Visit Fremont’s Coyote Hills Regional Park and you’ll find that 35 trail markers there include translations into Chochenyo, the language of the park’s pre-colonial inhabitants. The area that includes Coyote Hills is the ancestral home of the Twibun Olone people, who have spoken the Chochenyo language since time immemorial.
“The new trail markers honor the Muwekma Ohlone tribe’s request to restore the original Coyote Hills place names and integrate them into the park’s signage,” said Ayn Wieskamp, Executive Director of the East Bay Regional Park District. says Mr. “The new trail markers are also an important interpretive feature leading to educational programs at the visitor center and welcome signs in Chochenyo.”
EBRPD General Manager Sabrina Landreth said, “We are grateful to the Mwekma O’Lone Tribe and their Language Committee for their translation and efforts to restore the Chochenyo language to Coyote Hills.” The markers help advance the park district’s mission to preserve the rich heritage of our parks’ natural and cultural resources.”
The first five trail markers were unveiled in November to coincide with Native American Heritage Month. The remaining trail markers will be installed over the next six months.
“‘Makkin Mak Nommo’ means ‘we are still here,'” said Monica Arellano, vice-chair of Muwekma Ohlone and co-chair of the Muwekma Language Committee. “When people look at the language and the land, they see the connection and realize that Mwekma is still there, alive and thriving.”
The Olone people continue to practice their culture and traditions today, including restoring, re-learning, and re-educating the Chochenyo language. While in Coyote Hills, stop by the visitor center’s Discovery on Demand program. Every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm, our staff of naturalists lead a variety of hands-on activities, research and craft projects. We welcome all ages. Parent participation is required.
Programs and exhibits at Coyote Hills highlight the park’s natural and cultural history, including the park’s Orlone Cultural Heritage Site. Coyote Hills is located at the end of Paterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont. Parking is $5 per vehicle. The program is free. For more information, call 510-544-3220.
Livermore: Every Friday in December from 3:30pm to 5:00pm, the free “Woodland Wonderland” program takes place at Del Valle Regional Park south of Livermore, featuring different flora and fauna. Friday’s topic is coyotes. All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by a guardian. Meet at the visitor center.
You can also discover your artistic talents at the Center’s ‘Nature Crafts’ on Saturdays from 11am to 12:30pm. Del Valle Regional Park is located about nine miles south of Livermore, off Mines Road, at the end of Del Valle Road. Parking is $6 per vehicle. For more information, call 510-544-3146.
Alameda: Beautiful views of San Francisco Bay, harbor seals, migratory birds, and historic warships are the reward for a free, naturalist-led Saturday Stroll starting from Encinal Beach in Alameda on Saturdays from 10am to 12:30pm.
This will be a flat 3.5 mile walk. No registration required. Call the Club Cove Visitor Center at 510-544-3187 for information and directions.
Berkeley: Eggnog Ice Cream is on the menu for programs on Saturdays from 2pm to 2:30pm at the Environmental Education Center in the Tilden Nature Area near Berkeley.
Hosted by naturalist Jenna Collins, the group creates frozen versions of traditional drinks. The program is free and no registration is required. The center is at the northern end of Central Park Drive in Tilden. For more information, call 510-544-2233.
Oakley: Also, discover how beavers designed dams, learn why the Sacramento and San Joaquin River deltas need beavers, and use treats provided by the visitor center on Oakley’s Big Break Regional Shoreline. You can even make your own edible beaver dam.
The program runs from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon on December 18th at the Visitor Center. Free and no registration required, but parental participation is required. Big Break is located at his 69 Big Break Road on Oakley’s Main Street. For more information, call 510-544-3050.
online: Visitor centers at local parks offer many excellent programs. See ebparks.org/things-to-do for the full schedule. By the way, all his EBRPD parks are open on Christmas Day, but the visitor center is closed.
Ned MacKay writes about the sites and activities of the East Bay Regional Park District. Send an email to nedmackay@comcast.net.
