Historic Agreement to Restore Karuk Cultural Site Signed

Native News Network Staff in Native Challenges. Discussion »

HAPPY CAMP, CALIFORNIA – On Tuesday, the Karuk Tribe and the US Forest Service announced the signing of an agreement that will ensure that one of the Karuk Tribe's most sacred landscapes will be restored using traditional land management techniques perfected by the Tribe over countless generations.

(l to r) Patti Grantham, Klamath National Forest Supervisor; Karuk Chairman Russell "Buster" Attebery and Tyrone Kelly, Six Rivers National Forest Supervisor

The Katimiin Cultural Management Area, near present day Somes Bar, California, is where the Tribe's Pikyawish - or "World Renewal" ceremonies are concluded each year. For years the Tribe has struggled to have the lands surrounding the ceremonial site managed in a manner consistent with cultural traditions. That struggle is now over.

According the Agreement:
" …the Tribe and the Forest Service can move forward in a the management of Katimiin Cultural Management Area in a way that is consistent with both Karuk cultural environmental management practices and the Klamath National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, which is administered by the Six Rivers National Forest."

According to Karuk Chairmen Russell Attebery,

“This Agreement will allow us to revitalize this sacred landscape through ceremonial burning and other practices. We hope this endeavor will lead to a more strategic approach to resource management based on traditional ecological knowledge, principal, practice and belief on a larger scale.”

The Tribe and the US Forest Service believe that traditional management on a large scale could help prevent catastrophic wildfires, as well as facilitate understanding and cooperation between distinct cultures, communities, and the natural environment.

According to Tyrone Kelley, Forest Supervisor, "This is the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort on behalf of both forests and the Karuk Tribe. We are pleased to be able to work alongside the Karuk people in this culturally important area of the forest. We are looking forward to restoring not only the lands, but strengthening our relationship with the Karuk Tribe. This Memorandum of Understanding hopefully will serve as the flagship for other agreements between the US Forest Service and the Tribe."

posted August 29, 2012 7:40 am edt