In the first and second segments of this five-part interview, Joey Iyolopixtli Torres shares with Kakoli Mitra the origin story and journey of his people, the Muwekma Ohlone of the San Francisco Bay Area (California, United States). Iyolopixtli talks about how the Muwekma are a part of Mother Earth, spiritually connected to the various fish, animals, plants, birds, waters, mud, and shells of their lands and places; they are not separate from other living beings and non-living beings. He explains how their dances and those of fellow Native American peoples carry healing powers, have deep cultural significance, and are medicine. “Medicine means to do good…. The people are the medicine,” he says. Iyolopixtli narrates the creation story of the Muwekma, a story that centers on Coyote, who lived on the northern side of Tuyshtak (now called Mount Diablo, near the Bay Area). He also describes how the Muwekma developed many types of Knowledge-Technologies-Practices (Knowtep) revolving around tule (reed), including the engineering of boats, baskets, and bowls.

Continued... (scroll to below the bibliography to access next part)