A Story of Tribe and Tradition
What is a Native American?
Love of Country for Thousands of Years
Introducing the Maidu Tribe
Native Americans are a population of people indigenous to the Americas who were here before the United States was created. They are also referred to as First Americans. They came here by walking across a land bridge between Asia and Alaska that does not exist any more.
The theory is that Native Americans migrated from Asia to North America
Native Americans are a population of people indigenous to the Americas who were here before the United States was created. They are also referred to as First Americans. They came here by walking across a land bridge between Asia and Alaska that does not exist any more.
The theory is that Native Americans migrated from Asia to North America across a land bridge known as Beringia a.k.a. The Bering Strait; lower ocean levels exposed a wide stretch of the sea floor, back then.
The Bering Strait is a strait now sitting underneath the Pacific and Arctic Ocean between Chukchi Peninsula of the Russian Far East and the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. The Strait is named after Vitus Bering, a Danish explorer in the service of Russia.
Numerous successful crossings without the use of a boat have also been recorded since at least the early 20th century.
It further extends from these facts that Native Americans are actually a race of Asian (Mongoloid) descent.
The "genetic distance" between the Native Americans and the other two major races is gigantic:
Research Paper:
"Genetic Distance Between the American Indians and the Three Major Races of Man."
A K Roychoudhury
PMID: 680700
DOI: 10.1159/000152980
Abstract:
The genetic distances between the American Indians and the three major races of man, Caucasoids, Negroids and Mongoloids, were determined by using gene frequency data on 14 blood group and 12 protein loci.
The results support the general view that the ancestry of the American Indian is predominantly Mongoloid.
Using 30,000 years as the separation time between the American Indian and Mongoloid, the divergence time between the three major races of man was estimated to be 33,000-92,000 years.
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/680700
Introducing the Maidu Tribe
Love of Country for Thousands of Years
Introducing the Maidu Tribe
Our founder is a descendant of the Native American Maidu Tribe of the Northern California Mountains.
During the indigenous times, the Maidu survived on seeds and acorns. They hunted elk, deer, bears, rabbits, ducks, and geese; they also fished for salmon, lamprey eel, and other river life.
During the winter they lived in "mortars" that wer
Our founder is a descendant of the Native American Maidu Tribe of the Northern California Mountains.
During the indigenous times, the Maidu survived on seeds and acorns. They hunted elk, deer, bears, rabbits, ducks, and geese; they also fished for salmon, lamprey eel, and other river life.
During the winter they lived in "mortars" that were built semi-underground to gain protection from the cold. During the summer they build a different structure out of branches tied together and fastened to sapling posts, then covered with brush and dirt.
In the present day, you can see them trotting through town on horseback from time to time. They were known for breaking in wild horses, for riding horses without a saddle, and for being persistent.
Love of Country for Thousands of Years
Love of Country for Thousands of Years
Love of Country for Thousands of Years
Evidence suggests that the Maidu Native Americans and other California Tribes have had a love of country, land, and heritage for thousands of years.
Prior to European contact, the indigenous California tribes had 500 distinct sub-tribes or groups, each consisting of 50 to 500 individual members.
Most archaeologists date the existence of Nat
Evidence suggests that the Maidu Native Americans and other California Tribes have had a love of country, land, and heritage for thousands of years.
Prior to European contact, the indigenous California tribes had 500 distinct sub-tribes or groups, each consisting of 50 to 500 individual members.
Most archaeologists date the existence of Native Americans in the America as far back as 12, 13, or 14,000 years ago.
However, a paleontologist from the San Diego Natural History Museum dates mankind in the Americas as far back as 130,000 years ago. The Cerutti Mastodon Site was discovered in California in 1992 where there was a mastodon skeleton, bone flakes, and several large stones. The team says that this identifies the site as a “bone quarry” where an unknown hominin allegedly smashed fresh mastodon bones with stone hammers to extract marrow or to mine the skeleton for raw materials.
The Trail of Tears
Making a Difference in the California Mountains
Love of Country for Thousands of Years
Although the time period is not exactly known, it is clear that the Maidu tribe was present in California when the Settlers showed up.
At that time they were compelled to agree to a treaty that was never signed. Then, there were forced to walk in the Trail of Tears.
