>> COMING UP NEXT ON HEADLINE HUMBOLDT, THE COASTAL COMMISSION LAST WEEK APPROVED A PERMIT TO EXPAND THE NORTH COAST'S BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE BY BUILDING FIBEROPTIC LINES ALONG THREE LOCAL THREE LOCAL HIGHWAYS.

>> WE'LL SPEAK WITH NICOLE RIGGS AND RUTH WORTMAN, COMING UP NOW ON HEADLINE HUMBOLDT.

FROM THE TOP OF HUMBOLDT HILL, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS AND CHANGE, HUMBOLDT COUNTY HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF A REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT.

ONE LOCAL NON-PROFIT HAS MADE IT THEIR MISSION IN RECENT YEARS TO COLLECT AND PRESERVE THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF THESE MOVEMENTS AND MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE REST OF US AS A SOURCE OF LEARNING AND CULTURAL HISTORY.

THEIR MOST RECENT EFFORT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEAR RIVER BAND OF THE ROHNERVILLE RANCHERIA TO COLLECT THE ORAL HISTORY OF HOW THE BAND AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE WORKED TO RESTORE AND REVITALIZE ITS ANCIENT SALMON CEREMONY.

CULTURAL COORDINATORS FOR THE BEAR RIVER BAND SPEAKING ABOUT THE MEANING OF THE SALMON CEREMONY WHICH EXISTED FOR GENERATIONS BEFORE FALLING AWAY IN 1958 DURING WHAT IT CALLS THE TERMINATION ERA.

THE CEREMONY IS BEING RESTORED AND REVITALIZED THROUGH THE COLLECTIVE MEMORIES OF BAND ELDERS.

STARTING ON APRIL 6TH, THIS COLLECTION WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU CONSISTING OF REGALIA AND OTHER OBJECTS AND THE STORIES OF HOW THIS RESTORATION TOOK PLACE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

ACCORDING TO HAPA, THE MET TOLL SALMON GROUP, A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT, HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE MET TOLL RIVER TO RESTORE SALMON HABITAT AND POPULATIONS WHICH WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED FROM EXPLOITATIVE LAND MANAGEMENT.

THEY REALIZED EARLY ON THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO COMBINE THE SPIRITUAL CONNECTION OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WITH SALMON TOGETHER WITH SCIENCE-BASED HABITAT AND POPULATION ENHANCEMENT EFFORTS.

IN THE DISENCHANTED WORLD WE LIVE IN, EVERYTHING SACRED HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AWAY AND ABANDONED.

HEARING THESE STORIES AND GLIMPSING HOW THEY APPROACH THE NATURAL WORLD AND ITS UNDERLYING SPIRITUAL CURRENTS MAY HELP THE REST OF US REKINDLE THE SENSE OF WONDER AND REALIZE HOLDING NATURE SACRED AND HONORING THAT DESIGNATION WITH GOOD INTENTION MAY JUST BE THE REMEDY WE ALL NEED TO LIFT OUR COLLECTIVE SENSE OF ALIENATION.

BEFORE FIRST, THE NEWS.

THIS PAST WEEK, THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSION APPROVED A PERMIT FOR CalTrans AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY TO EXPAND THE NORTH COAST'S BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE PROJECT WOULD SEE 156 MILES OF FIBEROPTIC LINES INSTALLED ALONG THREE NORTH COAST HIGHWAYS.

THE EFFORT IS PART OF A LARGER STATE PLAN TO ADDRESS TECHNOLOGICAL INEQUITIES AND ADDRESS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

THE PROJECT INCLUDES 49 MILES OF NEW CABLE ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 101, A SHORT SECTION ALONG STATE ROUTE 255 AND FIVE MILES ALONG ROUTE 211 BETWEEN FERN RIDGE AND FERNDALE TO ALLOW TRIBES, MUNICIPALITIES, NON-PROFITS, TO CONNECT TO AN EXPANDED INFORMATION NETWORK.

THE APPROVED PERMIT INCLUDES DEL NORTE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES AS A DISTRICT-WIDE ENDEAVOR THAT IS LIKELY THE FIRST OF MANY.

