Among the Athapaskan peoples of southern Oregon and northern California, there are world renewal ceremonies.  These ceremonies take place over 10 days and involve increasingly extravagant displays of wealth. Beginning with pine nut adorned regalia and necklaces, the progression is to dentalium adored regalia. The ceremonies are highly stylized involving dancing and songs that call on ancestors to help people in the new year, to bring a good smelt harvest and to balance and renew the world for the health and welfare of the people and their environment. For over 100 years the traditional lifestyles for this area of the … Continue reading Renewing the World