Winnemem Top Doctor Florence Jones

Native California healer Florence Jones (1907-2003), was the top doctor of the Winnemem Wintu and a fierce protector of Mt. Shasta, known to the Winnemem as Buliyum Puyuk—the Great Mountain. In 1994, Florence gave the Sacred Land Film Project unprecedented access to film her conducting ceremony, healing her people and protecting her territory. In this episode, we return to that footage (and other sources we have collected) to tell the story of this powerful medicine woman.

This episode was produced and written by Callie Shanafelt Wong and Toby McLeod, with research and editing assistance from Jessica Abbe.

Our film footage with Florence Jones was recorded by John Knoop, Andy Black and Will Parrinello. Our theme music was composed by Stefan Smith and Charles Johnson. Thanks to Claire Cummings, Dorothea Theodoratus and John Veltri for interviewing Florence on Mt. Shasta and to Chief Caleen Sisk for reviewing this Audio Archive episode.

We welcome you to download and play this podcast for personal use. However, you may not reproduce, distribute, or commercially exploit this copyrighted content without express written permission from the Sacred Land Film Project and the Winnemem Wintu Tribe.