STATE FUNDING RULES REQUIRE THAT CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PROJECT HAS TO BE COMPLETED IN 2026.

AND FINALLY, HERE IS OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE HUMBOLDT AREA PEOPLE'S ARCHIVE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NICOLE RIGGS AND CULTURAL DIRECTOR RUTH WORTMAN FROM THE BEAR RIVER BAND.

PLEASE ENJOY.

ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE JOINED BY RUTH WORTMAN, SHE -- IS THAT RIGHT?

SHE'S THE CULTURAL COORDINATOR FOR THE BEAR RIVER BEEN A OF THE ROHNERVILLE RANCHERIA AND NICOLE RIGGS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SO THERE'S A LOT TO GET TO AND THIS IS A REALLY FASCINATING STORY.

NICOLE, CAN WE START WITH WHAT HAPA, THE HUMBOLDT AREA PEOPLE'S ARCHIVE IS, AND WHAT IT STRIVES TO DO AS ITS MISSION, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO.

>> YES, SURE, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> SO THE HUMBOLDT AREA PEOPLE'S ARCHIVE OR HAPA IS A GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY ARCHIVE.

WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING HISTORIES OF CHANGE IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY FROM THE 1960S TO NOW, REALLY LOOKING AT COUNTERCULTURE BACK TO THE LAND AND ALL THE THREADS THAT GO AROUND IT THAT INCLUDES A LOT OF ACTIVISM, A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTALISM, A LOT OF ARTS, CULTURE, AND A LOT OF COLLABORATION IN VARIOUS WAYS INCLUDING CULTURAL COLLABORATION.

>> HOW DID YOU GUYS GET STARTED?

WAS THIS A BRAINSTORM OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE PASSIONATE IN THAT SORT OF THING?

>> IT'S PERHAPS NO SURPRISE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT COUNTERCULTURE THERE'S AN ALIGNMENT WITH INDIGENOUS CULTURES.

THOSE TRADITIONALLY HAVE BEEN RESISTING MAINSTREAM NARRATIVES AND QUESTIONING WHAT THOSE ARE, THOSE PARADIGMS, WHETHER THAT BE CAPITALISM, CONSUMERISM, AND SO ON.

SO THERE'S KIND OF A NATURAL ALIGNMENT.

NOW, IN PARTICULAR IN THIS INSTANCE HERE WITH RUTH AND THE BEAR RIVER BAND, WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTALISTS INCLUDING SOME FROM THE MET TOLL SALMON GROUP OUT BY PETROLIA WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING ON SALMON HABITAT.

BUT REALIZING THAT SCIENCE ONLY BY ITSELF IS NOT ENOUGH TO BRING BACK FULL HEALTH FOR THE SALMON.

AND REALIZING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A CULTURAL CONNECTION.

AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE LAND HERE HAVE THAT CONNECTION.

AND SO THERE'S KIND OF A NATURAL COLLABORATION THAT AROSE AND THEN I'LL I'M SURE RUTH CAN SPEK FROM THE BEAR RIVERSIDE.

>> ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.

WERE YOU APPROACHED BY THEM OR HOW DID THAT RELATIONSHIP INITIALLY COME TOGETHER?

>> SURE.

SO AS A HISTORICAL ARCHIVE, WE TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO REACH OUT AND ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY ALL THE TIME WE DO ORAL HISTORIES AND IN FACT PART OF THE EXHIBIT THAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT INCLUDES ORAL HISTORIES, INTERVIEWS WITH BOTH RUTH WORTMAN AND ALSO BARRY BRENARD, AND WE HAVE THEIR VOICES YOU CAN LISTEN TO WHEN YOU COME TO THE EXHIBIT THAT IS GOING TO BE OPENING AT ARTS ALIVE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO WE CONDUCTED HISTORIES, WE CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS AND THEN WE WORKED TOGETHER IN REALLY QUITE A LARGE COLLABORATIVE EXHIBIT ACTUALLY.

WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THE BEAR RIVER BAND AT THE CENTER OF IT.

IT'S THEIR STORY, IT'S FOR THEM TO SAY.

THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE MATTOLE SALMON GROUP, STACEY SCHAFER, A RETIRED PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT CAL STATE CHICO.

