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Legacy Oral History Online Collection

Lanny Pinola

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Lanny Pinola (1938-2003) helped rejuvenate Native American dance traditions in the Bay Area. Born on April 25, 1938 at the Kashia Pomo reservation at Stewart’s Point in Northern California, Lanny was taught the dance traditions of his tribe by his grandparents at an early age. He received his degree in educational counseling from Brigham Young University and subsequently worked as a school counselor in both Utah and Northern California.

Lanny was a Cultural Interpreter at Kule Loklo, a reconstructed Miwok Village at the Point Reyes National Seashore, contributing his knowledge of the revived Strawberry Festival male and female forms of the ritual dances. His participation in the Council of California Dance Groups supported the development of Native American dance in the Bay Area and throughout the state.

Lanny contributed special knowledge of the male and female forms of the Feather Dance. He also contributed his experience of culture context for the Feather Dance including appropriate songs and vocal signaling systems, use and crafting of the clapper stick, evolution of costuming, and additional decorative elements. He also contributed his experiences of honoring teachers, dance leaders and the land from a Native-American perspective.

Audio Clip and Transcript

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