They were walked from Butte County to Mendocino County to an Indian Reserv
Although the time period is not exactly known, it is clear that the Maidu tribe was present in California when the Settlers showed up.
At that time they were compelled to agree to a treaty that was never signed. Then, there were forced to walk in the Trail of Tears.
They were walked from Butte County to Mendocino County to an Indian Reservation. Many tribesmen did not survive the walk.
For this reason and other reasons, our founder's father and perhaps others in the family allowed themselves to be identified as African American, as opposed to Native American.
Furthermore, inter-mingling and marriage between the natives and Blacks made this scenario more and more prevalent.
History records and awards were often classified as African American accomplishments, which is actually accurate, considering that many descendants of the natives were mixed-blood and had were at least in part African American.
The Little Elementary School that Could
Making a Difference in the California Mountains
Making a Difference in the California Mountains
A local Maidu tribal elementary school, homeland, and agricultural area was located in what is known today as Chico, California.
Back in 1979, the Bureau of Indian Affairs determined that the tribe “did not" exist.
”It was this technicality that enabled the government to take the land that contained the elementary school.
The result was the
A local Maidu tribal elementary school, homeland, and agricultural area was located in what is known today as Chico, California.
Back in 1979, the Bureau of Indian Affairs determined that the tribe “did not" exist.
”It was this technicality that enabled the government to take the land that contained the elementary school.
The result was the creation of Chico State University. There are many descendants of natives who attend this school and identify themselves as African American.
Making a Difference in the California Mountains
Making a Difference in the California Mountains
Making a Difference in the California Mountains
Our founder's family comes from a small town called Oroville, California. It’s just a few hours away from California Bay Area.
The founder's family has been involved in improving their local communities for generations.
Early on in her adult life, our founder's mother worked hard to integrate the YMCA in Oroville, CA. She convinced manageme
Our founder's family comes from a small town called Oroville, California. It’s just a few hours away from California Bay Area.
The founder's family has been involved in improving their local communities for generations.
Early on in her adult life, our founder's mother worked hard to integrate the YMCA in Oroville, CA. She convinced management to let African Americans kids become members if they helped out with cleaning up the place.
Later in life, our founder's uncle became the Mayor of Oroville, CA. He was known as a well-respected African American member of the community who brought about change throughout his career in local politics.
Making a Difference in the California Bay Area
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Early Years
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Early Years
By then, our founder's mother and father had relocated to the California Bay Area. There, our founder's father put himself through law school at UC Berkeley’s Bolt Hall.
Our founder's father entered politics and got elected to City Council. His popularity grew out of his willingness to take the initiative and make things better in the comm
By then, our founder's mother and father had relocated to the California Bay Area. There, our founder's father put himself through law school at UC Berkeley’s Bolt Hall.
Our founder's father entered politics and got elected to City Council. His popularity grew out of his willingness to take the initiative and make things better in the community. You could see him voluntarily cleaning up garbage and debris in the streets near where we lived. Others also got involved.
In the early 1970s, our founder's father became the First African American Mayor of Berkeley, CA. As Mayor, his efforts at improvements continued to bring about change.
For example, the railroad tracks were torn up in our neighborhood and a community center was built for the local youth.
Our founder's father also set up a "grid and barricade" system throughout the Berkeley streets, making it more difficult for criminals to our run the police during speed chases.
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Early Years
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Early Years
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Early Years
Our founder's father continued his efforts by becoming involved in the birth of the 1976 Community Reinvestment Act. This act gave rise to permanent funding for a nonprofit designed to bring affordable housing to the masses: Neighborhood Housing Services of America.
At the height of its effectiveness, there were several hundred local NHS operations throughout the United States.
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Later Years
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Early Years
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Later Years
Later, in the late 1980s, our founder's father became the Alameda County Supervisor for the 5th District.
The 5th District was where the Cypress Freeway Onramp was located. It collapsed during the Infamous 1989 Loma Prieto Earthquake, trapping and killing countless tragic souls as they were trapped and pinned underneath a mountain of concr
Later, in the late 1980s, our founder's father became the Alameda County Supervisor for the 5th District.
The 5th District was where the Cypress Freeway Onramp was located. It collapsed during the Infamous 1989 Loma Prieto Earthquake, trapping and killing countless tragic souls as they were trapped and pinned underneath a mountain of concrete in their cars.
