Released by the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division China Lake Public Affairs Office--

By Barbara Lupei

The NAWC Weapons Division Technical Library at China Lake is carrying on a tradition of preserving and sharing stories Thursday, June 2 in their “Have I Got A Story For You” series at 3:30 p.m. Richard Stewart will tell the story of the hawk Tu’hu kini and the Gambler at Coso Hot Springs. He will also explain how his interpretation of this story differed before and after he visited the site. This experience gave him first-hand insight into how actual experience relates to interpretation of mythology.

Stewart is a member of the Big Pine Band of Owens Valley Paiute and a descendant of Owens Valley Paiute and Pima parents. He is a tradition-bearer, not only as a storyteller, but also as a singer, and an expert in the techniques of willow basketry, brown-ware, and lithic tools.

The Fort Independence Indian Reservation Environmental Office employs Stewart as an Environmental Assistant. His service to NAWCWD includes escorting tours into Little Petroglyph Canyon and helping to interpret certain images and panels in the canyon. He is currently developing a research plan for study of the Surface Features of Coso Hot Springs.

NAWCWD and NAWS employees are invited to attend. The Technical Library is located in Building 02496, just inside the north gate of the Michelson Lab compound. Contact Ann Moorehead at 939-4668 to arrange access to the compound, or for more information.

--end--