Mark Hylkema, Archeologist

What the Docents Know

Mark’s titles include Cultural Resources Program Manager, Tribal Liaison and Archeologist, all for the State Parks Santa Cruz District. He is also an adjunct professor of archeology at Foothill College. Mark talks about playing guitar in a rock band, about the lifestyle and cultural practices of native Californians, and about what we can learn from them with regard to current land management strategies. He shares some gruesome and horrific details about the treatment of native Californians, in some cases sanctioned by the government, in the wake of the gold rush. And he offers a story of hope, about a State Parks project to invite native groups to reconnect with their land, their history and their culture.