Pit River Tribe Passes Resolution in Support of Sacred Site

Sogorea Te Sacred Site Protest-Day 44

by Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Witnessing History

VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA - The Pit River Tribe, a federally recognized tribe, passed a resolution that acknowledges the Glen Cove Shellmound Burial as a sacred site. The Glen Cove site is what is also known as to Sogorea Te.

The Pit River Tribe is composed of eleven autonomous bands located in northeastern California. Nine members of the Pit River Tribal Council were present and signed the document. The Resolution was signed on May 24, 2011 and was released in news release late Friday.

The Resolution of Support is for the protection and preservation of the Sogorea Te sacred burial site. The Resolution reads, in part:

“the Glen Cove Shellmound Burial… deserves the respect and protection for future generations.”

American Indians from the San Francisco Bay area have been at the site for the past 44 days and are into their seventh week. They have been there since April 13, when they began their protest over the, then imminent, bulldozing of Sogorea Te.

They are protesting the proposed $1.5 million construction of the two toilets and a parking lot on the site.

“We are in a stalemate”

said Henry “Grey Eagle” Padilla (Navajo), who serves on the Sacred Sites Protection and Rights of Indigenous Tribes (SSP&RIT) committee that has organized the spiritual encampment. “We still need the continued support.”

Several activities are planned at the Sogorea Te sacred burial site over the Memorial Day weekend. Two for Saturday are:

A workshop on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be held at Sogorea Te between 2-4pm.

Morning Star (Pit River) and Mark Anquoe (Kiowa) of the International Indian Treaty Council will be hosting the workshop, and Mark Anquoe will be giving a report-back from the 10th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues that he participated in earlier this month.

A know-your-rights and legal observation training will also be held at Sogorea Te from 12-1:30pm, hosted by volunteers from the National Lawyers Guild.

“Those supporters who plan on standing with us in the event of an emergency are encouraged to attend this training.” Said Padilla.

posted May 28, 2011 3:27 pm et

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