AND WE ALSO HAVE THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU.

AND ALSO THE PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS DONE SOME BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE SALMON CEREMONY.

>> SO RUTH, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON HERE WITH WHAT THIS EVENT IN APRIL AND YOU GUYS HAD A SOFT OPENING IN MARCH WHICH WE'LL SHOW IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WITH IMPACTFUL FOOTAGE YOU HAD, BUT CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROJECT AND INITIALLY WHAT YOU FELT ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED AND THEN WHAT YOU FELT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHARE AS PART OF THE ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO SHARING STUFF, IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU CAN ONLY GIVE SO MUCH AND SHARE SO MUCH, SO I WAS -- I RECEIVED AN E-MAIL ABOUT THEM WANTING TO COME AND DO SOME INTERVIEWS.

AND SO WE, OF COURSE, HAVE TO FOLLOW OUR OWN POLICIES TO GET IT APPROVED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO LINE UP -- I THINK THEY HAD NINE TRIBAL MEMBERS COME TO DO INTERVIEWS AND THEN IT ROLLED INTO THIS, WHAT IT IS NOW!

[ LAUGHTER ] SO IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE GOING WITH THE FLOW OF THINGS.

>> SO WHAT DID YOU CHOOSE TO SHARE AS PART OF THE INTERVIEW AND HOW DID YOU SHAPE THAT?

WAS IT WHAT CAME NATURALLY DURING THE INTERVIEWS AND STUFF?

>> WHENEVER I SHARE, I TRY TO TAKE MY OWN THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT I'M SHARING ABOUT AND LET IT COME NATURALLY IS WHAT I USUALLY DO.

I USUALLY DO A LITTLE PRAYER BEFORE I DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> WHICH IS A MARK OF HUMILITY.

SO NOW YOU GUYS HAD A SOFT LAUNCH, A SOFT OPENING, IN MARCH.

BUT YOU SORT OF JUST ARE GETTING STUFF INTO POSITION AND SEEING HOW IT LOOKS AND HOW IT FEELS AND THAT SORT OF THING, IS THAT RIGHT?

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THE EVENT ON THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT.

AFTER WE HEAR FROM YOU, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PLAY THE SOUND CLIP WE HAVE.

>> I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS.

NORMALLY OUR ITEMS ARE DISPLAYED AT OUR OWN MUSEUM, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE ARE PUTTING THEM INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S MUSEUM.

BUT WE REALLY FEEL CONFIDENT IN OUR NEW FRIENDS!

[ LAUGHTER ] TO TAKE CARE OF OUR ITEMS.

SO THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME, YOU KNOW, PRAYERS OF PROTECTION THAT WERE PUT DOWN, SOME MEDICINE THAT WAS PUT DOWN INTO THE DISPLAYS TO HELP KEEP THEM SAFE.

>> SAM, CAN WE PLAY THAT VIDEO CLIP REAL QUICK SO PEOPLE CAN GET A SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

[SINGING] >> NOW, THIS IS ALL LEADING UP TO AN EVENT COMING UP IN APRIL.

WHAT'S THE DATE OF THAT?

I THINK I'VE GOT IT HERE SOMEWHERE.

>> THE 6TH.

>> APRIL 6TH.

>> AND IT'S 6 p.m., APRIL.

TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THERE.

WHAT KIND OF ITEMS ARE THERE?

WHAT ROLE DO THOSE ITEMS PLAY IN YOUR TRIBAL CULTURE?

AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THE TRIBE GET A SENSE OF THAT?

>> OH, OKAY.

SO WHAT IS THERE IS THERE'S MY DAUGHTER'S CEREMONY DRESS.

>> IS THAT THE ONE UP -- >> YEAH, YEAH.

AND MY HEADDRESS AND THERE'S SOME BASKETS THAT WE HAVE OUR ACORNS IN.

WE HAVE A MILL, A MANNEQUIN WITH MILL REGALIA ON.

AND THE DRESS AND THE MILL REGALIA IS FOR PROTECTION DURING CEREMONY, BECAUSE WHEN WE GO INTO CEREMONY, WE GO INTO THE SPIRIT LAND, SO WE'RE WALKING IN TWO WORLDS, SO THOSE ITEMS WE HAVE ON, THEY'RE MEANT TO PROTECT US.

