Fort Ross State Historic Park is Going Back to the Future

Kashaya Pomo Dancing Today

Arthur Jacobs in Entertainment. Discussion »

FORT ROSS, CALIFORNIA – Today visitors attending the "Fort Ross Winter Celebration" will have the opportunity to go back to the future with dancing by members of the Kashaya Pomo in full regalia in the fort compound.

From Marin to Sonoma was the original land of the Coast Miwok and Kashaya Pomo

The Northern part of the West Coast of California from Marin to Sonoma was the original land of the Coast Miwok and Kashaya Pomo. Before the European people claimed California as their 'God given right' the Russian and Alaskan explorers had established Fort Ross.

The Russian explorers worked with the indigenous people; they hired them and paid them for their labor. They treated the Natives with respect and friendship because they understood they - the Russians - were the alien people.

The Russians built a windmill (old technology that is making a comeback today).

Respect and Friendship

The original windmill built in 1841 by Ilya Gavrilovich is gone, but Russia gave them a new one just last year. It was constructed in Vologda Oblast in Russia, and then disassembled, and shipped to California, and was trucked to Fort Ross in September, 2012, as part of the Fort Ross Bicentennial. Several members of the Kashaya Pomo were part of the official delegation that made the trip last year in honor of this special gift.

The Kashaya Pomo still live in the region and have an office in Santa Rosa, California.

Today come and join us at noon as we turn the windmill to keep it moving smoothly. There will be park people dressed in old Russian outfits and the Kashaya Pomo will be there blessing the land and people, as they did in the past.

WHAT:
Fort Ross Winter Celebration

WHEN:
Saturday, January 19
Program begins at Noon
Kashaya Pomo dancing at 12:30 pm, pst

WHERE:
Fort Ross Conservancy
19005 Coast Highway One
Jenner, California 95450

photo credit Paul C. Miller;
posted January 19, 2013 7:50 am est