Editor’s note: This comment from Judith Lowry — echoed here previously when it comes to reporting on the Nisenan’s rightful heritage here — reminds me of the value of social media in breaking up the bottleneck of communications in a small town such as ours.
The expansion of the Tribute Trail will include a Nisenan Tribune Bridge, as reported here this week. SacBee.com passed on the information too, thanks to its effort to embrace social media (including this blog).
What’s laughable is in our own backyard, local “sources” and the local media remain silent, waiting for an official press release. So a lot of people are being kept in the dark, except the principals, of course, who know about it.
This is a classic example of our provincial, “cul-de-sac” mindset clashing with the real world. “If it wasn’t in The Union, it didn’t happen.”
When it comes to social media, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. As a consumer of information, I like that. It helps democratize a small town. Around here, it is badly needed.
Mr. Keachie,
Thanks for that bit of muckraking, you are correct, the Nisenan were originally excluded from the TT project. It took some educating and activism on the part of CHIRP (that’s me) and the NCR to assert their rightful heritage in Nevada County.
There was quite a bandwagon, loaded with local business people, non-profits and governmental agencies, heading for the cliff, until the Nevada County Historical Society took a closer look at the two tribal groups and concluded, by a preponderance of evidence that the Nisenan are the true heirs to these lands.
They issued a well researched report which apparently the Nevada County Board of Supervisors have not read or understood. That means our BOS is most likely in violation of Federal statutes with regard to tribal matters in their county, because they are allowing their endorsement of the Taylorsville Rancheria to stand, rather than admit their mistake.
Why did so many go in the wrong direction for so long? Ignorance and lack of historical education in Nevada County for one. Another reason may be that my opinion piece, “Let Us Not Forget the Nisenan”, recently published by the Union’s new editor Brian Hamilton, was written over three years ago, but never saw the light of day. The previous editor refused to print it, nor would he give me a reason why.
I tried to bring news of the Nisenan years ago to KMVR, where I had been a frequent guest on “Dreamwalk”. On that show, which defines itself as the last word in tribal matters in these parts, I was denied a microphone and told to leave the station. I appealed to the management of KVMR and was summarily dismissed, I tried to contact the KVMR board and was intercepted my KVMR management and told I could not see them.
Tell me, without the support of the local government and media, what were the Nisenan to do to get the word out?
Understand that once the Tsi-Akim PR got rolling it became a juggernaut and darned near impossible to reverse. I saw the Nisenan being overrun and decided to help them. Since that time I have been treated to an unvarnished view of Nevada County’s socio-political underbelly, not pretty. Too many folks who leapt before they looked, and are now hip deep in a sticky situation and would like the truth to go away, but it won’t.
All that said, I am a proponent of what I like to call, “No Indian Left Behind”. The Tsi Akim got a raw deal, like many tribes across the nation. I get it because my people are from Greenville and Susanville, our tribe’s Summer and Winter homes.
Greenville isn’t being recognized today because it was never a rancheria (nice word for reservation), it was an Indian boarding school and although it has a substantial population of Indian people, it doesn’t qualify for Federal trust. Nor does the Tsi Akim from what I have read. Their Taylorsville Rancheria was understandably abandoned during the great depression of the 1930′s.
When the Government went around shutting down rancherias in the 1960′s, as they did here in Nevada County with the NCR, they never went looking for any of the Taylorsville Indians. That’s not due diligence, and it isn’t fair to the Genesee Valley Indians, which is how I know the “Tsi Akim”, a name they adopted about 12 years ago when they incorporated.
It is a valid name and the Tsi Akim have a valid complaint against the Federal Government. But they ought to understand that trying to claim the lands of a tiny Southern tribe that just happens to be situated in an area of greater “cash flow”, is not right. How can the leadership of the Tsi Akim demand apologies and land bases from a county that rightfully belongs to another tribe? Perhaps we have learned too much from our conquerers.
Think about the last decade and all the folks who have partnered with the Plumas County tribe while ignoring the Nisenan. Lots of lost opportunity there. And what happens should the Great White Father eventually smile upon the Nevada City Rancheria?
It’s a long shot, but it’s rightfully their shot to take. If that happens they will go from being the “wallflower”, to being the “Belle of the ball”. Or maybe “Little Red Hen” might be a better analogy for the NCR, everyone is going to want a slice of their bread.
