Working WIth Tule

For the past 4 years, Vita has been working as part of the media team for the Alliance for Felix Cove, documenting the Alliance's tule canoe building program. The Alliance for Felix Cove advocates for the protection and restoration of the only remaining 19th century Tomalko (Coast Miwok Tomales Bay)-built home at Point Reyes National Seashore. The Alliance aims to re-indigenize the ancestral homelands of the Felix Family—the last Tomalko family to live on the western shores of Tomales Bay at Felix Cove known as Laird’s Landing. The tule canoe is the indigenous watercraft of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. This program is focused on bringing back tule canoes on Tamal-liwa, also known as Tomales Bay.

Man standing beside a traditional reed boat on a calm misty lake, showcasing ancient watercraft craftsmanship.
A small frog camouflaged among tall green reeds in a natural wetland habitat.
A person in a green headscarf reaches up to examine tall marsh reeds against a clear blue sky.
Hikers walking along a sunny trail through dry grasslands with trees and hills in the background.
Indigenous woman in straw hat and turquoise necklace smiling outdoors among tall green reeds.
Woman in overalls and sun hat walks through tall reeds on a sunny day with another hiker visible behind her.
Woman speaking to seated group by lakeside during outdoor educational gathering on sandy shore.
Person playing a traditional Native American hand drum with a colorful beaded drumstick outdoors.
A diverse group of people pass buckets along a muddy hillside during an outdoor restoration project.
Young woman with long dark hair carefully examines natural fibers at an outdoor cultural craft workshop.
Multiple hands collaborate to weave and twist natural reed fibers together in a traditional craft.
People harvesting and bundling natural reeds outdoors during a traditional craft workshop.
Group of people collaboratively weaving traditional reed mats together at an outdoor cultural workshop.
Two women sort and arrange bundles of dried tule reeds outdoors for a traditional boat-building project.
Group of people working together bundling dried reeds or bamboo stalks outdoors.
Close-up of hands holding a bundle of twine-wrapped wood and loose string for traditional crafting.
Tattooed craftsperson in green cap carefully arranges bamboo tubes on a wooden frame outdoors.
A woman in a blue hat weaving natural fiber rope with a scenic lake and hills in the background.
Person in black top crafting a wooden arrow, wearing turquoise ring and gold bracelet with woven pouch necklace.
Group of people hiking single file along a trail through dry golden grasslands under blue sky.
Participants place herbs and natural offerings on a ceremonial log during an outdoor cultural gathering.
Silhouetted person stands with arms outstretched near rustic wooden shed overlooking misty ocean coastline.
Group of people gathered around a weathered wooden shed surrounded by overgrown vegetation in foggy woods.
A group of people carry a large handcrafted tule reed boat toward the water on a foggy shoreline.
Person paddling a traditional woven reed boat through a marshy waterway wearing a red life vest.
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