May 13, 2025By Vicki Gonzalez
California’s park system highlights the state’s public jewels. And Dos Rios State Park, the first new state park in a decade, stands out even more among these spaces, thanks to its Native Use Garden. Spaces like these serve as cultural zones where Indigenous people and Tribes can safely gather materials and revitalize traditional practices, like basket weaving.
“Basket weaving is more than just a craft, it’s a connection. The materials come from where our culture comes from. Our culture is based off the environment and those connections to the environment, our language comes from the same place. So, when you take all those things and weave them together, it’s putting something together that’s more than just an item, it’s a representation of who we are and where we come from.”
Sierra Miwuk and River Partners Director of Tribal Engagement Austin Stevenot
