Winnemem Wintu hold Salmon ceremony at Glen Cove

On Saturday, June 4th, over a dozen members of
the Winnemem Wintu tribe held a ceremony for the Salmon at Sogorea Te (Glen Cove), and blessed the sacred grounds that Native people and their supporters have been standing upon in prayer for 52 days and nights. Over 100 people participated in the ceremony, held on a bluff overlooking the waters of the Carquinez Strait.

The Shasta Dam: A weapon of mass destruction

The homeland of the Winnemem Wintu is centered around the McCloud River in Northern California, which for thousands of years was one of the most fertile salmon spawning rivers in the West. In the 1940s, construction of the Shasta Dam resulted in the flooding of Winnemem villages and sacred places, and effectively wiped out the McCloud Salmon by blocking their upriver passage. The Winnemem are currently battling a proposal to further raise the Shasta Dam, and are working passionately to restore their ancestral relationship with Nur, the Salmon.

On their long journey from the ocean to Winnemem Wintu territory, the Salmon must swim up the Carquinez Strait, passing Glen Cove and entering the estuary formed by the Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta. Caleen Sisk-Franco, Winnemem Wintu Chief and Spiritual Leader, explained why the Winnemem were holding a ceremony for at Glen Cove:

"This is the estuary that we rely upon. Its really kind of a magical place. Here, the salmon change their whole way of being, from salt water to fresh water. Our salmon are swimming through here, and so we should do our part: to stand up and speak for the salmon. Thats why we were given voices.

We are working to open up the areas that the salmon need to return. This is one of the very sensitive areas that needs to be woken up and prayed for…so that the Salmon may return."

Caleen Sisk-Franco explained that the Winnemem Wintu are also connected with the Sogorea Te area through the water, the salmon, and because historically, this North shore of the Carquniez Strait is the southern boundary of the Winnemem’s traditional use area. She expressed that “We want to help out as much as we can, but we are ‘unrecognized’ too [Federally unrecognized, as are the Ohlone people]…so no one listens to us either!”

“There are a lot of old ones here, you can feel them. This whole place should be protected, in its natural condition. Its been disturbed in the past, its been hurt. There’s a lot of things that happened here that shouldn’t have. But you can feel that its still alive.

What they are doing is robbing us of our cultural knowledge. The knowledge, you’re not going to find it in any books. Its in the water, its in the rocks. The knowledge is never lost…it is only we who are lost.

For thousands of years, the people have been coming here. They came for a reason. And we’ve got to keep coming here, for the same reasons. Because this place is alive. The old people are here.”

The Winnemem blessed the ground with spring water from Mt. Shasta, and used a bow-drill to ignite a ceremonial fire, which was kept burning with wood gathered in their territory. Acorns from the Mt. Shasta area and river rocks from the McCloud and Upper Sacramento rivers were placed in abalone shells around the fire, so that the Salmon would know that they were being called home.

The Winnemem people sung many of their traditional songs, calling in different spirits of the land and water, then later returning them to rest. After some of the songs, Caleen Sisk-Franco spoke briefly about their meanings and origins.

As the day grew longer, the Winnemem asked what other indigenous peoples were represented in the circle, and invited them to share their own songs if they wished. Kayla Rae Carpenter (Hupa) sung a Salmon song of her people, after explaining that the waters of her homeland were connected with the Estuary as well, though only because of man-made water diversions from the Trinity River to the Sacramento River. Wicahpiluta Candelaria (Rumsen Ohlone/Apache) sang traditional Ohlone prayer songs, his voice and the sharp clack of the clapper stick carrying far across the cove and echoing back. Songs were also shared by David Garcia (Tohono O’odham), Carlos Romero (Mexica) and Galeson Eagle Star (Oglala Lakota).

Caleen Sisk-Franco spoke words of encouragement to the group of people who have dedicated themselves to the protection of Sogorea Te. Pine nuts from the high mountains were handed out to supporters, who were urged to continue standing by the Native people who are leading the struggle, regardless of however the opposition might attempt to discredit them.

