September 14, 2011

Boy Scouts build Chumash village

Boy Scouts Help Build Chumash Village

The reproduction of a local Native American village will be the newest exhibit at the Leonis Adobe Museum.

By Arin Mikailian
A group of boy scouts are helping recreate a Chumash village at Calabasas Creek Park that will one day be the newest exhibit at the neighboring Leonis Adobe Museum.

"The newly constructed Chumash Village is probably located on or very near the original Chumash settlement," said Museum Director Diane Ramadan, who came up with the idea for the project, in a press release.

Boy scout Jason Scott-Sheets was looking for his latest volunteer effort when he heard about the museum's venture and decided to help out.

"To earn my Eagle Scout Badge, I decided to research, design and build an authentic Chumash village,” said the 16-year-old, who attends Chaminade High School, in a press release.
Chumash settlement under construction in Calabasas

By Lois JulienLeonis Adobe Museum says construction has begun on a Chumash village at Calabasas Creek Park.

Jason Scott-Sheets and members of Boy Scout Troop 127 have begun building ramadas, granary stands, a drying rack, dance fence and fire circle at the park adjacent to Leonis Adobe Museum in Old Town Calabasas.

Native American tribes, including the Chumash and the Tongva, lived throughout Southern California for thousands of years prior to the first European contact. Spanish explorers and missionaries reported seeing a Native American settlement along Calabasas Creek when they rode through the valley in the 1700s.

“The newly constructed Chumash Village is probably located on or very near the original Chumash settlement,” said Diane Ramadan, Leonis Adobe museum director.
Comment:  Compare this to the Boy Scouts who dress up and dance as Indians. This kind of activity is infinitely preferable. It teaches the boys about Indians without confusing them or the public about who is an Indian.

For more on Boy Scouts and Indians, see Boy Scout Dances at Powwows and Boy Scout "Indian Dance Teams."

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