Working with local officials, our founder's father was able to re-route the structure during the rebuild phase. He did this by accessing valuable railroad land. The result was that the onramp was rebuilt mostly on the ground instead of in the air. This made it safer from a possible future earthquake.
This also created a rise in house values for West Oakland residents and helped to ignite the West Oakland renaissance that later resulted in that area.
The Oakland Firestorm and Personal Tragedy
The Oakland Firestorm and Personal Tragedy
Making a Difference on the National Scene – Later Years
Then, in the early 1990s, there was the Oakland Firestorm. Early on a Sunday morning this fire ignited, jumped eight freeway lanes and a freeway median, the swept through the Oakland Foothills.
It burned everything in its path. And it caused sap that lined the Eucalyptus trees in the neighborhoods up there to heat up and explode like bombs
Then, in the early 1990s, there was the Oakland Firestorm. Early on a Sunday morning this fire ignited, jumped eight freeway lanes and a freeway median, the swept through the Oakland Foothills.
It burned everything in its path. And it caused sap that lined the Eucalyptus trees in the neighborhoods up there to heat up and explode like bombs.
This fire swept through the Oakland California Hills and changed lives forever. It burned all the way up to the founder's parents' house and stopped.
Our founder, his family, and his brothers lost everything. Not to mention the loss of life that occurred on those very streets that fateful day. He lost clothes, baby pictures, original paintings, original writings, cherished classic books, and more.
The Decision to Leave
The Oakland Firestorm and Personal Tragedy
The Decision to Leave
When our founder drove away from the house that Sunday, all he had on was his robe, his underwear, and a pair of socks. He was one of the lucky ones.
He later learned that those who delayed to pack up their cars found that their cars would not start once they were ready to leave. The dashboards, wires and electrical components under the ho
When our founder drove away from the house that Sunday, all he had on was his robe, his underwear, and a pair of socks. He was one of the lucky ones.
He later learned that those who delayed to pack up their cars found that their cars would not start once they were ready to leave. The dashboards, wires and electrical components under the hood all melted under the sweltering heat of the air.
Even with no sign of smoke or fire. Those who ran suffocated right there in the middle of the road, falling down in to the streets. And later, when the fire and smoke came, they were already dead.
The Road to Recovery
The Oakland Firestorm and Personal Tragedy
The Decision to Leave
The years that followed the Oakland Fire Storm of 1991 were definitely tough for the founder of this company.
Even on the very first night of the fire, Capwell's Department Store opened its door in Downtown Oakland to the Fire Victims. They gave all of the victims instant store credit. They went in the store that night and picked up clothe
The years that followed the Oakland Fire Storm of 1991 were definitely tough for the founder of this company.
Even on the very first night of the fire, Capwell's Department Store opened its door in Downtown Oakland to the Fire Victims. They gave all of the victims instant store credit. They went in the store that night and picked up clothes, toiletries, and other items to start their recovery.
As the months went on, the founder's family lived in hotels, other people’s houses, and apartments. Our founder also dropped out of college.
He had to pick up the pieces. And he did. And so did every body else. But the road to recovery was riddled with all kinds of "potholes."
The Road to a New Beginning
The Rise of a Phoenix
The Move to Washington, D.C.
The Move to Washington, D.C.
The fires were out and the 1990s carried on. But the painful and emotional "inner-blaze" that started to burn from within was just getting started.
Our founder didn't notice it burning inside of him. And it wasn't something that fire fighters or insurance company claims could address. It is at this time that our founder went through a toug
The fires were out and the 1990s carried on. But the painful and emotional "inner-blaze" that started to burn from within was just getting started.
Our founder didn't notice it burning inside of him. And it wasn't something that fire fighters or insurance company claims could address. It is at this time that our founder went through a tough path of personal growth and therapy. Once again, others were there to help. New sources of help were discovered. And new sources of dysfunction were also discovered.
In this process, our founder was able to rebuild. Rebuild how he thought. Rebuild what he valued. And rebuild what was valuable. The result was a shaken-but-still-strong individual determined to be different. To do differently. And to press forward.
And, so, like a Phoenix, he started to rise again. A new start. On a new path. And with new determination. He worked several minimum wage jobs. He entered back in to college (again) for the third time. He finished college and graduated.