Caleen Sisk-Franco and her niece Marisa, in training to one day assume Caleen’s responsibilities as a spiritual leader.

“The work you’re doing is hard. I want to affirm that it is important and right. Pray, so that your message to the world is clear, and we get what we want. Pray so that you have the strength to take whatever is coming your way, and then turn it around for the good.

We may be few but we are not alone. There are people all over the world who are standing up and fighting for Mother Earth. To stop development, to stop the dams, and the mining.

We’re getting ready to win. Its coming to us. Whatever it takes to get ready, we’re doing it.”

Related articles:

Winnemem Wintu links

Photos

Defenders of the land: Johnella LaRose (Shoshone Bannock), Wounded Knee DeOcampo (Miwok), Caleen Sisk-Franco (Winnemem Wintu), Corrina Gould (Karkin Ohlone) Photo: Marc Dadigan

Looking East across Glen Cove. Photo credit, above and below: Marc Dadigan

Lining up to get smudged in to the ceremonial grounds

Corrina Gould (Karkin/Chochenyo Ohlone) standing upon the very ground that GVRD is proposing to bulldoze. When the housing development seen behind her was built, human remains and cremations were unearthed. Photo: Marc Dadigan

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8 Responses to Winnemem Wintu hold Salmon ceremony at Glen Cove

  1. Simone Schulz says:

    In support of Indigenous Peoples struggle… around the world… to protect the last pristine places on earth… I pray with you…

  2. Malc says:

    I have enjoyed your story and my heart is with you and the Salmon and the Mother, Sadly i cannot spare any funds as we live close to the Earth and have little—but i do walk softly and feel my children are Human Beings!

  3. Elizabeth Wilson says:

    My heart goes out to my native people for their plight. Its heart breaking what these Corporate and Govt funded companies are doing to the land and the people. For centuries it has been just take and no give back. When the Salmon is gone…….they are gone forever, and a way of life for the native and local people is gone too. Haven’t they done enough raping of the land and now they want more. How would these culprits like it if we had to go into their front yards and did that to them. Us natives have never ever desecrated a burial ground or a sacred site. To Christians a sacred site is a cemetery, church. How would they like it if our people went in and flooded their cemeteries huh. or tore down their churches because they were in the way.

  4. Lopez Tattoo says:

    Hot Prayers from the Inland Valley Chino Pomona area. Ohlone Nation . Indigenous reamain and return . Houses are fake . MOTHER EARTH, FATHER SKY Creator Bless them.

  5. I am part of a group helping to stop the building of the Belo Monte Dam in the Amazon which will steal the lands of 40000 Kayapo tribe and destory vast areas of the Amazon watershed and rainforest. I’d like to stand in solidarity with you. This is our group. We are coming together internationally now. Which means that the people who are building dams have millions of people uniting internationally to stop them… I thin if we help each other at significant times we can make a big difference in each other’sstruggles. Thank you for what you’re doing.
    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Support-Chief-Raoni/206875702683503

  6. Makere says:

    i was so happy to see you all again in this video. my heart is with you all always.
    Kia kaha, kia u, kia mataara.
    Keep in touch
    Makere

  7. Sam Kurshan says:

    Wounded,

    My heart and spirit have always been supportive of you. There are many kind, decent and compassionate people in Vallejo who offer the same support. Do not be swayed by the handful of hateful, insensitive souls. Your comments echo the gentle, sensitive feelings and respect I have experienced every time I have visited the site. There is and continues to be, nothing but a peaceful spirit of love and pride exhibited by the people demonstrating there, for the sacred land your ancestors are buried on.

    I have absolutely no regrets for supporting the people protesting the building of toilets and parking spaces on Native American burial ground. I also find it odd that the formally designated tribe only spoke up now.

    I am a person who has the courage to stand behind my beliefs. Just because an issue is controversial or unpopular with some, will not cause me to withdraw my support of it.

    God will continue to watch over and protect you and your supporters. You will prevail.

    Sincerely,

    Sam Kurshan

    Sam Kurshan for Vallejo City Council 2011

    Ho

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