Paths of Life
Gathering of the Old Ones: Oral Traditions, by Amelia Flores

Mohave and Chemehuevi oral traditions have been handed down through each passing generation. They are the stories and songs that contain not only the history of the Mohave and Chemehuevi people, but also the important cultural values used in their day-to-day living. It was the responsibility of the old ones to pass down these traditions.

Included in these oral traditions was the admonition that the language and history of the Mohave and Chemehuevi was not to be written down. However, there were those who knew of this but were still willing to answer to frontier anthropologists such as A.L. Kroeber and George Devereux, thus creating a nontraditional form of collecting oral history. Oral histories relate that when Iretaba, chief of the Mohaves, and his followers first came to what is now the Colorado River Indian Reservation, he told his Mohave people that they would undergo changes from the old ways. Those who were young and heard the wisdom of his words later saw the reality of his vision. Unfortunately, much of the richness passed down through the oral history is forever lost due to a number of factors, including the European influence.

Prior to 1983, individual elders were called upon for guidance and direction concerning personal and cultural matters. However, increasing changes within the tribal government and the rapid demands of developing tribal lands sparked the challenge of formally gathering together those living resources.

Today, the tribal elders meet together to discuss issues pertaining to the lands of the reservation and its people. Those who make up the Mohave and Chemehuevi elders group are those knowledgeable in tradition and include spiritual leaders as well as former tribal council leaders. The tribal council has recognized the Mohave and Chemehuevi elders groups as living resources. Whenever cultural input is needed at the tribal council's level, the elders are called upon for their knowledge regarding such matters as legal cases, boundary issues, place names, environmental issues, the language, and archaeological sites.

Sadly, as time passes on, so do our elders. Out of the nine elders in the original Mohave elders group, only four are with us today. The gathering of these elders signified an historic event.

Since the formation of the tribal Library and Museum in 1958, one of the responsibilities charged to them by the tribal council is to collect and preserve the culture and traditions of the four tribes of the Colorado River Indian Reservation. As one method of accomplishing this, in 1984, the Library and Museum staff began videotaping the tribal elders' meetings and field trips. Like the old ones before them, today's elders, seeing their culture slowly diminishing, readily adapted to this modern technological tool. From 1984 to the present, valuable cultural data have been collected on video format that will be archived for future generations.

In conclusion, oral history is built around people. For the Mohave and Chemehuevi tribes, their culture is living. Therefore, it is with respect for the honored oral tradition of our living elders that we seek to record their words and their precious history. The valuable resources of cultural identities and traditions will be strengthened and preserved for the survival of the Mohave and Chemehuevi people.

Amelia Flores, Director of the Colorado River Indian Tribes Library (1993), is responsible for collecting, organizing, and researching tribal archives including the oral history collection.