The “Ohlone Way”

The Ohlone are native peoples who, prior to Spanish colonization, populate the coastal region of Northern California. Although regarded as one group, the Ohlone, also called Costanoans, were in truth composed of small, independent groups with members ranging from 100-250 (Cartier, 1991). Their values and perception of the world gave approach to a subsistence providence, communal culture and equalitarian leadership structures. Unlike some other larger native Americans who settled down into elaborate cities and developed mixed economies, the Ohlone tradition was largely communal (Cartier, 1991).They viewed the land and all resources in record as sacred. Nature was not something to be individually owned because manhood not superior to nature but is part of it. Man thus has the common responsibility to take care of it for the welfare of future generations. As such, their economy was largely subsistence based which means they worked to obtain what was just copious to keep them ali ve. There was no concept of accumulation of wealth or private property (Margolin, 1978). The tools used in production were crude. They moved their communities a lot in order to follow the bounty of nature raise for harvest.These movements also allow the regeneration of the resources they have used. Because of these factors, their activities were limited to hunting, horticulture, fishing and gathering (Cartier, 1991). A group activity, animals were hunted, trapped or poisoned to be eaten. By pruning, reseeding and burning, the approachability of plants extremely necessary for their survival were ensured. They picked medicinal herbs, shells, nuts, eggs and other items they needed. This economy gave rise to a politics that is equalitarian. Leadership was not based on property but on wisdom, capacity and character, the determinants of social status (Margolin, 1978).Although in that location were wealthier members in the group, they did not take advantage of those who are poorer. Rat her, it is the wealthy who were stimulate to provide the resources needed for festivities or to contribute the most during the death of some other member. In summary, the Ohlone, may seem backward compared to other indigenous groups or to the present society. However, their economy, politics and culture were the products of their interaction with nature. Because lifeways change over time, population growth and the discovery of better tools and technology would have no interrogative contributed to their development as a people.