SO THOSE ITEMS ARE REALLY SACRED.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THEM.

YOU WANT TO SAY HELLO TO THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE ALIVE, BECAUSE EACH ONE HAS A SONG AND A DANCE.

SAME THING WITH THE BASKETS.

SAY HELLO, LET HER KNOW HOW BEAUTIFUL SHE IS.

AND THEN ON SOME OF THE OTHER CABINETS, THERE'S SOME DEER ANTLERS TO REPRESENT THE TOOLS THAT WE USE.

THERE'S LOTS OF SHELLS.

THERE'S A MEN'S GAMBLING DRUM AND SOME STICKS TO HONOR OUR MEN.

AND THE STICK GAME HONORS OUR FOUR-LEGGED RELATIVES.

SO, YEAH, EACH ITEM HAS A SPIRIT AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK TO THEM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND RIGHT NOW THEY'RE AWAKE.

WHEN THEY COME DOWN FROM BEING DISPLAYED, THEY WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP AND THEY'LL GO TO REST UNTIL CEREMONY.

>> IS THAT A CEREMONIAL ACTION THAT YOU HELP TAKE TO FACILITATE THEM WAKING UP AND GOING TO SLEEP >> YES, WHENEVER I WAKE THEM UP, I SAY GOOD MORNING TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW HOW BEAUTIFUL THEY ARE.

>> THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW MY BROTHER AND WORK IN THE PODCAST I HAVE AND WHATNOT, I REALLY DEEPLY APPRECIATE, I'M GETTING GOOSEBUMPS TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I DEEPLY APPRECIATE THAT SORT OF APPROACH TO LIVING IN OUR WORLD AND I THINK WE'RE MISSING IT.

ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF THIS IS THAT THE SALMON FESTIVAL, THE SALMON -- I KEEP CALLING IT THE SALMON FESTIVAL.

THE SALMON ... ?

>> CEREMONY.

>> THE SALMON CEREMONY, YES.

IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF TRIBAL CULTURE AND THEN IT WAS MISSING FOR A LONG TIME PROBABLY BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED WITH IT CULTURALLY BEING SUBJUGATED BY THE GREATER WHITE COMMUNITY OR WHATEVER ELSE.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT WAS RESURRECTED AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT CONTINUITY FOR THE TRIBE?

>> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE ELDERS FROM THE SALMON COUNCIL HAD MICHAEL EVANESSA SONNIER GET A HOLD OF THE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME WHO WAS HANK BERNARD AND LET THEM KNOW THE STRUGGLES THEY WERE HAVING TRYING TO FIX THE HABITAT, ADJUST THE HABITAT, ALL THESE MEANS TO HELP THE SALMON SURVIVE AND HAVE A BETTER JOURNEY.

DAVID HAD TOLD MICHAEL WE NEED THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO HELP US.

AND SO MICHAEL GOT IN CONTACT WITH HIM WHO CAME TO ME AND IT WAS, LIKE, HEY, THERE'S THIS CEREMONY WE NEED YOU TO DO.

THIS IS THAT AND THIS IS THIS.

AND WE JUST DID IT.

>> WOW.

SO HOW DID YOU GUYS REBUILD IT?

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF?

>> LOTS OF TALKING TO ELDERS.

AND NOT JUST BEAR RIVER WIYOT.

WE TALKED TO KARUK ELDERS, YUROK ELDERS TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS WHAT.

AND THERE IS SOME DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY'RE VERY VAGUE.

SO IT WAS A LOT OF ELDERS WHO WERE, LIKE, I REMEMBER THIS AND THAT AND THOSE PEOPLE HAD THIS AND THEY HAD THIS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LOT OF EDUCATING FROM OUR SISTER TRIBES WHO HELPED US UNDERSTAND.

LIKE, OH, I DID HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE IT'S ONLY ONE DAY RIGHT NOW AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE TEN DAYS.

>> IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A TEN-DAY CEREMONY.

>> WE'RE WORKING ON GETTING THE CANOE AND LEARNING HOW TO BUILD THE HOUSES.

