American Indians California History

Students have turned back time in a corner of North Hollywood High School by building three Native American huts, replicas of those found in Tataviam villages that dotted the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys more than 1,500 years ago. The huts--a sweat lodge, an acorn smoker and a dome-shaped house--are constructed of willow poles, cattails and bulrushes that students collected in Towsley Canyon in Santa Clarita and Wilson Canyon in Sylmar, under the guidance of Tataviam tribal members.

Students have turned back time in a corner of North Hollywood High School by building three Native American huts, replicas of those found in Tataviam villages that dotted the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys more than 1,500 years ago. The huts--a sweat lodge, an acorn smoker and a dome-shaped house--are constructed of willow poles, cattails and bulrushes that students collected in Towsley Canyon in Santa Clarita and Wilson Canyon in Sylmar, under the guidance of Tataviam tribal members.

Even after 14,000 years the place still sends imaginations soaring. Just ask Gordon Hull to stand beneath the slate-gray cliff, tightly close his eyes and tell you what he sees and hears. He visualizes a campground at the base of the cliff where groups of people are quietly cooking the evening meal. On a ledge above them, a solitary, transfixed figure is methodically pounding with a rock to gouge an intricate design onto the wall.

Even after 14,000 years the place still sends imaginations soaring. Just ask Gordon Hull to stand beneath the slate-gray cliff, tightly close his eyes and tell you what he sees and hears. He visualizes a campground at the base of the cliff where groups of people are quietly cooking the evening meal. On a ledge above them, a solitary, transfixed figure is methodically pounding with a rock to gouge an intricate design onto the wall.