Visitors Come to Sogorea Te as the “Spiritual Encampment” is in its Sixth Week

Sogorea Te Sacred Site Protest-Day 38

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

VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA - American Indians from the San Francisco Bay area are in their sixth week of their protest at the Sogorea Te sacred burial site, commonly known as Glen Cove. They have been there since April 13, when they began their protest over the then imminent bulldozing of Sogorea Te.

Dozens of New Visitors - American Indian and Non-Native - Arrive Each Day

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

“This is really a spiritual encampment,”

said Norman “Wounded Knee” DeOcampo (Miwok).

“We are in constant prayer, with the drum with our sacred fire.”

Throughout the spiritual encampment various American Indians from around the country have visited Sogorea Te to voice their support.

Dozens of new visitors - American Indian and non-Native - arrive each day at the spiritual encampment, as strategy meetings and legal work hum on in the background.

Gene Doherty, president of the Solano County Native Plant Society and two other Plant Society members visited Sogorea Te on Saturday evening and received a tour of the grounds. Gene Doherty is at the forefront of a community effort to take over management of the Benicia State Recreation Area (located just adjacent to Glen Cove), since the State Parks system has announced plans to close it due to budget shortfalls.

The visiting Native Plant Society members were very respectful and supportive. They agreed that there was no need for the Bay Trail to be routed through Glen Cove, and seemed to understand the importance of respecting Native peoples’ wishes regarding burial and sacred sites - Gene even asked if there were any known burial sites in the State Park that they should be knowledgeable about, so that his group can show the adequate respect.

posted May 23,2011 6:26 am et

Spiritual Encampment?  Not rated yet
It looks more like a home-less camp. No respect for the residents. The last thing I see when I enter my driveway are porta-potties.