From Thursday, July 26th to Saturday, July 28th, the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians celebrated their heritage with a vibrant Tule Boat Festival in Clear Lake, CA. On Thursday, the festival kicked off with a hands-on harvest of tule reeds at Clear Lake State Park. This activity connected participants with the traditional materials essential for tule boat crafting.
Friday featured the intricate process of tule boat creation, where skilled artisans demonstrated their craft. The day also included a variety of activities, with booths from tribes, agencies, and vendors. FlowWest Co-Founder Anthony Falzone hosted a “Make a Wetland” activity, offering an engaging way to learn about wetland ecosystems at the FlowWest booth.
Tule Boat Weaving
Friday featured the intricate process of tule boat creation, where skilled artisans demonstrated their craft. Tule are braided and formed into boats.
Additionally, FlowWest shared information highlighting work in the Clear lake Basin. The festivities continued with traditional dances, film festival, and tule boat paddle on Saturday.