The Move to Washington, D.C.
The Move to Washington, D.C.
The Move to Washington, D.C.
After college, our founder was determined to chart a fresh course for himself. He chose to leave California and head out East. His friends gave him a big going away party at the Cheesecake Factory. "Why the East Coast," they asked. "No earthquakes and no fires," he said. They all laughed, they hugged him, and they wished him well.
Our foun
After college, our founder was determined to chart a fresh course for himself. He chose to leave California and head out East. His friends gave him a big going away party at the Cheesecake Factory. "Why the East Coast," they asked. "No earthquakes and no fires," he said. They all laughed, they hugged him, and they wished him well.
Our founder relocated to the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. There he started a career as an Economist. He started working for the Federal Government's Consumer Price Index (CPI).
In Washington, our founder continued to meet good people. Almost every day he was blessed with the experience of walking past D.C.'s great monuments during lunch. The U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Capital. Union Station. The Postal Square Museum. The monuments were everywhere. And they were magnificent.
He came in to his own while working at this agency. He learned to love numbers, the economy, science, and Maryland crab cakes!
Flag Football
The Move to Washington, D.C.
The Test of a Man
Now that our founding father was working for the Federal Government, he got involved in his Federal Government Agency's Flag Football League.
(He also tried soccer with the Congressional Budget Office but those younger members were so strong and fast that they ran circles around him and left laying on the grass, exhausted. The first day he
Now that our founding father was working for the Federal Government, he got involved in his Federal Government Agency's Flag Football League.
(He also tried soccer with the Congressional Budget Office but those younger members were so strong and fast that they ran circles around him and left laying on the grass, exhausted. The first day he played soccer with them was his last.) At least there are breaks in football!
He played flag football with some of best minds in the industry, and was even forgiven when he threw a football incorrectly that injured a friend's catching finger.
The agency that produced the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was like a family to him. And the way these people treated him made him feel at home. He worked for them, tirelessly.
And the more they gave to him, the more he wanted to give back. The more support they showed. The harder he worked. And the harder he worked, the more his friends supported him.
It was at this agency where he went on his very first and only cruise. His new best friend invited him. This person refused to accept no for an answer when he invited our founder on a cruise with friends that our founder did not know. It was one of the best experiences of his life, and still is.
The Test of a Man
Making a Difference in the Federal Government
The Test of a Man
Little did our founder know that another test was just around the corner.
Everything changed on September 11th, 2001. The World Trade Tower and Pentagon plane bombings were horrific and shocking. Our founder watched the tragedy unfold on TV with his friends from inside his workplace.
But, unlike the 1989 Loma Prieto Earthquake. Unlike the 1
Little did our founder know that another test was just around the corner.
Everything changed on September 11th, 2001. The World Trade Tower and Pentagon plane bombings were horrific and shocking. Our founder watched the tragedy unfold on TV with his friends from inside his workplace.
But, unlike the 1989 Loma Prieto Earthquake. Unlike the 1991 Oakland Firestorm. This time, he did not leave. He was tired of running. So he stayed instead.
The Snare of the Sniper
Making a Difference in the Federal Government
Making a Difference in the Federal Government
And when the Washington D.C. Sniper started killing people with the first death occurring in the next city over from him. he stayed. And he didn't let it sway his decision to complete the house purchase. Even after the first victim was killed within walking distance of the new home's location, he still went to closing. He bought his first
And when the Washington D.C. Sniper started killing people with the first death occurring in the next city over from him. he stayed. And he didn't let it sway his decision to complete the house purchase. Even after the first victim was killed within walking distance of the new home's location, he still went to closing. He bought his first house that month.
And as a result he was now a home owner with a mortgage for a single family residence that was only $40 more a month than the rent on his junior studio apartment. After the sniper tragedy was no longer headline news and the sniper was caught, the home ended up being one of the best investments he has every made.
These experiences taught our founder a valuable lesson: death stares at us all. All we can do is stare back. And there is therefore nothing to do about it, except to live. So he stopped running away. He started living.
Making a Difference in the Federal Government
Making a Difference in the Federal Government
Making a Difference in the Federal Government
Even with the tragedies that occurred early on during his stay in the D.C. area, he continued on with his career.
