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Indigenous peoples say, ‘Protect sacred sites’

Published Jun 11, 2012 9:04 PM

Wounded Knee De Ocampo, Corrina Gould,
Chief Caleen Sisk and Morning Star Gali.
WW photo: Terri Kay

Indigenous leaders from northern California tribes held a series of meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area to raise awareness of and support for some of their current and upcoming struggles. Speakers included Wounded Knee De Ocampo, Corrina Gould, Chief Caleen Sisk and Morning Star Gali.

Wounded Knee and Gould spoke of a broken agreement at Sogorea Te (Glen Cove) in Vallejo, Calif. From April through July 2011, a tremendous struggle and occupation of the land occurred to prevent the sacred gathering place and burial ground from being desecrated. The Greater Vallejo Recreation District violated an agreement with the tribes and graded a hill containing remains of Indigenous people and put in a parking lot. Vegetation has been removed as well.

Now the GVRD is planning an opening ceremony for the “park” on June 16 at 11 a.m. The tribes are calling for people to meet there at 10 a.m., wear black T-shirts and carry signs saying “No celebration for desecration.” See protectglencove.org.

Sisk spoke of the struggles of the Winnemem Wintu, whose name means “Middle Water People.” They are intimately connected to the McCloud River, Mount Shasta and the surrounding meadows. The federal government no longer recognizes them as a tribe. They have been trying to hold a Coming of Age Ceremony for the past five years, and need the U.S. Forest Service to close the McCloud River to traffic for four days. The tribe is calling “for all the good-hearted people to come out in kayaks, inner tubes, boats, and canoes to help close the 400 yards of river for [the] Coming of Age ceremony” from June 30 to July 3. Visit saveourceremony.com.

Gali spoke about the Elem Colony and their struggle to protect Rattlesnake Island from desecration by millionaire developer John Nady. The land was sold out from under the Elem people. The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 not to require an Environmental Impact Report, which would have called for a focused study of the archaeological and cultural resources located on Rattlesnake Island. Nady is moving forward with building a house on the island in Clearlake, Calif., which will desecrate the site. Go to elemmodun.org for more information.

Gould also spoke on how Brushy Peak in Pleasanton, Calif., was recently opened to public trails by the East Bay Regional Parks. It is the point of origin for the Ohlone people.