Alameda Native History Project

Latest Articles

What is the “Urban Reservation”?
First post. And a definition of the concept of an, “Urban Reservation”. The Urban Reservation, to me, is a place that can be quickly defined as analogous to the American idea of the “ghetto“. The distribution of ethnicity is unimportant; the defining point is that these areas do not offer enough food [external], jobs, or […]
East Bay Parks
First post. Necessary to lock down the links to this section. I’m going to use the blog entries to write travel essays about my Survey of the East Bay Regional Parks; posts will include pictures. I think I’m going to use galleries to present the Top 10 Pictures of each park. Stay tuned.
Alameda Native History Project: Shellmounds
Aside from this being my first post in this category; this is to announce that I’ve finished working on the Alameda Shellmounds project pages, of the Alameda Native History Project section of this website. Woo! The history of the Alameda Shellmounds, presented with research, and excerpts of historical sources, and some interpretation. The project is […]
Maps!
Been working on moving all of this website from the Google Sites, over to AlamedaNativeArt.com. One of the largest components of the Alameda Native History Project apparatus is the Maps Section. There were certain limitations to using google maps. Various licensing considerations that became really complicated; and super expensive. I had found OpenStreeMaps when I […]
First Post
There’s always a first post, post. This is it. My first post. I will be using post pages to share: ArticlesEssaysUpdatesStories And other things of interest. Re-posting articles from other sources, sharing news from Native America, and around the world. Rants. (That should have been in the list.) Anyway, this website is still under development. […]

Decolonize

History

Mission

The mission of the Alameda Native History Project is to decolonize history by presenting historically accurate information about the First Alamedans, and the Shellmounds of Alameda, without the use of paywalls, advertising, or compromising editorial control of what is a Native American led and created project.

Methods

  1. Present accurate, unambiguous information about the Native History of Alameda.
  2. Combat the misinformation, and omissions, of the white-washed narrative presented by Alameda’s historians.
  3. Hold public institutions accountable for their role in the continued erasure and marginalization of the First Alamedans; specifically, the City of Alameda, and the Alameda Museum.

Goals

To elevate the discussion of Native American history and life in (what’s known as) the City of Alameda, beyond the basic Western Colonial Fairytale of white people finding a lush, abandoned paradise, ripe for the taking–and asking, “Where did they all go?” [In spite of the fact such events as the “Indian Wars”, and “Trail of Tears”, were happening at the same time.]


To illuminate the fact that there were over 425 shellmounds in the San Francisco Bay Area; and at least 4 of those mounds existed in Alameda, and Bay Farm.


To achieve recognition for the shellmounds by the installation of monuments, memorials, and public art, where members of the public, can come and learn about the First Alamedans, and the importance, and sanctimony, of shellmounds.


To embolden the City of Alameda to apologize for the destruction of the Alameda Shellmounds, and take actions to ensure the survival and prosperity of Ohlone People, the repatriation of their ancestors and artifacts, and recompense for damage by atrocities committed in the City of Alameda’s name; and to recognize the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area as the true and sovereign Tribal Nation, and First Peoples, of what is now known as the City of Alameda.


To uplift the voices, prayers and efforts of other impacted, and marginalized communities; to stand up in solidarity with them, to value their lives, freedom, and self-determination, above profit and self-interest.

Alameda Shellmounds Map

The first, and original, Alameda Shellmound Map, by Gabriel Duncan. This map aggregates the pre-existing work by N.C. Nelson (on the Shellmounds of the San Francisco Bay Region); and Alameda’s own Imelda Merlin (from “Alameda: A Geological History”); and expounds on them, by tying in historical newspaper articles, and City of Alameda records, to create the most detailed, and complete picture of the Alameda Shellmounds to date.

Map of the Shellmounds of the San Francisco Bay Area

The larger sequel to the Alameda Shellmounds Map. This map was hand-plotted using a specially reprojected version of the N.C. Nelson map showing the distribution of shellmounds in the San Francisco Bay Region. While not all points are completely plotted, this interactive map helps to illustrate the density and prevalence of shellmounds in the Bay Area; and illuminate the concept of “Native Land” in a way which is more immediate, and tangible to contemporary learners.


@ Alameda Native History Project

Get In Touch

info@alamedanativehistoryproject.com

ADDRESS:

2201 Shore Line Drive #6334

Alameda, California 94501

PHONE NUMBER:

(510) 747-8423