This past weekend, I had the good fortune to be in Sacramento during the Annual Indian Art & Crafts Market at the California State Indian Museum. This is a small but wonderful museum which sits at the corner of the property just outside Sutter's Fort State Historic Park in the heart of Sacramento.
California Indian cultural items in the museum include fabulous collections of basketry, beadwork, clothing and exhibits about the ongoing traditions of various California Indian tribes. Descendants of the first Californians, tens of thousands of them, still live in California and still cherish and carry on their unique cultural heritage. Indigenous people have donated many photographs of family, friends and memorable times for use in the museum. A section of the museum features a hands-on area, where visitors can try their hand at using Indian tools, such as the pump drill, used for making holes in shell beads and other materials; the mortar and pestle and soap root brush, made from the soap root plant, all used for grinding acorns.
The event showcased about 15 artists or families who came from all over California.
There I met Chuck Snell and his wife who sell traditional shell jewelry and supplies for making your own jewelry. Their dentalium shell necklaces are a popular item in the museum's gift shop. I was able to purchase from them some of these necklaces as well as a selection of abalone earrings.
This jewelry is simple, elegant, timeless and very affordable. It will make a spectacular addition to our store at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
To read more about the dentalium shells and their significance in the Native American cultures, read this interesting article.
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