Many of you may well be aware of the prolonged struggle to save the Sinkyone Wilderness area, and of the Indian and non-Indian dream of preserving this land for our future generations. This area contains the last of the coastal "old growth" redwoods and many sites that remain culturally and archaeologically significant to our people, yet there are some that are intent in keeping some of this land in the timber production zone for future logging. Whereas they plan on cutting trees in the near future, we plan on reforesting the cut over lands and reintroducing the ancient trail corridors. What we have here is a situation where people who never tried to save the Sinkyone on its eve of destruction, now take credit for saving it, and want the final say in the disposition of the land. Whereas our Original People have managed to live in balance with all in this area, now there are people that think we do not know how to care for our land and that we are going to destroy the Sinkyone.
The law suit that saved the Sinkyone is known as EPIC vs. Johnson, July 1985, where the Appellate Court held that the California Department of Forestry had failed to adhere to its own procedures, on several counts, necessary to the approval of Timber Harvesting Plans, (CA Ct of App., 1st Dist., Sup,Ct.No. 48383). This case set a legal precedent and the California Department of Forestry (CDF) had to revamp its procedures. To this date many Indian and non-Indian people that are concerned about the future of the forests of Northern California have to be vigilant in order to keep this land from becoming a desert. The desertification of Northern California is evident in the changing weather conditions, rivers, streams, lakes, fish and animal population. Therefore, we urge you to consider the words of one of our elders as well as recent scientific findings, "the boom is over for the timber industry and we must find other ways to make a living."
Some people and public entities are of the opinion that the Sinkyone, Wailaki speaking people, have vanished - in fact, that is what one of the signs in the Sinkyone State Park stated. We know that in the first half of the 19th century the U.S and California State governments paid its citizens to kill American Indians, and, in this case, the Sinkyone People. The Original People of the Sinkyone were either killed or removed to other areas, then the natural resources were exploited without restraint. Some of the Sinkyone were forced to live in the hills like hunted animals, until they were no longer perceived as a threat. However, we are honored and pleased to say that they are here among us today, contrary to popular belief.
Our belief is it is best to charge the Native American community with the protection of the Sinkyone wilderness. Therefore, the Inter-Tribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council was formed with a community specific objective of managing and caring for the cultural, burial and archaeological sites as well as the natural resources within the Sinkyone Wilderness. Unfortunately, the Sierra Club, the International Woodworkers of America, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors, Senator Keene and Assemblyman Hauser circumvented our participation and made several deals amongst themselves regarding the Sinkyone.
As we close for now we ask that you provide us with your assistance in the creation of this Inter-Tribal Indian Park, where traditional Native American uses will be maintained and its lessons will be available to all of Life's Creation. The Original People of this land hold thousands of years of experience and knowledge of this land that we are willing to share in the protection of our Mother Earth.
Respectively we say this in the Spirit of Our Ancestors.
For more information, please call (707) 485-8723
A Sinkyone Slide Show and Speakers are available upon request.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2003
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited