Glen Cove Day 15 Update: Residents Support Efforts to Defend Burial Site

*** DAY 15 Update

This evening, Corrina Gould, Wounded Knee DeOcampo, Johnella LaRose, Francisco Da Costa and others spoke about Sogorea Te and Shellmound burial site protection to a very supportive crowd of about 100 people at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland. Following the talk, an honoring song was sung for all who have been dedicating themselves to standing strong for the ancestors at Sogorea Te.

Also this evening, Protect Glen Cove Committee members attended a Glen Cove Community Association meeting. A majority of meeting participants expressed support for our efforts. The President of the association also stated that in the first two weeks after the spiritual gathering began, he was flooded with supportive phone calls. (Thanks, callers and residents!)

The GVRD Board of Directors held a meeting at their headquarters today, during which a new resolution was adopted calling for the “closure of the Glen Cove Nature Area to the public during construction and improvements”. Again, they continue to lay groundwork for the planned desecration.

Meanwhile, the International Indian Treaty Council sent off an Appeal for Urgent Action to Special Rapporteurs at the United Nations, regarding threats to the Glen Cove Sacred Burial Ground. The letter provides background, details violations of human and indigenous rights, and requests that the Rapporteurs take urgent action, including a visit to Sogorea Te “as soon as practically possible”.

Large numbers of additional supporters arrived today — many thanks to all who are coming from near and far to join us, including the traditional singers who visited from the Jackson Rancheria (Me-Wuk).

Special request: We need a driver of a large vehicle with a roof rack to make a trip up to Sebastopol (Sonoma County) to pick up Tipi poles. Please contact us ASAP if you can do this.

*** PRESS RELEASE:

Civil Rights Complaint Expanded, Spiritual Gathering Enters 3rd Week

Day 15 : Spiritual Gathering to Protect Glen Cove Enters 3rd Week as GVRD Breaks Agreement to Negotiate in Good Faith
SSP&RIT Files More Civil Rights Claims Against GVRD as Threats Against Spiritual Ceremony and Sacred Site Escalate
As the spiritual gathering and vigil being held by local tribal members and supporters at the sacred burial site at Glen Cove in Vallejo entered its third week, Native Americans working to protect Glen Cove filed more complaints this morning with the Attorney General of California in response to new and serious violations of civil rights by the Greater Vallejo Recreation District.

The organization Sacred Sites Protection & Rights of Indigenous Tribes today filed an addendum to the civil rights complaint filed on April 13, 2011 with the State Attorney General in response to GVRD’s attempt to intimidate and limit the number of participants in the spiritual ceremony, attempts to restrict certain ceremonial practices including songs, and GVRD’s refusal to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. The new complaint also further documents the presence of cremations as well as burials at the site, highlighting the risk that bulldozing the hill poses to the ancient human remains.

In a major development, GVRD has informed the United States Department of Justice that they will not sign a proposed agreement allowing the ceremony to temporarily continue without threat of arrest, and GVRD has failed to follow through on their agreement to meet with tribal members to try to resolve the burial site dispute.

Tribal members fulfilled their part of what was thought to be an interim agreement, including taking down tents used for sleeping during the around the clock ceremonies. GVRD however has now refused to do anything they had agreed to do, while stepping up the police presence and monitoring of the ceremony.

Support for the efforts of tribal members to protect the site continues to grow. Last night over 50 people gathered for ceremonies and to welcome Mohave and Chemehuevi visitors from the Colorado River Indian Tribes who came to express their solidarity and encouragement. Hundreds of Native Americans and their supporters have pledged to peacefully defend the sacred site in response to any attempt to desecrate the site or remove the ceremony. “I dont believe any of our tribal people would agree to outright grave robbery and disturbing sacred sites. We will not allow it to happen,” said Fred Short, Spiritual Leader of the American Indian Movement and a participant in the spiritual gathering at Glen Cove.

Glen Cove is located near the intersection of South Regatta and Whitesides Drive in Vallejo.

A copy of the Civil Rights Complaint and Addendum is available by contacting Bradley Angel at Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice:
(415) 722-5270 or bradley [at] greenaction.org

Media contacts:
Corrina Gould 510-575-8408
Morning Star Gali (510) 827 6719
Wounded Knee Deocampo 707-373-7195
Mark Anquoe (415) 680-0110
For more information, additional updates, and directions to Glen Cove:
http://protectglencove.org/