The Kumeyaay Nation.

November 12, 2003 12:52 AM

The Kumeyaay Nation of southern California. 'This Web site is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the Kumeyaay culture. Kumeyaay.com tells the story from the Kumeyaay perspective, and is the premiere source for Kumeyaay Indian information.' With an interesting history, language and culture section.
posted by plep (6 comments total)

This is nice plep! I find the creation story very interesting with its parallels in the typical Christian creation story. No mention of whether this story predates contact wth Europeans or not though.
posted by tr33hggr at 6:22 AM on November 12, 2003

I, of course, have to go to the "games & recreation" section straight off:

"Peone" is a highly competitive game of complex strategy, skill and calculation.

cutting to the chase... "The players chosen to do the guessing must then guess in which hand the white or black stick is concealed. When he or she has made up their mind they clap their hands and point to where they have decided the black or white stick should be. At the same time calling out their decision to the Koymi, or referee.

The Koymi, at the end awards tally sticks corresponding to the number of correct guesses from one side to the other. The game is won when one side wins all of the tally sticks."

Now, I take my games seriously, and this is either an almost 50/50 chance of guessing which hand holds the stick, or I have completely failed to understand the explication of the game. (However, I will say that any game that begins with building a small fire is okay by me.)
posted by taz at 6:28 AM on November 12, 2003

The Kumeyaay were one of the nations that took a severe hit during the california fires two weeks ago. I know that they were able to help a lot of other native refugees who weren't so fortunate.

Plep - ever notice how little interest there is about native americans in discussions on mefi? Nobody to blame, but if you linked to something about a corrupt casinos I am sure you would have a lot more responses... as for more native links, I say "bring 'em on..."

incidentally - when you spell check mefi, the first alternative offered is "mafia". I'm not kidding.
posted by zaelic at 10:33 AM on November 13, 2003

It's not just native americans, it's "minor peoples" (so to speak) in general. I once put about half a dozen comments on a Bashkortostan thread just to save it from the one-comment graveyard. But we must always remember that a lot of people enjoy these links even if they can't think of anything to say. I know I did.
posted by languagehat at 11:13 AM on November 13, 2003

but if you linked to something about a corrupt casinos I am sure you would have a lot more responses...

Beware the anti-Indian media message: A twisted story can become legend
posted by homunculus at 12:07 PM on November 13, 2003

But we must always remember that a lot of people enjoy these links even if they can't think of anything to say.

Like me. Thanks plep!
posted by homunculus at 12:09 PM on November 13, 2003