While some have been taught portions of Native American history while attending school, there are many other interesting things to learn about Native Americans, especially the various tribes within California. This past weekend, Joy Loree (Wadsworth) Sweger, historian and genealogist, took the audience that gathered at the Riverbank Historical Museum on a journey to investigate some of the tribes that have lived in California for multiple generations.

Dressed in a traditional red dress adorned with handmade jewelry, Sweger shared stories about how women in the tribes made skirts from plant reeds to keep them cool during the hot summers to sewing blankets out of rabbit skins to keep their families warm during the long winters. She introduced many artifacts to the crowd including a tureen for holding water, a blow dart that could be used to defend against predators and a drum that was used to make music to dance and honor the creator.

Among the many that attended the Saturday morning program, local folks that represented various tribes shared their questions and unique histories during the presentation. Max Vallo, a longtime resident of Riverbank, was there to represent the Pueblo Tribe and shared that he is the only one of his family that was not born on a reservation. Other local residents represented the Choctaw, Cherokee, Otoe-Missouria and Me-Wuk Tribes as well.

Sweger expressed enthusiasm for many of the traditions that the Native Americans brought to life but she also shared that she is worried about how Native American language and culture is disappearing. Sweger encouraged the audience to continue learning more about their Native American history and their connection to California.

For more information about the presentations that Sweger offers and to find out about upcoming events at the museum, email the Riverbank Historical Society at: riverbankhistorical@gmail.com