The Yawáyro: Indigenous Awareness and Literacy Development program consists of book kits which include stories that recognize Native American heritage and culture, including that of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, whose territory includes the Santa Clarita Valley.
The books have been organized into kits that will be circulated between all three Santa Clarita Public Library branches and local Tataviam tribal offices. Through the Yawáyro book kits, the City and the Santa Clarita Public Library hope to bring awareness to Native American cultures, promote literacy and celebrate the diversity in the Santa Clarita community.
Book kits
About
Opening
11-05-2019
To celebrate the launch, the Santa Clarita Public Library hosted an event for the Yawáyro: Indigenous Awareness and Literacy Development program on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. at the Old Town Newhall Library.
Meaning
“Yawáyro” means
‘believe’ in Serrano, but the Tataviam translation of the word is ‘awareness,’ which is what we hope to bring through this program. We want to bring awareness to the public that our people inhabited these lands, but more importantly, that we are still here, that we are authors, poets and illustrators and that our children are our legacy for the future,”
says Tribal President Rudy Ortega Jr., who descends from the village of Tochonanga.
Native Narratives: Encino PSA
Watch Friends of LA River's
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Community members are encouraged to take time to explore the book kits offered through the Yawáyro program. To learn more about the program, please contact Senior Children’s Librarian, David Janning at (661)799-6158 or djanning@santa-clarita.com.
