Post by Okwes on Aug 30, 2006 9:01:06 GMT -5
NorCal Indian Tribe Battles To Save 'Sacred' Site
Please click on the link to view the video that goes with this article. abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=assignment_7&id=4486528
Aug. 22 - KGO - For many Native American's there is little left of their heritage. Sacred sites have been destroyed in the name of progress making those that remain so much more valuable. In Assignment 7, we look at one small tribe's fight to hang on to what little they have left.
At one time, there may have been as many as 30,000 Winnemen Wintu Indians living in the shadow of Mt. Shasta.
Today only about 100 tribe members remain, desperately clutching onto the remnants of their ancient traditions.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "The main issue for us is hanging on to our sacred sites because that is the foundation of people, that's the teaching, that's the knowledge, that's our lives."
The Winnemem are named for the waterway now known as the McCloud River, about 100 miles south of the Oregon border.
It's one of three tributaries that feed into the man-made Lake Shasta.
Shasta Dam empties out into the Sacramento River. It's the spigot for 22 million people and thousands of farms and home to one of the tribe's most sacred sites.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "About 30 percent of the state's water supply comes out of Shasta."
The Bureau of Reclamation built Shasta Dam in the 1930's to 40's for water storage and flood control. It has since become crucial to maintaining the health of the Sacramento Delta. But in order to meet future needs, the bureau now wants to add more height to the dam and take more land the Indians say belongs to them.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "Past studies have looked at raising the dam all the way up to about 200 feet. That's technically, engineeringly feasible."
Just how much should be added is currently being reviewed.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "Our study right now is focusing on raising the dam between 6.5 to 18.5 feet."
If the dam is heightened, even to the minimum level, the last vestiges of the Winnemem Wintu tribe on the McCloud River will be flooded, including a site used just last month for a rite of passage ceremony.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "If you could flood the Vatican, would that be ok?"
In 2004, the Winnemem tribe declared war. They danced for four days at Shasta Dam in protest of the federal government's suggestions.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "We've lost over 22 miles of river and our people were removed from under the river and now they want to take another 3 to 5 miles of our river."
It seems like it would be a clear cut case: Indian sites are protected by the federal government but this is where things get complicated. The Bureau of Indian Affairs doesn't officially consider the Wintu as a tribe, a status that would grant them more power over their sites.
Regardless of Winnemem's status, the Bureau of Reclamation is committed to raising the dam. They are hopeful a compromise with the Winnemem can be reached.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "We will be coordinating through the state historic preservation office as well as the various tribes in the area, whether they are federally or non-federally recognized."
The Winnemem however, are standing firm. They say they already made their sacrifice when the dam was built.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "Is there a compromise to raising the lake? I think the compromises have already been made."
The dam was actually intended and is engineered to be 200 feet taller than its existing 602 feet. Strains on resources caused by World War II stopped the dam at its current height.
Written and produced by Ken Miguel
Copyright 2006, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.
Please click on the link to view the video that goes with this article. abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=assignment_7&id=4486528
Aug. 22 - KGO - For many Native American's there is little left of their heritage. Sacred sites have been destroyed in the name of progress making those that remain so much more valuable. In Assignment 7, we look at one small tribe's fight to hang on to what little they have left.
At one time, there may have been as many as 30,000 Winnemen Wintu Indians living in the shadow of Mt. Shasta.
Today only about 100 tribe members remain, desperately clutching onto the remnants of their ancient traditions.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "The main issue for us is hanging on to our sacred sites because that is the foundation of people, that's the teaching, that's the knowledge, that's our lives."
The Winnemem are named for the waterway now known as the McCloud River, about 100 miles south of the Oregon border.
It's one of three tributaries that feed into the man-made Lake Shasta.
Shasta Dam empties out into the Sacramento River. It's the spigot for 22 million people and thousands of farms and home to one of the tribe's most sacred sites.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "About 30 percent of the state's water supply comes out of Shasta."
The Bureau of Reclamation built Shasta Dam in the 1930's to 40's for water storage and flood control. It has since become crucial to maintaining the health of the Sacramento Delta. But in order to meet future needs, the bureau now wants to add more height to the dam and take more land the Indians say belongs to them.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "Past studies have looked at raising the dam all the way up to about 200 feet. That's technically, engineeringly feasible."
Just how much should be added is currently being reviewed.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "Our study right now is focusing on raising the dam between 6.5 to 18.5 feet."
If the dam is heightened, even to the minimum level, the last vestiges of the Winnemem Wintu tribe on the McCloud River will be flooded, including a site used just last month for a rite of passage ceremony.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "If you could flood the Vatican, would that be ok?"
In 2004, the Winnemem tribe declared war. They danced for four days at Shasta Dam in protest of the federal government's suggestions.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "We've lost over 22 miles of river and our people were removed from under the river and now they want to take another 3 to 5 miles of our river."
It seems like it would be a clear cut case: Indian sites are protected by the federal government but this is where things get complicated. The Bureau of Indian Affairs doesn't officially consider the Wintu as a tribe, a status that would grant them more power over their sites.
Regardless of Winnemem's status, the Bureau of Reclamation is committed to raising the dam. They are hopeful a compromise with the Winnemem can be reached.
Donna Garcia, Bureau of Reclamation: "We will be coordinating through the state historic preservation office as well as the various tribes in the area, whether they are federally or non-federally recognized."
The Winnemem however, are standing firm. They say they already made their sacrifice when the dam was built.
Caleen Sisk-Franco, chief, Winnemem Wintu Tribe: "Is there a compromise to raising the lake? I think the compromises have already been made."
The dam was actually intended and is engineered to be 200 feet taller than its existing 602 feet. Strains on resources caused by World War II stopped the dam at its current height.
Written and produced by Ken Miguel
Copyright 2006, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.