Indigenous-Led Research Project Creates Restoration of Historical Landmarks (Shellmounds) in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Alameda Native History Project project presents a map of the three Alameda Shellmounds, as seen by N.C. Nelson in 1907, restored and presented in the present-day landscape. For the first time ever, the Shellmounds of Alameda are being visualized, and presented as a physical, tangible land feature. The purpose of this map is to:… Continue reading Indigenous-Led Research Project Creates Restoration of Historical Landmarks (Shellmounds) in the San Francisco Bay Area

The Alameda Shellmounds Map: The First Alamedans

Created using derivatives of open-source data, including (but not limited to) USGS, NOAA, USCG, NASA, Google Earth. Analyzed, processed, and produced by the Alameda Native History Project, using open-source software available to anyone with a smart phone, and the most basic computer. Why did the Alameda Native History Project create these maps? Necessity The first… Continue reading The Alameda Shellmounds Map: The First Alamedans

Bay Area Shellmound Map

Alameda Native History Project’s map of the Shellmounds of the San Francisco Bay Area is available now. This map is based on N.C. Nelson’s “Map of the San Francisco Bay Region Showing Distribution of Shellheaps”, which was published in 1909. This map, represents the first-hand observations of shellmounds during N.C. Nelson’s survey of the San… Continue reading Bay Area Shellmound Map

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… Continue reading Ohlone: The First Alamedans, “Were Not a ‘Branch of Miwok Indians’”

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… Continue reading Alameda’s Racist History: If You Won’t Share Ours, Give Back Our Artifacts

New Confederated Villages of the Lisjan, INC. parts ways with Corrina Gould

Land Back Protest

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… Continue reading New Confederated Villages of the Lisjan, INC. parts ways with Corrina Gould

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… Continue reading What Does “Save Shellmounds, Not Parking Lots” Even Mean?

Milliken 2009, “A Time of Little Choice”, Has Just Been Liberated

Anthropology, Archaeology, and Ethnology have always been competitive fields. In the East Bay, Native American Graves Consulting is a booming, and exclusive business. And, the documented existence of the Ohlone people, who have occupied the East Bay continuously, for thousands of years, hinges upon the information locked away behind paygates; only being referenced by Developers,… Continue reading Milliken 2009, “A Time of Little Choice”, Has Just Been Liberated

Independent Alameda Native History Project Develops First 3D Shellmound Model

Local Native American-led Research Project Aims to Educate Public, Advocate for Shellmounds Click here to skip the article and download the Alameda Native History Project Shellmound Model, made by Gabriel Duncan. For the first time ever, an entirely independent research project, led by a Native American descendant, has produced a tangible representation of pre-contact Native… Continue reading Independent Alameda Native History Project Develops First 3D Shellmound Model

N.C. Nelson Shellmounds Coastlines: Then vs. Now

This map was really hard to conform using present-day landmarks. Not only has sea-level risen considerably in the past 112 Years; but much of the coast line noted in the Coastal Survey has eroded, or used as fill, to erase much of what was open water along the San Francisco Bay Area Shorelines. This is… Continue reading N.C. Nelson Shellmounds Coastlines: Then vs. Now