INDIGENOUS LIFESTYLE

Young Pai-Pai Native American boy stands holding yucca stalks in front of his grandmother's makeshift Indian workshop in the rural tribal mountain village in the high mountain desert of Santa Catarina, Baja California, Mexico.

This PaiPai Indian family ranch epitomizes the true indigenous lifestyle in the 21st Century.

Notice the structure, fence and storeroom are made of scrap wood, trees, old junk cars and salvaged car parts. The area of darker brown in the lower left corner are what was left over from extracting pine seeds from this year's harvest of pine cones.

The PaiPai family who lives on this Indian ranch is very well know for their ethnographic arts and crafts, including pine needle basketry, agave fiber sandals, Agave fiber net bags, willow bark skirts, and clay pottery. The family elders here also speak their native Pai-Pai language, and Kumeyaay language.

Their Indian rancho is without electricity. All water is brought in or taken from local hand-dug wells. Going to the bathroom here in Santa Catarina still means looking for a bush or an old fashioned outhouse.

This photojournalist lifestyle picture essay is part of professional tribal documentary photo series on the Indigenous California Indian lifestyles of North America, USA and Mexico. Photo taked in March 2006.

Photos, Writing and Web Page Design Contributed by webmaster, GARY G. BALLARD

To buy purchase authentic Santa Catarina Pai Pai Kumeyaay Indian arts and crafts, please visit the Shumup Ko Hup "Dream Come True" Indian store in Old Town State Historic Park, San Diego, California.