Web site under “Education.”

According to Edward W. Gifford, in "California Indian Nights" the central California Indians' belief was that the moon was not as important as the sun, while the Indians of the areas of northwestern California attributed the moon's smaller size progression to be caused by Lizard having eaten moon. 

The Luiseno Indians of Southern California held the belief that the moon was Wiyot, or god, and endured great suffering, then death and soon afterwards, a resurrection. 

Their beliefs were that there were six moon month names, while the calendar for the central Pomo Indians designated 12 moons of the year:

– Stalpikelda moon was in November, when leaves fall;

– Sachauda moon was a time of snow or great cold;

– Bashelamataula moon occurred as the buckeyes ripened;

– Kadamchidoda moon brought a bloom of flora, including roots;

– Chidodapuk moon was when more blooms occurred; 

– Umchachichda moon was when seeds of all sorts ripened;

– Putichda moon was a time of bulbs and potatoes to eat; 

– Bakaichichda moon brought the ripening manzanita berries;

– Luchichda moon was when the acorns ripened;

– Sachluyiauda moon was when soaproot grew best;

– Kalemkaiyoi was the time to harvest wood;

– Kasida moon brought the cooler weather.

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is a retired educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also formerly wrote for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.