Sara Calvosa Olson discusses her 2023 cookbook, “Chími Nu'am: Native California Foodways for the Contemporary Kitchen,” at the Dixon Public Library.

DIXON, CA (MPG) - National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated throughout November to honor Indigenous culture, traditions and achievements, including Native Alaskan and Hawaiian communities.

Indigenous scholars, such as Seneca Native American Dr. Arthur C. Parker, advocated for Native American recognition in the public. Parker even famously proposed an “American Indian Day” in 1915. Around 1990, the United States government officially designated November as Native American Heritage Month.

Locally, Dixon was originally home to the Wintun, now called the Patwin. Patwin means “native people” in the Wintun language. This title was originally given to the Wintun by American reporter Stephen Powers in 1877. At its peak, the Wintun territory encompassed everything from Princeton to Benicia. The Wintun settled and lived alongside the land by living in willow branch huts covered in dried tule reeds, and primarily ate acorns, to turn into bread and meal, and local fish, fowl, and forest fauna, such as salmon, quail and deer.

Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park (Southern Rock Home of the Patwin People in the Hill Patwin language), uses language, artifacts and signage to emphasize the park’s connection to its native people. Photo courtesy of Solano Land Trust and Tom Muehleisen

While a peaceful lifestyle, the Wintun were unfortunately met with a great deal of tragedy. In 1848, the California Gold Rush brought many people from all walks of life to the state of California, many of whom entered the state with nothing but the clothes on their backs. These settlers also brought new diseases, the likes of which decimated the Wintun population to near extinction. By 1850, Native Californians could be owned as property. The California Government from 1851 to 1852 negotiated 18 treaties with the indigenous population, all of which were hidden and never ratified. Native people were officially given the right to be US Citizens in 1924; to put that in perspective, African Americans did not become African Americans until 1868 with the ratification of the 14th Amendment.

With Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year close at hand, this time of year can be a period of reflection that allows families to reunite and communities to come together; the Wintun, even now, have remained a central part of these communities. The Yocha Dehe for example, one of the three federally recognized Wintun tribes, were instrumental in the christening of Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park (Southern Rock Home of the Patwin People in the Hill Patwin language). In partnership with Solano Land Trust, the 1,500-acre park uses signage and hidden artifacts to honor the land and emphasize the park’s connection to its native people.

Dixon Public Library has events planned throughout November to celebrate Native American Heritage. Photo courtesy of Solano Land Trust and Tom Muehleisen

The Wintun Nation is here to stay, as are the other 100-plus federally recognized tribal nations throughout the United States. The Culture has its advocates, such as Sara Calvosa Olsen, a Bay Area native and Karuk writer who discusses indigenous cuisine as a platform to tell stories and give historical context.

For more information on the Wintun (Patwin) Nation, visit www.dixonhistoricalsociety.org; to learn more about how you can support Native American charities and projects, visit www.firstnations.org/ways-to-give/.

Also, check out the Dixon Public Library at 230 N First St. for more information.