suku yaman print
Art: suku yaman
Artist: Rama Cryer
Collection: VTA 2022: Perspectives on Erasure
Art Description: This excerpt is the tale of the lost but not forgotten devil dogs of dog mountain (now know as Mt. Diablo). This creature is one of many animals that have been erased from this land, and only remain in the stories of those who were here before. The word "devil" is a modern term and was not used by the Nisenan.
The devil dogs of dog mountain: In the early time (they) saw dogs for the first time there. They rolled a big stone, and when (the grown dogs) ran after (it), they used to steal puppies. Hence the Nisenan call that “suku yaman” (Dog Mountain). Even now. There they caught dogs for the first time in the early days before the white man came; those were good dogs, long ago, hunting dogs; they bought dogs from one another for many abalone shells and beads, in the old days. On that mountain the Nisenan saw a devil, it always looked as if (he) was going across the mountain from the south side, when (he) went in there every day near sundown. The Nisenan talked about (it). As they did not believe one another, they went to sneak up to (the devil's habitat). They saw (him) arrive and go in when the sun was west. His horse and his saddle and bridle glittered. His eyes were like stars. The Nisenan feared him. Even now they are afraid of that mountain.
Print Size: 9” x 12”
Art: suku yaman
Artist: Rama Cryer
Collection: VTA 2022: Perspectives on Erasure
Art Description: This excerpt is the tale of the lost but not forgotten devil dogs of dog mountain (now know as Mt. Diablo). This creature is one of many animals that have been erased from this land, and only remain in the stories of those who were here before. The word "devil" is a modern term and was not used by the Nisenan.
The devil dogs of dog mountain: In the early time (they) saw dogs for the first time there. They rolled a big stone, and when (the grown dogs) ran after (it), they used to steal puppies. Hence the Nisenan call that “suku yaman” (Dog Mountain). Even now. There they caught dogs for the first time in the early days before the white man came; those were good dogs, long ago, hunting dogs; they bought dogs from one another for many abalone shells and beads, in the old days. On that mountain the Nisenan saw a devil, it always looked as if (he) was going across the mountain from the south side, when (he) went in there every day near sundown. The Nisenan talked about (it). As they did not believe one another, they went to sneak up to (the devil's habitat). They saw (him) arrive and go in when the sun was west. His horse and his saddle and bridle glittered. His eyes were like stars. The Nisenan feared him. Even now they are afraid of that mountain.
Print Size: 9” x 12”
Art: suku yaman
Artist: Rama Cryer
Collection: VTA 2022: Perspectives on Erasure
Art Description: This excerpt is the tale of the lost but not forgotten devil dogs of dog mountain (now know as Mt. Diablo). This creature is one of many animals that have been erased from this land, and only remain in the stories of those who were here before. The word "devil" is a modern term and was not used by the Nisenan.
The devil dogs of dog mountain: In the early time (they) saw dogs for the first time there. They rolled a big stone, and when (the grown dogs) ran after (it), they used to steal puppies. Hence the Nisenan call that “suku yaman” (Dog Mountain). Even now. There they caught dogs for the first time in the early days before the white man came; those were good dogs, long ago, hunting dogs; they bought dogs from one another for many abalone shells and beads, in the old days. On that mountain the Nisenan saw a devil, it always looked as if (he) was going across the mountain from the south side, when (he) went in there every day near sundown. The Nisenan talked about (it). As they did not believe one another, they went to sneak up to (the devil's habitat). They saw (him) arrive and go in when the sun was west. His horse and his saddle and bridle glittered. His eyes were like stars. The Nisenan feared him. Even now they are afraid of that mountain.
Print Size: 9” x 12”