The following Open Letter is from the Committee to Protect Glen Cove,
addressing recent misunderstandings and statements released by Cortina and Yocha Dehe:
The Committee to Protect Glen Cove would like to lend our support to the cultural easement proposal set forth by the Cortina and Yocha Dehe tribes.
After twelve years of dedicated struggle towards preventing the desecration of this 15-acres of sacred land, the local Native peoples involved applaud the decision by these two tribes to step up and join in its preservation.
We want to dispel several misunderstandings that have been circulated. First, this is not an inter-tribal conflict. We wish to work together as California Native peoples to do what is necessary to protect this sacred site – in this case, by supporting the cultural easement that the two federally recognized tribes have chosen to pursue.
Without our presence here for the last 71 days, Sogorea Te/Glen Cove would already have been desecrated and the resting place of many ancestors irrevocably disturbed. Our presence at the site has always involved the utmost respect and stewardship of the land. We have collected over 500 lbs of trash and painted over graffiti, and have always relieved ourselves in off-site restrooms, whether at the nearby public park, local businesses, or the porta-potties located on the street.
As we have since the start of our spiritual vigil, we again wish to clarify that our sole intention has been the protection of the land from any form of development, including the restrooms, parking lot, and grading proposed by GVRD. It is GVRD, rather than ourselves, who have released maps alluding to the placement of burials and artifacts, as seen in their Master Plan. We are well-aware that this knowledge is strictly guarded to protect the ancestors.
As our brothers and sisters join with us in this struggle, we wish to reiterate that we will not rest until a cultural/conservation easement is signed that allows the ancestors of all tribes who have ties to the site to be protected forever from further disturbance.
For more information contact the Committee to Protect Glen Cove:
protectglencove@gmail.com
Wounded Knee DeOcampo (707) 373-7195
Corrina Gould (510) 575-8408 shellmoundwalk@yahoo.com
Letter templates for City of Vallejo and GVRD
At this time we are asking our supporters to please send an email or letter to GVRD and the City of Vallejo, urging them to approve and sign the cultural easement that two federally recognized tribes, Cortina and Yocha Dehe, are proposing. This cultural easement could lead the way to permanent protection for the sacred grounds of Sogorea Te. Thank you.
555 Santa Clara Street – Vallejo, CA 94590
mayor@ci.vallejo.ca.us
CC: mwilson@ci.vallejo.ca.us (Vice Mayor)
Re: Glen Cove Cultural Easement
Dear Mr. Davis:
I am writing to urge the City of Vallejo to immediately sign the cultural easement with the Yocha Dehe and Cortina Tribes for the 15-acre parcel of land at Glen Cove. Native peoples must be allowed to participate in the stewardship of this 3500-year-old Indigenous burial ground. The easement is a critical step in resolving the conflict over this land, while honoring the inherent rights of Native peoples to protect their sacred sites in the ways that they find most appropriate. These rights are assured in Articles 11, 12 and 25 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and I ask that you demonstrate your respect for them by signing on to this document. People from around the world have watched this dispute unfold. After years of disagreement, the cultural easement could finally pave the way towards a final resolution. Thank you for your timely consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Greater Vallejo Recreation District
395 Amador Street – Vallejo, CA 94590
smcaffee@gvrd.org
CC: boardofdirectors@gvrd.org, spressley@gvrd.org
Re: Glen Cove Park
Dear Mr. McAffee:
I am writing to urge the City of Vallejo to immediately sign the cultural easement with the Yocha Dehe and Cortina Tribes for the 15-acre parcel of land at Glen Cove. Native peoples must be allowed to participate in the stewardship of this 3500-year-old Indigenous burial ground. The easement is a critical step in resolving the conflict over this land, while honoring the inherent rights of Native peoples to protect their sacred sites in the ways that they find most appropriate. These rights are assured in Articles 11, 12 and 25 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and I ask that you demonstrate your respect for them by signing on to this document. People from around the world have watched this dispute unfold. After years of disagreement, the cultural easement could finally pave the way towards a final resolution. Thank you for your timely consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Aloha Ohana,
Mahalo nui for your clarification of intent in this letter. From our standpoint it was never in question. Your thoughts & actions have always reflected “pono” righteousness. We are glad that the attempt to divide us has been made evident. We have come to expect such things over the years, yah? Let us stay strong in the protection of our Kupuna/Elders in this world and the Otherworld. We in Hawaii who have sustained ourselves through attempts to be co-opted by entities that truly do not have the past, present and future at heart stand with you. Our prayers continue with much aloha to you! Creator Io-Kane and our stones are witness to these things as you well know.
Awesome, Braddah Keale. May the rainbow bridge, moʻolelo and kūpuna who have connected our lands and peoples mai kinohi mai (from time immemorial) shine in strength for the protection of the sacred ʻāina everywhere. E kūlike kākou!!!
Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing this information with all of us. The stand for the preservation of Sogorea Te/Glen Cove is for all nations! Let’s all stand together and help each other.
As an initiate of the Druid Order, London Lodge we endorse this Open Letter & the aims of the Committee to Protect Glen Cove. The Druid Order, reorganized June 24, 1717, London, England, is an Ancient Mother Earth-based Father Sky-based Spiritual Philosophy dedicated to the protection of Mother Nature & Sacred Spaces not unlike the dedication of our Brothers & Sisters of the Indigenous Peoples of North, Central, and South America & therefor aligned with the aims of the Committee to Protect Glen Cove, the Save Sacred Sites group, as well as the Shellmound Walk group. We Druids have had to deal with this for many, many Centuries, and still do to this day, to protect our Sacred Spaces in England, Eire, Scotland, Wales, France and the islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, & Formentera in the Mediterranean.
“We Remember”
We would like to send all of our positivity and support to the cause of protecting Glen Cove. As lifelong Northern California residents we have been blessed.
Respect the rights of all indigenous people and all those who truly respect nature and human rights.
Support will be maximal.
AXITIA, Butte County, Earth