As early as 1995, video clips were introduced on our website. To see earlier work in video, go back to the home page and select framed "home" page (yes we kinda have two home pages) anyway - find the "Multimedia Gallery" and go there. These clips will work with QuickTime versions previous to 3.0.

California's Sesquicentennial (1850-2000) is a study in imagery and mythology creating itself. The "romantic" Missions, the "glorious" gold rush, indeed, the whole "golden west" image builds on a stack of myths and serves to reinforce attitudes toward the Indigenous Californians - misnomered "Indians" - that have served over the most recent 150 years to justify butchery, extermination, and incredible ignorance. It is ironic, at least, that this systemic, engineered, program is so embedded here, at the heart of the world's information age, [and] the heart of Costanoan Territory. We trust that our use of this technology and the essential character of living Native Californians bring an outlook to the prevailing Euro-American world view that encourages some introspection and a critical look at where we have been and where we are going.

Much of this project is centered around Indian Canyon, the only Ohlone land in native hands. Located near Hollister, California in the Gavilan Mountain Range. This land is held in Federal Trust by Ann Marie Sayers. This website was conceived and developed by myself, Russ Imrie, after I became involved at the canyon during an internship as a student at UCSC in the Community Studies Major.

In addition to Indian Canyon, this project includes video from the Wiyot Table Bluff Reservation in Loleta (near Eureka),California. Wiyot Tribal Chair Cheryl Seidner worked with us. Dr. Darryl "Babe" Wilson Ph.D. is with us too. He shares educational and civic projects, including his experience in his traditional homeland near Mt. Shasta. Patrick Orozco lives in Watsonville on Monterey Bay and is also featured in his activities teaching the younger generation and actively interacting with the Euro-American authorities on matters of respecting sacred sites. The Pomo people of the Clear Lake area are revitalizing their culture and amazing classes have been held at their educational center. Focusing on writing skills and describing their experience, the class was filmed in May ('99) learning Pomo history as told by Pomo people at the Robinson Rancheria.

Those who have passed are with us also. June Legrand passed at Indian Canyon some time ago. Grandma Bernice Torres, Southwestern Pomo Medicine Woman and storyteller lent spirit to us. A youth with no name whose resting place was torn up by plowing on the old village site adjacent to Indian Canyon , and who was reinterred with due ceremony by living natives made his presence felt. A young man with a name, Paul Sakaroniat Imrie, my son, passed recently. Thank you Patrick for the ceremony.

About the native community and Indian Canyon:

Many San Francisco Bay Area people of various tribal affiliations avail themselves of the land at Indian Canyon for community and spiritual nourishment. Ann Marie makes her land available for those would practice ceremony on Native Land, as they have done at the canyon for thousands of years throughout real American History. Many viewpoints and levels of commitment are in place there. They all lend their spirit to the work and community.

Over the past five years, we have accumulated equipment and knowledge that enable this project. Some of course, has been donated and much has been purchased in a commitment to "ownership"of our own histories and heritage. Video may not seem very "Indian" to you (or it might) and getting it up here on the web is a tedious and resource-intensive process. The vitality of it is undeniable and many of us seize on this opportunity to speak on our concerns and the world we share, today. Many, many individuals have contributed time, inspiration and encouragement intentionally or otherwise to this work. UCSC steadfastly held our files open and available to the net for 4 1/2 years. We thank them all and our thanks too, to the "virtual" visitors to Indian Canyon, Costanoan Territory and Native California. April 22, 1999.

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How these pages work....

At the left is a menu section that will take you to specific sections (which will be viewed in the center window). This site is focused on people and that is how the sections are set up. There is also a "mail" link for comments and e-mail to us. Hake! I almost forgot... a button to go "Home".

For example, selecting "Ann Marie Sayers" will open a page in the center. Links in that page would link to and begin videos of Ann Marie taped at Indian canyon and other sites. There will also be text describing the video segments, comments and so on. You can read this while the videos are downloading over your web connection.