Salinan exhibit at Sol Treasures
Perfecta Encinales (center) appears with her family outdoors at Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County, circa 1907. The photograph is featured in the new Salinan exhibit at Sol Treasures in King City. (Contributed)

KING CITY — Sol Treasures, in partnership with The Nacitone Museum and representatives of the Xolon Salinan Tribe, will present “The Salinan Exhibit,” a cultural exhibition honoring the history, resilience and continued presence of the Salinan people in the region.

The exhibition opens May 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Sol Treasures in King City. A special program beginning at 6 p.m. will include participation from The Nacitone Museum and “A Salinan Story” presented by Laura Oldroyd of the Xolon Salinan Tribe. The exhibit will remain on display through the end of June.

Organizers said the exhibit offers visitors an opportunity to experience history through the perspectives of Salinan descendants by featuring photographs, maps, artifacts and personal stories that connect the past with the present.

Salinan exhibit at Sol Treasures
Tito Encinales and David Mora were key cultural and linguistic informants of the Salinan people of Central California, working with early 20th-century anthropologists to preserve the Salinan language and regional ethnogeography. (Contributed)

The exhibition was created in collaboration with members of the Salinan community and representatives of The Nacitone Museum to promote education, cultural appreciation and understanding.

According to organizers, the exhibit highlights the work of Salinan descendants who continue efforts to revitalize their language, preserve traditions and educate future generations. Visitors will learn about the enduring connection of the Salinan people to Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties.

Featured contributors include Oldroyd, cultural resource adviser, council member and tribal monitor for the Xolon Salinan Tribe, and Kathy McCormack, director of The Nacitone Museum for the past 18 years and a Salinan tribal member. Organizers said the contributions of Oldroyd and McCormack help create “a deeply personal and educational experience centered on cultural identity, continuity and remembrance.”

Salinan exhibit at Sol Treasures
José María Villavicencio, an Antoniano Salinan descendant, stands in front of a painted house backdrop in Paso Robles, circa 1890. (Contributed)

Historical photographs in the exhibit include images of the Encinales family and community members documented by researchers and linguists during the early 1900s.

“Honoring the rich history and culture of our local Native tribe that continues to thrive within our community is deeply important to us,” said Jude Yriarte of Sol Treasures. “We deeply respect their ongoing presence and vital contributions, affirming that they have not been forgotten and remain an essential part of our society.”

Food and refreshments will be served during the opening reception.

The exhibit will be open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. through June at Sol Treasures, 519 Broadway St. in King City. For more information, call 831-386-1381 or visit soltreasures.com.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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