PAI PAI Indians Family of Teresa Castro Rancho Group Photo Santa Catarina, Mexico Tribal Ejido

The Teresa Castro family is pictured along the side of their home, out of the cold wind, in the Kumeyaay Pai Pai Community of Santa Catarina, Baja California, Mexico. The Castro family is well know for their Native American pottery, coiled and pine needle basketweaving, willow bark skirts, horsehair rope, braided rawhide, and agave fiber carrying net bags.

I was struck by the unity, the togetherness this family displayed during my visit, they seemed stuck together with some sort of glue. No one whined or complained or looked weak or helpless -- they appeared "mountain strong" from their indigenous lifestyle.

When I asked for a group photo of the family they instinctively lined up along this wall on THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE WIND. I remembered freezing my butt off in the cold mountain wind while it took a couple minutes to set up.

To buy purchase authentic Santa Catarina Paipai Kumeyaay Indian arts and crafts, please visit the Shumup Ko Hup "Dream Come True" Indian store in Old Town State Historic Park, San Diego, California.