BECAUSE WE BUILT HOUSES ON THE BEACH RIGHT THERE.

AND SO IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS.

IT'S NOT COMPLETE YET, BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO DO A SALMON CEREMONY AT THE MOUTH OF THE EEL, WHICH AN ELDER HAD CAME AND SAID WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS AT THE EEL RIVER!

[ LAUGHTER ] AND SO WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT TOO!

>> SO WHAT'S THE DATE FOR THAT?

>> WE HAVEN'T PICKED A DATE YET.

>> BUT THERE IS A PHYSICAL CEREMONY THAT HAPPENS THAT PEOPLE CAN ATTEND?

>> YES, IN APRIL.

>> AND IS THAT THE SAME DATE, THE APRIL 6TH?

>> NO.

APRIL 13TH AND 14TH IS WHEN WE DO IT AT THE MOUTH OF THE MATTOLE.

SO THE 13TH IS THE DEMONSTRATION DAY, SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LEARN ABOUT IT AND ARE UNABLE TO COME TO THE PRACTICES, THEY CAN COME THAT DAY AND TALK TO DANCERS AND TALK TO THE HEAD WOMAN WHO IS GOING TO BE LEADING THE CEREMONY SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE AWARE, WHAT DANCE MOVES THEY SHOULD DO.

BUT THEN THE 14TH IS THE CEREMONY.

SO THAT'S THE DAY WHERE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, IN THAT PLACE.

>> I'M GOING TO TRY AND MAKE A CONNECTION HERE THAT MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BE MAKING, BUT YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW LIKE WITH THE REGALIA AND STUFF THERE'S A SPIRIT, AND THIS CEREMONY, IS THIS TO HONOR THE SALMON SPIRIT SO THEY WILL FEEL ENCOURAGED TO COME BACK UP INTO THAT WATERSHED?

>> SO THIS CEREMONY IS TO HELP THE SPIRITS OF EACH SALMON BE STRONG, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO FIGHT THE CURRENTS TO GO UP.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S ALSO TO HONOR AND THANK THE SALMON WHO ARE GOING TO GO OUT TO HAVE THAT LONG WINTER OR THAT LONG SUMMER.

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY PASSING EACH OTHER.

>> YES, YOU HAVE SALMON COMING IN AND GOING OUT.

AND SO THIS IS -- THE WHOLE CEREMONY REALLY HAVE TO HONOR EVERY STEP OF THEIR JOURNEY, THE DANCE MOVES, THE MEN ARE DOING THE DANCE MOVES THAT REPRESENT THE MEN SPAWNING AND THEN THE WOMEN ARE DOING DANCE MOVES THAT REPRESENT THE LAYING OF THE EGGS.

SO EVERY PIECE.

AND THE CANOE THAT COMES DOWN AND GOES OUT, THAT REPRESENTS THE JOURNEY THEY HAVE TO TAKE.

SO THERE'S STEPS TO THIS JOURNEY THAT HONOR EACH SPACE OF THEIR LIFE AS SALMON.

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING TO WITNESS.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO YOUR TRIBE AND TO YOURSELF, TO PEOPLE YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO RESURRECT THIS AND MAKE THIS ONCE MORE A FORMATIVE PART OF WHO YOU ARE.

BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE LOST, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THROW UP THEIR HANDS AND SAY THERE'S NO GETTING IT BACK, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO REACH BACK INTO YOUR HISTORY AND PULL FORTH SOMETHING SACRED.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?

>> IT'S SUPER IMPORTANT.

I THINK THE ACTION OF DOING THE SALMON CEREMONY AND BRINGING IT BACK HAS GIVEN THE MEMBERSHIP COURAGE TO, YOU KNOW, SAY I DO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN CEREMONY AND I DO -- BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER CEREMONIES THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK.

WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON THE ACORN CEREMONY, SO THIS IS JUST A STEP IN THAT DIRECTION OF BRINGING THAT, HONORING OUR ANCESTORS BY HONORING THEIR CEREMONIES AND DOING THEM TO THE BEST WAY WE CAN.

