Rowan Bolton

Some songs are tied to seasons or times of day. This Morning Song was performed because of the time of day.

Some songs or stories are attached to specific geographic locations. This King Snake song was performed because of the prevalence of King Snakes in the area.

A song about Bigfoot, a spirit recorded by various Yokuts groups throughout California's Great Valley, although mostly associated with the Tule River Tribe. Elder "Goose" exclaims that this song is his favorite.

The Atwell Islands were also the site of Wowol village, home to the Wowol, or Beaver, people. Kenny descends from Wowol village. They earned this name by being "water-people" who lived on islands at the Southern end of the lake. During the California Genocide, the Wowol people consolidated with the Tachi on the Northern side of the lake for safety.

Various songs are performed during sweat-lodge rituals. The Sweat Lodge is an important tradition, taught to humans by Noho (Bear). Men sweat before hunts, which prevents animals from sensing the scent of humans. Sweating is also a way to heal diseases and remove spiritual impurities.

Not all the songs performed were passed down from ancestors. As part of cultural revitalization, new songs may be composed to reflect changing needs and a dynamic culture. This song was composed by Kenny to celebrate the return of tribal waters during a slough restoration project; shortly thereafter major flooding woke Pa'ashi up again.

Elder Teresa performs a song that she recalls from her youth, an Elder's blessing about the Four Directions. Each of the four directions has cosmological significance. For example, to the West there are hills (the Coast Ranges) that separate us from the ocean, and to the East there are great mountains (the Sierra Nevada) beyond which gods may live.

A doctoring, or healing, song. The clap-stick instrument can be heard in this song - the clap-stick made of elderberry wood is considered to be the "first medicine." Elderberry is also used in medicinal teas and other treatments.

Kenny and Cultural department staff perform a song about Kiyu (Coyote). Kiyu is an important figure: his mischief is responsible for many natural phenomena; he is a symbol of resilience and survival.

Kenny and other Cultural Dept staff perform the UCLA research team's "traditional deer song" and "traditional bear song." One of the researchers, Rowan, responds with the "traditional spider song." These jokes served to lighten the mood, but also pointed out the formalized observer/observed dynamic in academic research. Many of the indigenous songs performed for researchers are children's' songs, but are treated with great reverence by researchers due to a colonial past that sought to erase these traditions.