Beautiful Times at the Humboldt Big Time
Beautiful Times at the Humboldt Big Time
By Vincent Medina
One of my favorite things about working at News from Native California is the ability to travel often throughout California Indian country, and tow our beautiful books and our magazine along with us. This past weekend was one of those exciting trips, our editor (and dear friend) Terria Smith, my partner Louis Trevino, and myself made the trek from Berkeley and headed through the maze of poppy-covered foothills and ancient redwoods to Humboldt State University where we attended the HSU California Big Time and Social Gathering.
Arriving at the Big Time was something like a family reunion, seeing lots of old friends, and feeling that wonderful feeling of being around people who genuinely care about you. Advice was given, stories shared, and laughter reverberated throughout the auditorium where the event was held. Over fifty vendors sold gems such as abalone and dentalium jewelry, acorn soup and elderberry jam, basket pattern plates and glasses, and artwork. Of course, Heyday had our table selling the books we publish on the California Indian world, and our latest copy of News from Native California, which focuses on lovely couples, many of whom were in attendance, such as Maymi and Dennis Donahue, Lena and Loren Bommelyn, Lyn Risling and Julian Lang, Ruby Tuttle and Pyuwa Bommelyn, Amanda and Carlos Geisdorff, and our cover couple Kayla and Carl Begay! Talk about Indian love!
The event was full of dance and song, with the Tolowa, Maidu, Me-Wuk, and Santa Ynez Chumash and Northern Chumash (to name a few) bringing songs and dances of full of uniquely California Indian beauty to the auditorium. Abalone jingled, feathers were brought out, basket caps were donned and OOOOO was heard everywhere. And, what would a Big Time be without our favorite adopted food – Indian tacos!
All during the event there was handgames and gambling, basketweaving demonstrations, carving demonstrations, and special respect given to the elders and to the alumni at Humboldt State University. I would especially like to give recognition and gratitude to the Wiyot, whose lands this event was held, and to Leo Cañez and Pimm Allen, who organized this event so beautifully. Thank you, Humboldt, we will be back next year!