He enjoyed being an Economist working for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). He enjoyed the people there. He enjoyed the time he spent on the weekends with his coworkers. And he enjoyed how hard he worked. As the people in the wor
Even with the tragedies that occurred early on during his stay in the D.C. area, he continued on with his career.
He enjoyed being an Economist working for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). He enjoyed the people there. He enjoyed the time he spent on the weekends with his coworkers. And he enjoyed how hard he worked. As the people in the workplace continued to be his family, he continued to do every thing in his power to make a difference in their lives. To make their work easier for them. To make their lives easier.
He helped the Consumer Price Index move from paper data collection to electronic data collection. He created dozens of database programs that were used to access never-before-obtained critical data from inside live-moving production databases. He used these reports to keep CPI data collection quality high. And in doing so elevated the data collection office's core mission to a whole new mission.
Yes, the founder of our movement is also the the founder of Data Science.
Home Away from Home
Home Away from Home
Coming Up with a Plan for Self-Teaching
Departing on a New Adventure
So in addition to the daily walks, cruise ships, and weekend hiking trips with his coworkers, there were countless meetings, economics book readings, and database programs.
The agency that produced the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was like a family to him. They were a home away from home for him. And they left him with an even stronger desire to do more good for his country.
Departing on a New Adventure
Coming Up with a Plan for Self-Teaching
Departing on a New Adventure
In 2018 he departed from the Federal Government. He had accomplished a lot while working for his country, but, he had also developed a serious problem with his health: diabetes. And the doctor's told him that it was tied to his demanding career. Reluctantly, Widener left the Federal Government in order to make a full and healthy recovery.
Widener turned more of his attention to the local entertainment activities that he had been doing on the side, and learned that it actually brought him great joy and a lot of "unofficial therapy."
He continued to enjoy bring joy to others through dance and MC'ing ... and used the new peace he had to think more about some new approaches to addressing his country's economic concerns.
Coming Up with a Plan for Self-Teaching
Coming Up with a Plan for Self-Teaching
Coming Up with a Plan for Self-Teaching
But in order to learn and share some new approaches to improving the economy, Widener would have accumulate more information.
Luckily for Widener, his extra-curricular activities on the weekends, dating back to 2015, were already developing in to an opportunity to gain all the knowledge about the economy that he would need.
But he still ne
But in order to learn and share some new approaches to improving the economy, Widener would have accumulate more information.
Luckily for Widener, his extra-curricular activities on the weekends, dating back to 2015, were already developing in to an opportunity to gain all the knowledge about the economy that he would need.
But he still needed more information. As a result, and as a part of his new small business entrepreneurial efforts, Widener started up several different projects at the same time. He started up retail, rental cars, research, and something he called "refresh-tainment."
The Birth of Onus Pro
The Birth of Onus Pro
Once again, there were people present along the journey to help.
Our founder's former workmates from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) were once again supportive. Our founders friends in the local entertainment industry were also supportive.
People bought retail items from him. They lent him money. They encouraged him to grow. They encouraged him to learn.
In the end, our founder's group of small business projects developed in to a more elaborate business concept. It involved a holding company and multiple divisions.
Our founder called the company: Onus Pro.
About Our Philanthropic Activities
Onus Pro Giving
Onus Pro Giving is our company's way of giving back to the community ... the entire national community. Onus Pro Giving is an attempt at securing the funding we need to give back. Necessary funding will enable us to sustain operations for our divisional and branding brands efforts. To prop up our business models and our approach to business, we can set the example of doing business in a way that is healthy for our country and for consumers who purchase consumer goods. Visit the Onus Pro Giving website for more details on the origin of the Onus Movement, why we do what we do, and how you can help. Own the Onus!
Onus Pro Burdens
Onus Pro Burdens is our company's way of documenting our past efforts at giving back to the community ... the entire national community. Onus Pro Burdens is a complimentary site accompanying our Onus Pro Giving site that enables our benefactors to see our past give-back efforts and their outcomes.
Much of our efforts were happening long before Onus Pro itself came in to existence. But those efforts are still documented here, nonetheless.
So, go ahead and take a look at the past and go down the Onus Pro Giving Memory Lane. See the efforts. See the results. See the journey. We appreciate the time you will give to read about these past experiences. Thank you!