POMO PROJECT
SEBASTOPOL SANTA ROSA
Sonoma County
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OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Pomo Honoring Month emphasizes awareness of Pomo history
and building bridges for future generations.
Pomo wisdom traditions hold value
for resolving contemporary challenges.
We support Pomo people having an active voice in public policy,
including development, education, culture, and vision.
Not affiliated with any specific tribal group, we value collaboration
with all Pomo people toward reconciliation and understanding.
As the artists talked about the project, people in the community quickly became enthusiastic about the need to understand Pomo history and culture, and to involve Pomo people in decision making processes as we work toward sustainability, justice, and harmony. Many people expressed a desire for education and reconciliation. As our ideas became bigger than our ability to organize, we recognized the need for an annual celebration, and are grateful that the Sebastopol City Council agreed.
"Flickerbird" ©Sandy Eastoak 2022
The Pomo Project was initiated by Armando Williams when he visited Sebastopol Gallery and was moved by the Native content in Sandy Eastoak's featured work. Other Sebastopol Gallery artists soon joined in and gallery members voted to set aside their Fall, 2010, rotation to show work from the Pomo Project. Armando would help the artists learn about Pomo culture and medicine ways, introduce them to Pomo elders and ceremony and trust them to create work reflecting and honoring the Pomo way of life.
Original Pomo Baskets © Buffie Schmidt 2022
A HISTORY OF HONORING
The Sebastopol City Council resolved that each October to be Pomo Honoring Month,
celebrating the continued presence and enduring culture of the Pomo people.
Annual Pomo Honoring Month - Resolution #5793
PASSED, APPROVED & ADOPTED this 4th day of May, 2010, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Robinson, Shaffer, Kelley, Vice Mayor Wilson and Mayor Gurney
NOES: None • ABSTAIN: None • ABSENT: None
(Signed by) SARAH GLADE GURNEY, MAYOR • (Attested by) MARY GOURLEY, CITY CLERK
Recognition of Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria - Resolution #5818
On September 21, 2010, the Sebastopol City Council voted to adopt a resolution
specifically recognizing the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria as representing the
descendants of our area's original inhabitants.
READ FULL RESOLUTION
Honoring and celebrating the contributions of the Indigenous people of our area, we are in our 13th year of bringing free educational events to Sonoma County. The Pomo people have lived here for thousands of years, and “Pomo Country” extends through a significant area of Northern California, including
Sonoma County, Mendocino and Lake Counties.
Every year since 2010, we’ve hosted Pomo Honoring Month in October. Pomo Honoring Month has included basket weaving workshops, history lectures, beading workshops, art exhibits, radio shows, plays, and an Elders’ Forum and has also brought the Pomo Dancers of Sonoma County to downtown Sebastopol and Petaluma.
We are a small community-based organization. We rely upon donations to continue presenting these wonderful events.Your donations pay for publicity, food, workshop materials, honorariums for presenters.They also provide gas for transportation for the dancers who sometimes travel long
distances to participate. Our leadership team is comprised of all volunteers,
including Pomo and non-Pomo people.
OUR CO-ORDINATING TEAM
Rose Hammock
A leader in the Pomo Youth Dancers and an inspiration to many students, she strongly supports others on their educational and vocational paths. Rose offers California Indian history presentations at preschool and elementary schools throughout Sonoma County.
rosehammock2017@gmail.com
