I recommend reading A State of Change, Forgotten Landscapes of California by Laura Cunningham, printed in 2010, because it explains what our California environment and landscape was like before European culture settled California.  There are many mentions about how Indigenous people’s practices shaped our land, such as the periodic burning of the grasslands to collect grass seeds (pinole).  But there is more description of how the native fauna created the landscape—how elk, grizzly, and salmon affected the land.  Laura was raised nearby, so there are plenty of East Bay references. For instance, there is a story she tells of learning to drive at El Cerrito Plaza, where one can see Albany Hill, and she draws images of California grizzly bears at the base of Albany Hill.  Her excellent illustrations adds to her story of change from pre-history.  The book is now out of print from Heyday Books, so I recommend getting it from a library.  Check it out, especially if you are interested in California natural history along with a little native history.

– Phil Maynard