Article on 12th Del Norte Hist. Soc. Symposium at CC. Ruth Roberts gave a talk on the lifeways of the Indians before white man came. She noted brush was burned every 3 years to kill rattlesnakes, fles, & ticks & to improve hazel nut brush used in basket making. "Big Flat" was the center of the Indian world - it was an important trading center. Mrs. Thurman Matthews , a York, outlined the life of an Indian women. She stated spruce roots was baked for 10 minutes to soften them. They were then peeled and split with a sharp knife. Then the split pieces were further split with a thumb nail fine tough fibers used in basket making. Babies were carried in baskets up to 18 months - 2 yrs depending on the size. The down from dandelions was used as a diaper to line the seat of the basket.