Milky Way over Chuchupate Trail, Lockwood Valley, California
Sky People
A documentary about a mountain called Mount Pinos, that is both sacred to the Chumash and also visited and respected by local astronomers. When the mountain is threatened by one of the largest wildfires in California history, it teaches us about its special powers.
Astronomy is the oldest of the natural sciences. Early cultures identified celestial objects and events with gods and spirits. Astronomical data was also used for predicting seasons and creating calendars. The Natives to Southern California, the Chumash, documented astronomical events on rocks and in caves.
The documentary “Sky People”, currently in post-production, looks into the beliefs, practices, and mythology of the early Chumash people, leading up to the scientific understanding of the modern-day astronomer. Mt. Pinos, the highest mountain in the center of their land, was considered to be the center of the universe.
To the Chumash, Mount Pinos is a sacred site with special powers. The film features the story of the “Day Fire” from 2006. After 150,000 acres had burned for many weeks, it threatened to burn over the top of Mount Pinos and it’s surroundings. Fire-fighters and Park Rangers informed the Chumash that they would have to bring in bulldozers immediately and literally destroy the mountain in order to save lives and protect the communities from Pine Mountain Club to Frazier Park. The Native People and fire-fighters got together in a prayer circle and eyewitnesses describe minutes after the end of the prayer, the wind changed and the fire was able to be stopped.
Alan Salazar at the Chumash Solstice Ceremony
Jon Schwartz looking through his telescope at a Chuchupate Trail Star Party
In the 1980's professional astro-photographers were drawn to the dark skies of Mount Pinos and their original presence pioneered it as a cultural base for astronomy and the astro-photography community. The first ever high quality photos of deep space objects were taken in those days from the top of Mount Pinos, with technology and practices pioneered by a small group of local amateur astronomers.
Bill Fletcher, Astro-photographer
Tom Keukes, former district ranger, pointing at where the “Day Fire” started
the “Day Fire'“ surrounding Mount Pinos
To this day the mountain draws astronomers every New Moon weekend and only few are aware of its history