If I could, I would tell the Tsi Akim and their supporters to begin again. Taylorsville and Greenville happen to be situated in gloriously unspoiled high mountain valleys.
There is plenty of opportunity up there to create something prosperous that the tribe can be proud of. Mrs. Martin, a major supporter of the Tsi Akim told me herself that she is now working with them in Taylorsville, and that’s good.
But understand that if they attempt to do anything or build anything ugly up there, just to rake in money and power, without regard to the other tribes in their area, they will have another fight on their hands.
(Photo: Ben Furtado)
Filed under: Uncategorized
Judith:
I commend you for what you have done in recent years to educate people (including myself) about the true Nisenan legacy of Nevada City. I also commend Cowboy Wally for taking the lead at the county historical society.
When the Tsi-Akim emerged as apparent heirs to the local Native American heritage, I was one of those who supported the effort. I was encouraged by their activism and commitment and, as a member of the city council, enthusiastically encouraged their work through at least one Resolution of support.
I taught Nevada City history for eighteen years through the national Elderhostel program, lecturing to over 3,000 people from dozens of states. In hindsight, my sketchy description of Nisenan history was far less than it should have been, or could have been. And worst of all, I have come to understand that much of what I taught people was more myth than truth.
You and others have done the community a great service and I hope the BOS decides soon to admit that an error was made.
Thanks again for what you are doing.
I very much appreciate this detailed history.
For anyone who wants to study this further, I recommend getting the December 2010 report of the Nevada County Historical Society “Committee to Investigate The Society’s 2000 Endorsement of the Tsi-Akim Maidu.”
This is a compelling 67-page report consisting of an abundance of research and testimony, and most significantly the Nevada County Historical Society’s statement rescinding their previous endorsement of the Tsi Akim, concluding:
“The Boad may have been more cautious had it understood how its concurrence would be leveraged to gain endorsements in other localities.
The Board did not critically examine the resolution, but rather adopted it as a gesture of good will. In retrospect, this committee now sees that was a mistake.
Therefore, this committee recommends that the Nevada County Historical Society rescind its November 2, 2000 endorsement of the Tsi-Akim Maidu.”
You can email the historical society at info@nevadacountyhistory.org and request this report. When I did this, Board President Daniel Ketchem sent it to me as an email attachment with 24 hours of my request.
Whoops, typo: I should have written “Ketcham” …
Thanks Don. I wrote about this important report in January 2011, and I included a link to the report:
http://sierrafoothillsreport.com/2011/01/26/scoop-nisenan-win-key-backing-as-county-native-indians/
http://jeffpelline.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/nchs.pdf
Glad to have brought up the issue, John Collier, Jr. was one of my teachers.
If I am not mistaken, there was and may still be a couple of parcels up here in NSJ that were also a Rancheria, and would I be correct in assuming that it would have been Nisenan too?
The Tsi Akim were opportunists. They saw opportunity and took advantage of it. They owe this community an apology…if not more. Why do KVMR, Syrcl, and others continue this charade?
Mr. Shilling,
KVMR and SYRCL do indeed seem to be standing by their partnerships with the Tsi Akim Corp. That is their right and I wish them well. They continue to promote encroachments onto Nisenan sacred sites and disrupt those spaces with imported, new-age, “ceremonies” like “Calling back the Salmon”, which is offensive to the Nisenan. This has been explained to them. How would your local priests and pastors like their churches used for pagan ceremonies and black magic?
Splashing around in the river with a bunch of hippies and a dead fish is not, and never was Nisenan Salmon Doctoring. The Tsi Akim supporters at these things are co-opting Nisenan culture without regard to fact. While it must be fun to get to play “Indian” for a day, it makes life for some real Indian people kind of miserable.
The way I see it, there is no other way for KVMR and SYRCL to address the situation they are in but to show some courage and some class and begin to make right. That’s what Joanne Hild, Director of Sierra Streams Institute did over two years ago. She had the integrity and respect to look at the evidence, take a deep breath and do the right thing. It certainly wasn’t the SSI Director’s most comfortable moment of realization, but she didn’t flinch. Ms. Hild showed a lot more backbone than those little critters she studies in our rivers, and lots more than the leadership of SYRCL and KVMR, who are now leading their “stalking horse” around in circles with no place to go.
