ROHNERT PARK, CA - David Wayne Peri, 62, a former chairman of the Anthropology Department at Sonoma State University and a faculty member since 1969, died on Friday, Dec. 1.
Peri, in the course of his career at SSU, had served as Anthropology Department Chair, Coordinator of the American Studies Program, and Chair of the Division of American Ethnic Studies.
An insightful and dedicated teacher, Peri delighted in introducing students to his craft in the way that he had been introduced - through an attentive and highly personal mentorship. "David's teaching also drew from his Native American heritage," said anthropology department chair Margaret Purser. "Like Old Man Coyote, David was a gifted racconteur who taught through the magic of tales."
Peri started with his apprentice under Alfred Kroeber, the most prominent anthropologist of his time and himself a student of Franz Boas who founded the discipline of anthropology in the United States.
Peri was a Bodega Miwok, and a member of the Olamentko Tribe. He devoted his career to documenting the heritage of California Native American culture, and to the enhancement of educational opportunities for his community.
Peri's ethnographic fieldwork focused on California Native American groups, including the Pomo, Yurok, Miwok, Yokuts, Cahuila, Nisenan, Maidu, Patwin, Tolowa, Wappo, and Washo peoples. He also worked in Nevada with Paiute and Mono communities, and as far afield as the Pacific Northwest and American Great Plains and Southwest.
One of the pioneers in the visual anthropology of California Native Americans, Peri leaves a legacy of many award-winning ethnographic and educational films. He was honored with a Cowboy Hall of Fame award for his work on the movie, Beautiful Tree.
Ever active in California Native American affairs, he served as President and Chairman of the Board for Sonoma County's Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc., and as a frequent consultant to school boards, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations developing Native American educational programs and K-12 curricula.
Peri was a member of the Coastal Commission, involved in Warm Springs Dam Cultural Research and the inventory of Sun House/Grace Hudson Museum. He received an environmental preservation award and certificate of merit in 1981 from the US Army Corps of Engineers for his contributions to the Botanical Mitigations Project for Warm Springs Dam.
He is survived by his mother, Freda Peri, his sister, Carolyn McNulty and nephews, Adam and Blake McNulty. He was preceeded in death by his daughter, the late Mia Theresa Peri and his father, the late Albert Peri.
Plans for a campus memorial service are pending. Donations in his name may be made to Ya Ka Ama, 6215 Eastside Road, Forestville 95436.
