History & Culture Session

by Lenora Shealy

The first session of the year started on a brilliant fall morning in picturesque “Old Shasta”.  The session began with a continental breakfast in the historical old school house  built in the early 1920’s.

 Lou Gerard, our Leadership Redding historian, took us back in time to the glory days of Shasta when it was known as “The Queen’s City”.   When Shasta was the main metropolis and Redding was known as “Poverty Flats”.  He took us through time from the gold rush days, to the beginning of the railroad in Redding, through the depression era, and on to more modern times and the continual push for economic development in the Redding region.  He and his family’s long-term commitment and contributions to the area made the history more tangible and real for the audience.

We then took a short walk to the Shasta Courthouse Museum where Al Rocca, Simpson University Professor, took us on an animated and informative walk through the creation of the Shasta Dam.  His enthusiasm and awe for the colossal engineering task was infectious.  He brought with him a slide show that depicted the process and the changes that the dam brought to the Redding Region.  He was fun and informative.

Our next speaker was Lynn Fritz, a Kurak Tribal member who discussed the Native American influences in the Redding region.  We began on the beautiful grounds of the Courthouse with a Smudging Ritual.  This traditional method of cleansing brought a sense of tranquility to the group.  Then through traditional music and a video, she tried to communicate not only the influences of her people on the local culture, but she asked us to understand the experiences of the Native Americans at the hands of those coming here during the gold rush days and how those experiences have influenced the Native American culture through the generations.  Lynn’s presentation was very thought provoking.

We were then given a tour of the Shasta Courthouse Museum by Lori Martin of the Shasta State Park.  Lori led us through the historical building discussing along the way the gold rush days, the courthouse, the jail, and even the gallows.  The museum is also the home to a wonderful art collection covering 100 years of art in Northern California.  The museum is a must see for everyone in the area.

Then it was on to a wonderful lunch at the French Gulch Hotel, where we stayed for the balance of the session.

Trent Copeland, a Leadership Redding Alum and teacher at Enterprise High School, brought some of his Mien, Lao, and Vietnamese students dressed in their native garb. They discussed their own experiences and integration into the local culture.

Our final cultural group of the day left us uplifted and smiling.  They were the Folklorico Dancers from the Anderson Teen Center.  The dancers ranged in age from 9 –15 and they enchanted us with traditional Latin costumes and dances  And just for fun, they threw in some originally choreographed modern dances.  It was a great  way to end a very pleasant and informative day.  Facilitators were Lenora Shealy, Troy Kidd, Anne Kerns and Maria Orozco-Cue.