I understand that a lot of well-meaning folks got involved with the Taylorsville group out of the goodness in their hearts and perhaps with an eye to doing some kind of business with them in the future. But to make such commitments, involve our community, non-profits and governing agencies, to partner, invest and lend financial support to any group without really knowing what they were doing, or who they were dealing with, is stunning.
And, as a monument to all of that ignorance we have a ridiculous cone made of mill ends sitting at our city’s gateway. (Does anyone really think a Nisenan mother would put her children in something like that?) It will remain there permanently because, after having made the commitment, signed over the deed and allowed it to be placed it there, no power in the city or county can remove it. Congratulations, Nevada City.
Oh, and Grass Valley has a tribal corporate logo on one of their round about panels, when what they had really called for was an ancient Nisenan symbol. The artist was obviously misled, and GV is stuck with its mistake. Can’t take it down. Congratulations to Grass Valley, as well.
If anyone wants information about the Nisenan Culture and the NCR they have a website and you can contact me through them at:
http://nevadacityrancheria.org/
“I tried to bring news of the Nisenan years ago to KMVR, where I had been a frequent guest on “Dreamwalk”. On that show, which defines itself as the last word in tribal matters in these parts, I was denied a microphone and told to leave the station. I appealed to the management of KVMR and was summarily dismissed, I tried to contact the KVMR board and was intercepted my KVMR management and told I could not see them.”
Well, you have never contacted me and complained about KVMR. I never told you to leave the station, and I don’t believe you ever were. I’m Steve Baker, the program director of KVMR since 1998. Are you trying to tell me there was no mention of your event this year on KVMR? Utter nonsense. It was on our community calendar, it was featured in a major interview with KVMR’s Al Stahler and, again, I NEVER heard a word from you as we put together our plans for coverage of Indigenous Peoples Days on KVMR this year. I understand you met our general manager many months ago, you were encouraged to follow up with us, and you never did. End of story.
This year, we once again went with coverage of an event that has resonated with our listeners for some 14 years. We work with people who work with us. You can’t meet with someone in February, never contact us again, and whine about it in November.
Wait. You said you were a frequent guest on our station and on our native American affairs show, yet you were denied a microphone there. That makes no sense. And you were told the leave the station after being a frequent guest? And you were summarily dismissed by management? Who? When? It wasn’t me.
Again, I’m the Program Director of KVMR and this sounds like absolute and total nonsense.
Sorry, you have blown your sympathy with us. And I’m glad to expose your misstatements and lies about KVMR.
Mr. Baker,
I have no need of your sympathy, nor your radio station. Your boorish comments only convince me that having been halted at the gate by your Mr. Levin, I was spared your insults and rudeness.
I will be sending a detailed account of what happened to me at KVMR to Mrs. Goodman, who inspired me last week to stand up to little tin gods like you and speak truth to power. I might also have a talk with Michael Moore and enlighten him to the fact that what happened to his sister here in this town, happened to me, suppression, intimidation and warping of facts that the community has a right to know.
It is your problem who you have been “working” with. I am firmly grounded in the historical facts which you would like to ignore.
I think that you should know that your “Dreamwalk” program is pulp and laughable to many educated Indians. We take bets on how many cliches and stereotypes you will come up with on each show, including Estrella Acostas disastrously flawed “special”, “Blood, Gold, (and was it) ‘Healing’”? Totally cringeworthy.
Years ago I was a welcome guest on Skip’s show, but somewhere along the line, as I innocently began to speak up about the Nisenan, that changed. I had no idea that a machine was in place, but I soon figured it out.
After the awful experience of being walked off that show, I waited until your next fundraiser and gifted Dreamwalk with an “Angel” level donation. KVMR promised any Angel donor selection of the content of that program for a two hour period. Ask Mr. Levin to show you the profanity laced emails I received from Michael Ben Ortiz after that.
You and KVMR owe me and the Nisenan a show. Since Dreamwalk has branded itself as the voice of Native America in the Foothills, that is the very place to begin putting things right.
I expect you to try and welch on that deal, but don’t you expect me to go away.
One way or another KVMR will start telling to truthful story of the Nisenan and the Nevada City Rancheria, especially their struggles in the first decade of this century.
