MARSH OF THE ORACLES
The Reed People
1983
by Eric Whollem
mixed media on paper
11" x 8.5"
Collection of the Artist
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
THE REED BOAT PEOPLE
Many of the early peoples of California were Reed Boat People,
which is to say, from cultures that relate historically to the reed
boat builders of Mesoamerica to the south. The painting, 'Marsh of
the Oracles' pictographically renders an image of marshlands.
The Mayans and Peruvians are famous for building boats
made from reeds. The early Spanish explorers to California
saw many reed boats dotting the San Francisco Bay when
they first arrived.
The Coastanoan Indians, now mostly extinct, were reed boat
builders. But inland groups, such as the Maidu Indians, were
also Reed Boat People. The Maidu are believed by some to
be distant relatives of the Mayans, said to have migrated to
California via a route through Utah.
I lived in close proximity to the Maidu for many years, having
lived at Black Earth Village in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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Readers interested in my contact with the MAIDU may want to see these posts:
Concow Maidu Indian Video
See my posts on ANTHROPOLOGY:
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