>> BEFORE THE SHOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT YOU HAD BEEN TALKING WITH ELDERS ABOUT THIS AND YOU MENTIONED IT DURING THE SHOW.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THE YOUTH TO SEE THIS?

YOU'RE THE YOUTH COORDINATOR, WHICH YOU MENTIONED THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOT AS YOUNG AS SOME OF THE YOUTH YOU'RE DEALING WITH, BUT I THINK YOU ARE.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE IT SETS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THAT KIND OF GLIMPSE OF HOPE?

>> THERE'S SO MUCH STRENGTH IN CEREMONY.

THERE'S SO MUCH STRENGTH IN BEING ACKNOWLEDGED.

WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THE CEREMONY, WE HAD VERY LITTLE MALE PARTICIPATION.

WE HAD LOTS OF FEMALE PARTICIPATION, BUT IN THIS PAST CEREMONY, WE HAD A BALANCE OF MALE AND FEMALE.

AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE THOSE YOUNG MEN WHO DID DANCE IN THE FIRST CEREMONY, THEY GOT THAT INSPIRATION BACK TO THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR RELATIVES AND I THINK THAT THAT ENCOURAGED THEM TO, LIKE, OKAY, I'LL GO WITH YOU THIS TIME.

AND THEN WHEN WE GET TO GO TO SCHOOLS AND TALK ABOUT THE CEREMONY, SOMETIMES WE'LL HAVE A PARTICIPANT IN THE CLASSROOM, CAN YOU COME UP AND HELP US DEMONSTRATE HOW THIS DANCE GOES?

AND SO THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR PEERS, YOU KNOW, THEIR MEDICINE.

AND IT JUST INSPIRES THEM AND LIGHTS THAT FIRE THAT IS NEEDED TO DO IT.

>> AND I THINK PROBABLY INSPIRES A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE IN THEIR OWN PERSON AND IN THEIR OWN CULTURE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> NICOLE, I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A WONDERFUL THING HERE.

IF I WERE INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION, I WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT SCARED ABOUT THE SACREDNESS OF THE CEREMONY AND THEN BEING INVOLVED AS AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SENSITIVITIES THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO BRING TO THIS?

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT YOUR CULTURE, BUT YOU'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE IT.

HOW DO YOU GUYS PARSE THAT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO IT HELPS THAT WE HAVE A CLEARLY DEFINED MISSION AS A HISTORICAL ARCHIVE.

WE DOCUMENT AND PRESERVE WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

THE TELLING OF THE STORY BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE WHOSE STORY IT IS, AND SO THAT'S RUTH, BARRY, AND ALL OF BEAR RIVER, SO OUR ROLE IS REALLY ONE OF HOLDING THE MATERIALS AND THEN SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC THOSE HISTORIES.

AND THAT MAKES IT EASIER.

AND THEN I THINK BEYOND THAT, IT HAS TO BE A COMPLETE AND UTTER FAITH IN MOVING FORWARD.

AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I REMEMBER AT THE FIRST SALMON CEREMONY THAT I WENT TO AND THEN I HEARD RUTH SPEAK ABOUT IT, AND SHE SAID YOU DO IT WITH A GOOD HEART, IN A GOOD WAY.

AND I TAKE THOSE WORDS AS THE WORDS TO GUIDE HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THIS ENTIRE EXHIBIT AND SOME THINGS MAY STILL BE UNKNOWABLE OR UNKNOWN, BUT WE GO WITH FAITH, WITH A GOOD HEART, IN A GOOD WAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK INTENTION HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE OUTCOME AND ALSO WHETHER -- TO AVOID SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE PAST WITH EXPLOITATION.

THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS RELATIONSHIP SEEMS LIKE FROM THE OUTSIDE IN.

I THINK YOU'RE BOTH BRAVE FOR TAKING IT ON.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ON THE HAPA FRONT, WHAT KINDS OF THINGS YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST AND IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS SORT OF THING OR HAVE AN ARCHIVE OF THINGS THEY WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU, WHAT CAN THEY DO AND HOW CAN THEY GET MORE INVOLVED?

>> YES, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE ACTIVELY COLLECTING MATERIALS.

IN FACT, I DO WANT TO MENTION THE SALMON CREEK COMMUNITY AND THANK THEM.

