Speaker: Redbird (Edward Willie) | Air Date: January 4, 2020 | Run Time: 36mins | The Native Seed Pod: Season 2
Rekindling Native California Ecologies - Part 1
After a full day of harvesting, teachings, and community during The Cultural Conservancy’s annual Harvest Day, Melissa Nelson catches up with knowledge-keeper Redbird (Edward Willie) on the beautiful back acres of our partner, Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden in Novato, California. Redbird walks us gently through the changes to this land, the importance of certain plants and animals to the first peoples of this area, and the realities, responsibilities, and roles immigrants to California must take on to be in good relation with native California.
Redbird weaving with Tule reeds
““When I come up to these spots, I just see everything that needs to be done. It’s just been mishandled and misused…One of the first things that comes to mind is:
this place needs a burn.””
Redbird and Melissa Nelson oversee willow coppicing at Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden.
About Redbird
Edward Willie, a true Native of California—Pomo, Wintu, Paiute, and Wailaki—is a native ecologist and Traditional Ecological Knowledge keeper in the realms of traditional skills, permaculture, basket weaving, herbalism, and regalia making. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Native Studies, Redbird continued a self-education fueled by his desire to uncover and rekindle the cultural earth-based knowledge of California Indians. Also an artist—drawing, painting, and sculpture—Redbird has been a core organizer of the annual Buckeye Gathering, a gathering in support of ancestral arts held in Northern California.
The Cultural Conservancy’s Media Director, Mateo Hinojosa, prepares to record Redbird
Additional Resources
Interview: Mindful Foraging
May 2018, Pacific Sun
Interview: Lessons from a Fire Ecology
April 2018, Made Local Magazine
“Fire Forward: Building Ecosystem Resilience Together” - Controlled Burning information for Sonoma County in Audobon Canyon Ranch’s Conservation in Action
CREDITS
Host/Writer/Director: Melissa K. Nelson
Producer: Sara Moncada
Co-producer and photographer: Mateo Hinojosa
Audio Editor and Engineer: Colin Farish
Production Assistant: Teo Montoya
Additional Photography: Melissa K. Nelson
Songs (in order of appearance):
Californian Indian Songs by Kanyon Sayer-Roods (Mutsun Ohlone/Chumash)
California bird songs by Tuvan Women Throat Singers