Beyond Land Acknowledgment

Alameda Native History Project has a standing policy to never contact or involve Tribal Members or Tribes unless there is a clear and tangential Tribal Benefit To Participation. Truthfully, the reason why this policy was set was mostly out of respect for the lived experiences of the Tribal Members of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of… Continue reading Beyond Land Acknowledgment

Save Shellmounds Not Parking Lots

While these places may be on our traditional homelands, and within our tribal territories: Brownfields properties and Supferfund sites are neither appropriate, nor respectful gifts of atonement to the Indigenous People the entire Western Hemisphere was stolen from. It is a waste of resources for indigenous non-profiteers, like Corrina Gould, to focus primarily on post-industrial… Continue reading Save Shellmounds Not Parking Lots

Toxic Land Is Not Land Back : Proper Remediation Must Be Performed First

Just to be clear: eating food grown in contaminated soil may not result in contaminated food… Even though petrochemical aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are largely unstudied “likely” carcinogens–some of which have been found to move through the soil easily into water; and that contamination can move from soil to food to animals. Petrochemical Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)… Continue reading Toxic Land Is Not Land Back : Proper Remediation Must Be Performed First

One More Reason Why Land Acknowledgment is Important: Letter to Museum of San Ramon Valley

The following is an email sent to John Keenan, volunteer at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley, in reply to his request for topics for Zoom Lectures at the museum: Land Acknowledgement is an important step in naming and acknowledging the people who actually belong to this land. It’s a proclamation that has no… Continue reading One More Reason Why Land Acknowledgment is Important: Letter to Museum of San Ramon Valley

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… Continue reading 3 Ways Public Art Promotes Pan-Indian Confusion

Tribal Groups of the San Francisco Bay Region (and How To Pick a Tribal Consultant)

Tribal land claims are complex, and overlapping. This is especially true Today; when seeking out tribes for legally required consultation around Native American Graves and Cultural Resources.