THEY'VE JUST DONATED THEIR ENTIRE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ARCHIVES TO OUR ORGANIZATION, AND SO WE'RE DILIGENTLY WORKING THROUGH THOSE MATERIALS.

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MATERIALS THAT ARE OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE HERE, AGAIN, FROM THE 1960S ONWARDS IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY, THEN PLEASE DO REACH OUT TO US.

THE BEST WAY IS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE .humboldtareaarchive.org, AND THERE'S CONTACT INFORMATION THERE.

WE CAN ALSO BE REACHED BY FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM.

AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PASSIONATE ABOUT PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF THIS REGION IN ALL ITS MULTIPLE FACETS.

BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD AND FIND SOLUTIONS, ESPECIALLY COLLABORATIVE SOLUTIONS MOVING FORWARD, TO BE ABLE TO REACH INTO THE RICHNESS OF OUR OWN PAST.

AND SOME OF THE EXAMPLES WE HAVE OF ACTIVISM AND OF QUESTIONING MAINSTREAM WAYS OF DOING THINGS AND FINDING PERHAPS MORE COMMUNAL SOLUTIONS.

SO THAT'S ALL PART OF WHAT WE DO.

AND AGAIN GOING TO OUR WEBSITE IS THE BEST WAY TO CONNECT WITH US.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU ARE COVERING AND COLLECTING STUFF ABOUT WERE OFTEN CONTENTIOUS IN THEIR MOMENTS.

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE A LARGE PART OF THIS MIGHT JUST BE HEALING AND THE REVIEWING OF THE HISTORY FOR BOTH SIDES.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT -- WOULD YOU SAY THAT THESE COLLECTIONS ARE COLLECTED FOR A PARTICULAR GROUP OR FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TO EXAMINE AS A WHOLE?

>> I HOPE THAT IT IS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

AND THERE IS NO SAINTS IN HISTORY.

AND SO WE DO WELL TO LOOK DEEPLY AT BOTH THOSE WE HAVE A NATURAL INCLINATION TO ADMIRE AND QUESTION THEM AND PERHAPS WE HAVE AN INCLINATION TO REJECT OR CRITICIZE AND TO QUESTION THAT AS WELL.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE HISTORICAL MATERIALS, IT'S YOUR FIRSTHAND EVIDENCE TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS PAST.

SO HEALING, I HOPE SO.

CERTAINLY AN OPENING UP AND A SHARING AND THEN LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON A PATH FORWARD.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE -- I GUESS I SHOULD JUST ASK THE QUESTION.

ARE YOU GUYS DOING A LOT OF THESE PRESENTATIONS?

THIS IS THE FIRST ONE I'VE REALLY BEEN ALERTED TO, BUT I LOVE ORAL HISTORIES.

I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY FOR PEOPLE TO ENCOUNTER HISTORY.

AND SO ARE THERE MORE OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS PLANNED OR IS IT JUST AS PEOPLE COME TO YOU?

>> YES, THERE ARE BOTH MORE PLANNED AND WHEN PEOPLE COME TO US, WE CAN ALSO DEVELOP MORE PROJECTS.

BUT IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK MORE TO THE EXHIBIT THAT WE'RE DOING HERE COLLABORATIVELY WITH BEAR RIVER BAND.

WE WANT TO REALLY EXPAND ON IT AND HAVE A MUCH LARGER EXHIBIT IN THE FALL AND WE'RE WORKING ON SECURING FUNDING FOR THAT.

AND WE WANT TO HAVE A GREATER SECTION OF ORAL HISTORIES AS PART OF THAT.

AND PERHAPS HAVE A GREATER EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT AS WELL.

SO THAT'S VERY MUCH PART OF IT.

HEARING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO READ THEIR OWN WORDS IS REALLY A GREAT WAY TO PASS ON, TO TRANSMIT HISTORY WITHOUT PUTTING ONE'S SELF IN THE WAY.

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE NEXUS OF HISTORY BUT THEN THIS GENERATION, TRYING TO RECONSTRUCT.

