-
3 Ways Public Art Promotes Pan-Indian Confusion
While being billed and paid for as an “homage to the gentle savages which once roamed the coasts and hills of this area thousands of years ago”: Many of the images presented to you as “Native American Art”, and installed in places like Parks, Malls, Skate Parks, and other Public Spaces, and “Public Arenas”, are […]
-
Ohlone: The First Alamedans, “Were Not a ‘Branch of Miwok Indians’”
When “The Spanish” came to the San Francisco Bay Area, they called all of the people who lived here “Costanoans”; and promptly killed, and corralled them into the California Missions; then began to colonize the land by bringing cows, catfish, eucalyptus, and other foreign plants and animals. The primary language for the Mission San Jose […]
-
Alameda’s Racist History: If You Won’t Share Ours, Give Back Our Artifacts
Alameda is a model colonial city. Their Victorian houses, and expansive gardens have been written about for hundreds of years. Regular Alameda Garden Tours, and Alameda Legacy Home Tours extoll the virtues of Alameda’s First Colonizers. These historical celebrations routinely leave out facts, such as, “This garden was fertilized by using human remains found in […]
-
You Don’t Know Jack About Native America
Stop giving money to organizations and “causes” you know nothing about. Non-profit organizations cannot be tribal governments. (The exercise of Tribal Sovereignty is not a charitable purpose.) Organizations, like Sogorea Te “Land Trust” claim to be devoted to returning native land to native hands…. But which tribes are these organizations actually associated with? Real Tribal […]
-
In Defense of Native America: The People versus David Van Horn
An archaeologist is sued by the California Attorney General, and the Native American Heritage Commission for the return of stolen Native American Artifacts. People v. Van Horn (1990) The only “published” case in California where any entity is being sued by “The People”. In this case: the State of California is suing David Van Horn, and […]
-
New Confederated Villages of the Lisjan, INC. parts ways with Corrina Gould
The Confederated Villages of the Lisjan, INC. has changed from a mutual benefit corporation, to a Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to “relief of poverty in urban rez (sf bay area), mutual aid admin.” This is a change from the tribal government Confederated Villages of the Lisjan, INC was purporting itself to be. The original Confederated […]
-
The Side Effects of Institutional Gatekeeping of Tribal Knowledge & Native American Sacred Sites and Cultural Assets
From the beginning of my life, I never had the opportunity to learn about my culture, or where I was from. For the first 12 years of my life, I never even saw another Paiute person. This was because I was adopted at birth. I knew that I was Native American. That I should be […]
-
Who are the people who inhabited the area now known as the City of Alameda?
A Frequently Asked Question about Ohlone People, the First Alamedans, and the Tribe Fighting for Federal Re-Recognition. This is one such reply.
-
What Does “Save Shellmounds, Not Parking Lots” Even Mean?
It’s not just a salty catch-phrase. It’s a plea for reason, and a plan to move forward in realizing the protection and return of sacred Native American sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. The only way to protect sacred sites, like Shellmounds, and Petroglyphs, is by actively protecting them. This means: Recognizing the difference […]
-
Who, What, and Where is Lisjan?
“Lisjan” has been referred to as a Traditional Ohlone Village Site, in East Oakland. Both the San Leandro Creek, and San Lorenzo Creek bear the name of “Lisjan” creek. But “Lisjan” isn’t even an Ohlone word. “Lisjan” is what Nisenan People call the city of Pleasanton, California. And, just to be clear: Pleasanton wasn’t called […]