BTW, I notice your tribal friends are leaving you hanging with this one.
No comment on the Union article that exposed the truth. No help for you or KVMR. Have you wondered why?
Why don’t you go to them and pin them to the wall and demand to know why they did this to you and your station? Or is it easier to pick on a lone powerless woman, Mr. Baker?
From your piddly ivory tower, now hear this, in all gullibility and ignorance KVMR went in the wrong direction and then compounded the mistake by absolutely violating the rules of public broadcasting by suppressing my truthful information.
Now you need to fix it, and with great alacrity, because understand that this is a Federal issue and if you don’t address it properly, you could someday be responsible for bringing your whole organization down.
Steve, the information on the Nisenan has been available for some time. Why not head down to the Historical Society and maybe meet with our TRUE local tribe and get educated? By covering the Tsi Akim’s event you continue the charade. I can’t understand why anyone would have any involvement with the Tsi Akim after their misrepresentations. Does KVMR reach Taylorsville and Greenville?
The Nisenan were present for the interview on Mr. Stahler’s show because of the tie with the Nevada County Historical Society’s artifact symposium. The symposium was hosted within the Nisenan Heritage Day event.
While it was very cool to be on Mr. Stahler’s show there should be no assumption made that KVMR sought out the Nisenan for inclusion. I’m pretty sure it was because Mr. Stahler and Hank Meals (who I co-interviewed with about the symposium) are friends. Mr. Stahler then did a follow up live a few days later where we did get the opportunity to plug Nisenan Heritage Day. And, side note: thanks Al for making us feel so comfortable through the taping and live interviews!!
I guess much of this mess and misinformation is due the fact that the NIsenan (myself included as I am on the Tribal Council) do not know the first thing about public relations, media, promotion, networking, community politics, etc. etc. etc. This year we were included on the KVMR community calendar solely because of Lu Mellado. He saw that I had no clue what I was doing in the planning of Nisenan Heritage day and offered his assistance. Yay Lu!!! (He also updated our website’s front page to include downloadable content and graphics).
All this aside, I do not understand the way you are handling your conversation with Judith Lowry, Mr. Baker. If I were head of our community radio station and heard a serious foul being called, I would try to understand what was going on, why accusations were made, and handle the situation with the authority and dignity of such a position as the one you hold. Throwing someone on the mat and saying that it is all “nonsense” seems a bit school yard for my tastes; especially when the depth of the subject is complex such as this is with the Nisenan people.
I really don’t like conflict and this conversation has made me very uncomfortable
And, perhaps situations like this are reasons I continue to just be quiet. LoL.Though, I wish I had a just a bit of Judith’s fire!!! But, thus – my 2 cents.
Thank you Judith! Joanne Hild has been a local hero of mine for some time.
An interesting discussion, infused with genuine emotion. I became engrossed, and followed Jeff’s first link and read the 70 plus comments made in Jan. 2011. Being totally ignorant of local, pre-European situations; natives and their movements, customs, dispositions, etc., I read all with interest, postponing my planned response to Ben.
Among the many books I have purchased but not yet read is titled, Black Son Of the Miwok, by Jack Burrows, a retired professor of history
(Ooops, Hal, my laptop, posted agan before I was finished). from an un-named university. Eventually, I shall read the book, but was curious if anyone has read it and if it approaches a realistic–as far as is known–view of the Miwoks–I believe I saw the Miwok mentioned during the course of the ‘previous, multi-comments’ submitted expressing disagreement.
I do wonder if the local native populations were so different from those I’m more familiar with–the numerous Algonquins that inhabited the East coast ,
(I have no idea what Hal is doing. Just lost several paragraphs and this reappeared in reply box. With that, I’ll move on–too frustrating. (Ooops, Hal, my laptop, posted agan before I was finished). from an un-named university. Eventually, I shall read the book, but was curious if anyone has read it and if it approaches a realistic–as far as is known–view of the Miwoks–I believe I saw the Miwok mentioned during the course of the ‘previous, multi-comments’ submitted expressing disagreement.
I do wonder if the local native populations were so different from those I’m more familiar with–the numerous Algonquins that inhabited the East coast .
BTW,
Hooray for Emily Gallup.