Dennis Osmer looks at a model of an Ohlone Indian village that sits on the fourth floor of the Civic Plaza Wednesday before going to a Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency meeting. (Photo by Jon Chown)

Those visiting the fourth floor of the Watsonville Civic Plaza this week might have noticed a model Ohlone village sitting on a table outside City Council Chambers. A group that calls itself United People of the Land Advisory Team will be using that model when it asks the City Council for a small piece of land to create a park to develop the village.

The Land Advisory Team wants to team up with the City of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County Native American organizations and other supporters to create a space in South County where Native American culture can be on display for the education and enrichment of the community.

The Ohlone village would contain a “tok” (arbor) to hold dance presentations and other special gatherings, a “ruc” (dwelling) and “ruka” (kitchen) for demonstrating and teaching Native American skills such as basket-weaving and flint-making, and a prayer lodge for spiritual lessons and other activities.

The project would also include native-plant restoration and buildings for regular community use, such as a meeting room and a bathroom. Patrick Orozco, an Ohlone Indian and the man behind the Pajaro Valley Ohlone Indian Council, said the site would host festivals, powwows and other Native American-oriented events and could serve as a hub for the local Native American community. It would also serve as an educational resource for local schools, hosting classroom visits. Orozco said he had been working with schools and classrooms for more than 30 years.

For the complete article see the 02-06-2010 issue.

Click here to purchase an electronic version of the 02-06-2010 paper.

Share on Facebook