Red - Contoured Tübatulabal Line

Contoured

Red black and white

Size 34x40

Let’s get some history

The Tübatulabal are an indigenous people of Kern River Valley in the Sierra Nevada range of California. They may have been the first people to make this area their permanent home. Today many of them are enrolled in the Tule River Indian Tribe.They are descendants of the people of the Uto-Aztecan language group, separating from Shoshone people about 3000 years ago.

The Tubatulabal people of the Kern river valley have survived historical trauma. Of the three bands of the Tubatulabal, the Pahkanapul were the only ones to survive the Whiskey flats Massacre of 1863. 35–40 tubatulabal people were lined and up and shot dead by the U.S. Cavalry led by Captain McLaughlin.The Tubatulabal tribe was almost wiped out because most were adult men who died in the massacre. "They never seemed to blame the local whites or act vengeful towards those who had made such a change in their lives."In an interview with one of the tribe members about the massacre conducted for a study stated " That morning the soldiers killed our people it caused a lot of heartache to our people physically, emotionally, and mentally. They took away all our people who tell stories, who could read the stars at night, who could farm. They took away all our old traditions, our songs, our language, and our pride. It affected us a lot. Even to this day it affects us."

Today, the Tübatulabal tribe is seeking federal recognition. They have an office located in Mountain Mesa, California, and include descendants of several tribal families who were awarded allotment lands under the US Dawes Allotment Act 1887. Tribal membership is at 287 members, however, a new open enrollment process has been established as of October 2022. The tribe estimates about 400–600 total members.

Yes they were granted land but let me tell you about it as I have personally been there. It’s where Nana lived until she moved here with us. It’s on the side of a Rocky Mountain, no running water, no septic and no electricity.

Nana had to pay to have septic put in, electricity was too much to run from street given it was almost a mile to street. So they ran solar panels and a generator. Every morning Pops had to fuel up the generator just so they could turn on their lights. They finally got water ran but the water is so contaminated with arsenic it non potable. So they had to get water trucked in to a holding tank and gravity fed into house. They also didn’t have any phone service in house they had to drive almost a half mile up a dirt road to get service to call out. Lord help them if they had an emergency

So needless to say their land allotment isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s the leftover land that nobody wanted.

White Blanket not only is the land allotted it’s also the home to the gatherings that are held every year to continue to form family unity. Events that are held are Fathers Day , Easter , spiritual gatherings, celebrations of life and many other gatherings.

So what I have decided to do is create the Tübatulabal line in honor of their heritage. Every symbol has a reason, every color every pattern is made with thought and love to honor their tribe.

For every Tübatulabal blanket sold the proceeds will be donated to the White Blanket Reservation with the hopes to bring more improvements to the land and help out as needed by the Chief Stone Rocky Kevins Uncle