Posted on 06/19/2024 7:57:30 PM PDT by thecodont
The Shasta Indian Nation will be returned 2,820 acres of ancestral land in northwestern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday.
The land return is the largest in California history and comes as a reconciliation effort to apologize to Native communities for historical injustices, the release said.
Newsom's office said he discussed the land return with the Shasta Indian Nation earlier this month after visiting the Klamath River dam removal project, which is on ancestral lands near the California-Oregon border. The project is the largest dam removal and river restoration in the country intended to restore land and more than 300 miles of salmon habitat. The 2,820 acres of land being transferred are associated with the dams, the governor's office said.
Several dams along the Klamath River are being removed as part of the land return. The Copco and Iron Gate dams are two of the four that have already been drained.
The land was originally taken from the Shasta people more than 100 years ago after the Copco dam was constructed, Shasta Indian Nation Chairperson Janice Crowe said in a statement.
"The Shasta Indian Nation is pleased with the Governor’s decision to support the return our ancestral lands and sacred sites," Crowe said. "Having access to our ceremonial sites, including the site of our First Salmon Ceremony, is critical to the spiritual and emotional health of our people."
The transfer of land announcement also comes during the fifth anniversary of the state's formal apology to California Native Americans, which created a Truth and Hearing Council. The council includes a state tribal advisor and representatives from Native American tribes who are responsible for drafting a report by Jan. 1, 2025 with "findings regarding the historical relationship between the state and Native Americans," according to the government's office.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
There’s gotta be at least one good casino in that deal.
Throw in a smoke shop (cheap smokes!) and sovereignty to conduct some ancient peyote rituals.
As long as Native Americans get to own it, I'm good with that. I'm against states like Maryland getting into the casino business.
This is rather unclear. Is this state land they are giving away or private?
Indians have become a phony as a $3 bill. They don’t seem to like to work. But they have gambling in their blood...and unfortunately, we promote it.
> The land was originally taken from the Shasta people more than 100 years ago after the Copco dam was constructed… <
I get that the United States was not always fair. But it’s a good bet that the Shasta people had previously taken the land from some weaker tribe. Somebody should look into that.
Blah blah blah… sacred sites… blah blah blah
I don’t drink much soda now, but I used to.
Now, I stick to either Canada Dry or Squirt. Easier to digest
Shasta was one of my favorites because of their flavors.
That and Fanta. Back when Pop was pop. Not over-sugared and over-caffinated.
If salmon areas are critical for their spiritual well being, they’re in serious trouble. I say this as the wife of an American Indian.
Agree....
How about they buy it.
Anyone ever do a DNA analysis?
We have the disadvantage of being the last winners. We seem to be the only country who gives back land we conquered.
The Shasta Tribe. They make great diet soda.
I guess they need the votes?
I looked at the ingredients in Shasta and I decided I won’t drink it...way too much unneeded stuff. Started 1928....acquired by Sara Lee in the 60’s...then National Beverage Corp in 1985.
> Indians have become a phony as a $3 bill. They don’t seem to like to work. But they have gambling in their blood...and unfortunately, we promote it.
Some Indians (eg the Pit River tribe) in the Northern California were cheated out of their tribal lands via the courts as recently as the mid 1970s.
Some Indian tribes (eg the Ohlone) have not been formal recognized as federal entities. This allegedly prevents the tribes and any tribe members from having legal standing which is needed to restore historic (not prehistoric) wrongs inflicted since California territorial incorporation and statehood.
I do not know particulars involving the Indian casinos, but I suspect that they might not have been given much choice in whether or not to accept such deals given the politics of the times.
Without tribal lands, the Indians in practice are faced with a choice of being trespassers on their own historic lands, entering the gambling industry, or losing their collective cultural identity altogether.
Not "last winners", only the "most recent winners". Rest assured, someday, some other group will take it away from us.
> We seem to be the only country who gives back land we conquered.
Yeah, that puzzles me too. What's the point of taking something if you're just going to put it back? Seems like a lot work....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.