Radio Curious visits with Lila Johnston, Stanford student who is documenting the sacred sites of the Winnemem Wintu in Northern California.
Barry Vogel, Attorney and Counselor is the Host and Producer of Radio Curious. Christina Aanestad is the Assistant Producer.
The Winnemen Wintu people of California, having lived near Mount Shasta, along a tributary of the McCloud River for over 10,000 years celebrate the Balas Chonas, or Puberty Ceremony when girls mature into women. The ceremony celebrate on July 3, 2012 was extraordinary, when Balas Chonas was celebrated for the next Winnemem Wintu spiritual leader. However, the Balas Chonas ceremonies may come to an end, if the United States government continues with a plan to raise Shasta Dam and flood out most of the tribes remaining sacred sites.
Our guest is Lila Johnston, currently a student of Race and Ethnicity at Stanford University who is documenting the culture and sacred sites of the Winnemem Wintu.
Christina Aanestad the Assistant Producer of Radio Curious visited with Lila Johnston at the July 3rd, 2012 Balas Chonas. They began their conversation when Christina asked Lila how many sacred sites the Winnemem Wintu have along the McCloud River.
The book Lila Johnston recommends is âThe Red Tent,â by Anita Diamont.
Radio Curious is a half-hour, weekly, long-form interview program, now in it's 22nd year. We interview people on a curiously wide variety of topics about life and ideas. Our website is www.radiocurious.org. If your station airs Radio Curious please let us know curious@radiocurious.org, we will add you to our list of syndicate stations. We also welcome questions, feedback and program ideas. Radio Curious 280 N. Oak St. Ukiah, Ca 95482. (707) 462-6541.
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