UKIAH 12/14/2016 — The Native American heritage celebration on November 30 at the Lowery Student Center on the Ukiah campus of Mendocino College focused on healing and traditional practices. Martin Martinez, a long time Native American spiritual advisor who offers traditional ceremonies to inmates and who is the director of the social services department at Redwood Valley Rancheria, opened the event with a nuanced blessing.
“Say thank you to something negative in your life,” he advised the dozens of people who gathered for games, dancing, and the tribal history. Presenters included keynote speaker Clayton Duncan, Mendocino College President Arturo Reyes, and Paul Murguia III, a substance abuse counselor who graduated from Mendocino College. “Let those who mess with you be your spirit helpers,” Martinez went on. “To show you what you shouldn’t do in life.” As he spoke, one of the ping-pong players in the next room put down his racket and came in to hear the rest of the blessing. “Grab this ugliness and bless it,” Martinez instructed. “Tell it, the next time you show up, I’m going to bless you again.”

Keynote speaker Clayton Duncan

Leona de lat Pena with her pet bearded dragon, Mitulu

Tony Ramos
The game came to an end when the Round Valley feather Dancers emerged. The male dancers, both grown men and little boys, flipped their turkey feather capes and peered at the audience from behind masks made of flicker feathers. Female dancers of all ages gathered around them in a semi circle as musicians sang and beat drums. Finally, everyone present was invited to join the dancers, whether they were wearing regalia or not.
As Murguia observed in his talk about addiction and recovery, which included a jailhouse epiphany about helping others, “Life can be a very sad place, but there’s a lot of happiness.”
15 December 2016 Sarah Reith [email protected]