Natural and Cultural History of Our Region

Week of August 13, 2022

Join Mike Wilken for an Interpretive Nature Walk (1.5 hs) on Saturday.

Where Am I?  The Fascinating Natural and Cultural History of Tecate, Baja California and Mexico
Have you ever been curious to know more about Tecate, Baja California, Mexico? Michael Wilken takes us on a whirlwind journey from ancient times to the present, including the formation of the peninsula of Baja California millions of years ago, the indigenous ancestors who thrived in local landscapes, the prehistoric civilizations of mainland Mexico, the history of European conquest and colonization, struggles for independence and revolution, the wild frontier of Tecate and Baja California, and the emergence of the modern republic of Mexico.

 

Native Plants and Native Peoples of this Land
For thousands of years, native peoples have made their homes in the coasts, valleys, mountains and deserts of northern Baja California and southern California. Through lifetimes of interactions with native plants in the diverse landscapes of the region, they have continuously refined their botanical knowledge, passing it on from generation to generation. Today, many Kumeyaay Indians in the far-flung ranches of northern Baja California still regularly practice the skills necessary to transform native plants into food, medicine, arts, tools, regalia, construction materials, and ceremonial items, among others. Native Plants and Native Peoples of this Land explores the remarkable interdependence between peoples and plants of the Californias through vivid photographs and lively narratives. Wilken provides in-depth descriptions of many native plants growing around Rancho La Puerta and their uses, along with fascinating archaeological and historical background, descriptions from early explorers, and stories from living Kumeyaay plant specialists. Out of this comprehensive perspective emerges a fascinating portrait of the region’s ancestral peoples, their cultures, and the native plant specialists who have enthusiastically shared their ever-relevant wisdom for future generations.

 

 

 

Anthropologist and author Michael Wilken’s research and advocacy work with Native Baja Californians has explored traditional arts (pottery, basketry, oral narratives and song), ethnobotany, history, languages and cultural landscapes of the indigenous peoples of the northern Baja California region.  He has developed lifelong collaborative relationships with native artists and traditional authorities to foster cultural revitalization and sustainable community development. Wilken’s fascination with native plants and the natural landscapes of the Californias has inspired him to explore the many ways that humans have interacted with their environments, from the ancient past, into the present. His book, Kumeyaay Ethnobotany was published in 2017 and is available at the Mercado.