Holiday at the Capitol

Naomi and Ursula Jones, and Julia and Lucy Parker traveled to D.C. to take part in the festivities. (Photo courtesy Ursula Jones)

Local tribe members attend D.C. festivities

Since 1964 the tradition of a Capitol Christmas Tree has been part of America’s holiday celebration, and this year four local women attended and participated in the festivities.

Julia Parker, Lucy Parker, Ursula Jones and Naomi Jones of the Yosemite Miwok Paiute and Kashaya Pomo tribes were invited to accompany the Tuolumne band of Miwok as it escorted holiday trees to Washington, D.C. for the Dec. 5-6 events.

“We were really honored to be invited by the tribe and travel with them,” Lucy said. “It was great to be part of the ceremony and represent California.”

This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree came from the Stanislaus National Forest in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains. The holiday tree for the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian was from Stanislaus as well.

According to Lucy, while in D.C., the women attended the first-ever traditional Native America dancing event to be held in the Library of Congress. Dancing took place at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian as well. Lucy’s mother, Julia, also demonstrated traditional basket weaving as part of the festivities.