![]() After this year’s heavy rain and snow that sent water into the San Joaquin Valley, it has replenished the lake and, with it, long-lost sacred connections.Īs they stood looking out to the large body of water earlier this spring, Yokuts and Pa’ashi were united again as they had for thousands of years. “It’s up to each and every one of us to listen to what's being said.” “This lake is talking to us right now,” Jeff tells a crowd of about two dozen gathered near the water. Some of those gathered for a ceremony came from about five miles away – from the Tachi’s home at the Santa Rosa Rancheria outside Lemoore. Other Yokuts came from farther away, like the Western Mono Indians from Fresno County. KVPR Tachi Yokut Vice Chairman Robert Jeff (left) listens to an opening prayer by Greg Ignacio (second left). Those attending the ceremony brought native plants and seeds to spur new growth in the water. “What you see behind us now is, Pa’ashi has reawakened.” “We all know that creator came and blessed us again with the water,” Jeff tells the crowd. Tribe members like Kenny Barrios believe the lake’s return has invited the spirits of ancestors back to the lake. They're coming back to it,” he said.īarrios is the tribe’s cultural liaison. He teaches the tribe’s youth about the native language and culture. He says with the lake gone for so long, Yokuts felt a deep need to honor its return.īarrios even wrote a new water song for the ceremony. The song gives thanks for “bringing our water back.” He sings acapella in his native language while playing clapstick – a traditional wooden split-stick rattle. The belief among Yokuts was that when the lake ever came back, it could cleanse the land. Now that it has, tribe members and other guests walked up to the water’s edge with offerings for the lake, meant as a gift to bless its water. ![]() Some scattered seeds of native river sage.ĭiamond Garcia waded knee-deep to plant tule. The reeds grew abundantly around the lake and gave Tulare Lake its name. “We can make a boat, we can make a tule skirt and headbands, bracelets.” “We can make a whole bunch of things with these,” Garcia says, showing off the bright green reeds. Advertisers Gary V.KVPR Members of different Yokut tribes share offerings at the ceremony. Blackstone St., Tulare, CA 93274 Issue Articles Gary V.
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