Sequoia National Park hosts Go Native event

SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS – The Sequoia Parks Conservancy in collaboration with local tribal representatives will be holding Go Native — A Native American Cultural Celebration — 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Foothills Picnic Area across the highway from the Foothills Visitor Center in Sequoia National Park.

Go Native, organized annually in Tulare County since 2009, is a family-friendly event highlighting traditional local cultural practices and handi-crafts.

“Bringing our traditional practices to the Parks is a great way to bring awareness to the public and to share our love and guardianship of the land with others,” said Jennifer Malone, event organizer and local Wukchumni Yokuts Callifornia Native American teacher and demonstrator. “We’re hoping this is the first of many Go Native events in Sequoia National Park.”

The event will open with a cultural blessing, drumming and Yokuts history. Demonstrations include tule decoy ducks, dice games, walnut dice, soapstone carving, clapsticks, cordage, pole and hoop game, pine needle baskets, miniature cradleboards and finger wearving.

Jessie Russett, Tribal Liaison for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is looking forward to the event. “It’s the first time we’re hosting it and it will be a great way to begin to bring back these traditional cultural practices into the ancestral homelands of our local California Native people.”

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Go Native is an opportunity for park visitors to gain a better understanding of this subject directly from local tribes.”

The event is free and open to the public.