California State Indian Museum (Blog #28)

Welcome to my latest blog, which today is all about the California State Indian Museum in Sacramento, and why you should visit this small, but important collection of Native American culture. 

This isn't going to be a full account of the museum, just a taster, enough to whet your appetite and make you want to visit.

But first, a potentially controversial question: why is the museum known as the 'Indian' museum when current sensitivity and sensibility have renamed the indigenous people as Native Americans? Perhaps there are plans to rename it, but for now I'll leave the question hanging.

The California State Indian Museum showcases the diverse cultures and histories of California's Native American tribes. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring artifacts, artwork, and traditional items representing various tribes throughout the state. The museum provides educational programs, demonstrations, and events to promote understanding and appreciation of Native American heritage. 

I should point out that photography is forbidden inside the museum, hence the reason why I am not sharing images of the artifacts or collections in this blog.

The land that became known as California is home to various Native American tribes, including the Ohlone, Miwok, Pomo, and many others. These tribes have diverse cultures, languages, and traditions, and their histories stretch back thousands of years. Today, they continue to preserve their heritage through cultural practices, ceremonies, and community events.

So what will you see in the museum? There is so much to take in, but to me you'll learn about the many facets of Native American people, their culture, their traditions, both at a tribal and individual level. I particularly liked the map showing the various tribes across California, which helped me appreciate how many tribes there actually were. For me, though, the stand-out artifacts were the basketwork with their intricate patterns, their various functions, and the various materials from which they were made. 

There is so much material and information packed into this relatively small museum, too much for me to even attempt to describe or discuss here. You'll have to visit to see for yourself.

However, one aspect of the Native American's way of life deserves a special mention, which is hunting, not only hunting for food, but also using every part of every animal they killed. Nothing was wasted, which was their philosophy, and which is neatly summed up as follows:

'Take only what you need, not what you want.' (Forrest Carter)

I highly recommend this museum to anyone who knows nothing and to anyone who knows something about Native American history and culture. It really is worth the small admission fee.

I hope to see you for my next blog. You can engage with me on all my social media channels (see above).

© Mike Young 2024.