SO A STRANGE MOMENT THAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND SCARY, I WOULD IMAGINE, BUT ALSO EXHILARATING.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT -- I KIND OF TOUCHED ON THIS IN THE FIRST QUESTION, BUT WHAT RISK IS THERE FOR A NATIVE WOMAN OR A NATIVE MAN TO SHARE THIS KIND OF STUFF WITH THE COMMUNITY?

AND HOW DID YOU SATISFY YOURSELF COMING INTO THIS THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN OKAY TIME TO SHARE, THAT YOU COULD TRUST THIS PROCESS TO BE NOT EXPLOITATIVE?

>> THAT'S WHERE I CHECK IN WITH MY SPIRIT HELPER FOR THAT.

I WALK WITH CREATOR, SO I LET HIM GUIDE MY PATH AND LET HIM SPEAK FOR ME WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, RIGHT?

SO IN THE MOMENT, I CHECK WITH MY SPIRIT HELPER.

IF MY SPIRIT HELPER IS TELLING ME NOT TO SHARE SOMETHING, THEN I WON'T.

BUT A LOT OF THE TIMES, I DON'T LEAVE IT UP TO MY OWN THOUGHTS TO SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

I LET IT BE WHAT IT IS.

I LET CREATOR GUIDE ME.

LIKE, WHEN THIS CEREMONY HAPPENED, I HAD A LOT OF DOUBTS, BECAUSE IT WAS SCARY.

BUT I JUST HAD FAITH THAT CREATOR PUT ME IN THIS POSITION TO BE THIS PERSON FOR MY PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS.

AND, OF COURSE, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THAT'S OUT OF ANYBODY'S CONTROL.

AND THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN AVOID THAT CONSEQUENCE, RIGHT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT'S INTERESTING.

WE HAVE TWO MINUTES LEFT, AND ONE OF THE ANECDOTES YOU TOLD ME BEFORE THE SHOW WAS THAT DRESS THAT WAS UP THERE WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU PERSONALLY AND YOU'VE HAD YOUR ARMS OUTSTRETCHED DURING THAT VIDEO.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT?

AND WHAT WAS THAT RISK IN THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT?

>> YEAH, SO IN THAT VIDEO WHEN I WAS SINGING, I WAS SENDING THAT PRAYER UP ...

SO WHEN I SING MY SONGS, I DON'T JUST SING MY SONGS FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY THEM.

I SING THEM WITH A PURPOSE AND INTENT BEHIND THEM.

FOR ME, EVERY MOVEMENT, EVERY ACTION HAS AN IMPACT ON THAT PRAYER.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS DOING.

I WAS JUST SENDING MY PRAYER UP AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO, AS FAR OUT AS IT COULD GO, AND JUST GOING WITH IT.

>> AND THERE WAS A MOMENT YOU WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE DRESS TOO?

>> YES, I THOUGHT THE DRESS WAS GOING TO FALL DOWN!

PLEASE DON'T FALL, PLEASE DON'T FALL, YOU'RE STRONG, YOU CAN DO THIS!

>> AND THAT'S YOUR DAUGHTER'S DRESS?

>> YES.

>> HOW MANY HOURS WENT INTO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT DRESS?

>> A LOT OF HOURS!

>> I BET!

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

WELL, THANK YOU, GUYS.

THIS IS AN IMPACTFUL DISCUSSION AND I'M FLATTERED THAT YOU GUYS BROUGHT IT TO US AND ANYTHING I CAN DO IN THE FUTURE -- PLEASE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD JUST AS A REMINDER IF EVERYBODY TO PLEASE COME TO THE GRAND OPENING OF THE EXHIBIT, SO THAT'S AT ARTS ALIVE SATURDAY, APRIL 6TH AT 6 p.m. AT THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY VISITORS BUREAU, 422-1ST STREET.

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR REPEATING THAT.

THANK YOU, GUYS.

I APPRECIATE IT AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANKS.

>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS EVENING.

AS A FINAL REMINDER, THE PEOPLE'S ARCHIVE WILL HOST THE GRAND OPENING OF THE ORAL HISTORIES EXHIBIT AT 6 p.m. ON APRIL 6TH AT 422-1ST STREET IN EUREKA.

STAY TUNED, STAY INFORMED.

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