Glen Cove: The Other Side of the Story.

It is unfortunate to see D. Boyer spreading the same misinformation that GVRD is. Although she has been out to the Glen Cove Shellmound 3 times, she obviously has not conducted independent research as the journalist that she claims to be. Stating she "jumped on the opportunity to stick-up for my favorite group of people’s" shows a false sense of understanding of solidarity with Indigenous peoples. She goes on to state "Native American’s used that land and the area was home to many tribes including the Patwin and the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians. "

This is a direct line out of GVRD's propaganda campaign and if she had done her research she would have realized that GVRD has it wrong and that Patwin IS Wintun and there are various bands throughout CA. To state Patwin and Rumsey band is factually inaccurate as bands of Wintun/Patwin include Rumsey, Cortina, Colusa, Winnemem and more.

D. Boyer visited Glen Cove after members of the spiritual encampment had painted over the swastikas and other graffiti that covered the front of the mansion. It is important to note this clean up and painting was done by volunteers and GVRD had no role in it. Now GVRD has posted photos of the freshly painted mansion on its facebook site.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=128579357216193&set=a.128579313882864.30849.127726323968163&type=1&theater

D. Boyer goes on to state that Kenser Flores has been appointed by NAHC to be the Most Likely Descendant. What she fails again to mention is that Kesner has a private practice as an MLD and has an obvious financial interest in participating in the project. Kenser acted on this project as an individual, with no backing by the tribal nation he is enrolled in or having to be accountable to his tribal community. The "fill" mentioned where the bathrooms and parking lot will be built is shell mound material and most likely contains ancestral human remains.

The recent "burial" mentioned is a memorial, it is not an actual gravesite but concerns of the family members of the loved one have been expressed as well. Will some of the new picnic tables rest on top of that persons memorial grave?

Please conduct your fact checking the next time you make an effort to "dig deeper" into the story.

http://protectglencove.org/about/frequently-asked-questions/

http://protectglencove.org/2011/a-response-to-janet-robersons-editorial-in-the-times-herald/

Glen Cove is a sacred site to several tribes not just to the Winnemen Wintu. You want to build a park and toilets over the ancestors to several tribes. This is wrong on so many levels. You should really check out your facts before buying into GVRDs lies. This country was stolen by Native Americans so why can't you respect them by giving them this small 15 acres of sacred burial grounds instead of being so greedy. There is a park 2 blocks away that is unkept. Why doesn't GVRD donate this money to The City of Vallejo seeing as they had to lay off Police Officers, can't keep up the parks that they have, the money could be used for schools there so that the youth can get a good education. Wouldn't that make you feel better about yourselves instead of disrespecting Native Americans once again and building over their burial grounds. Heres a thought why don't you build a park on your cemetaries. One of them isn't even kept up. No grass and it looks pretty ugly. Use your money to build a park there. No you wouldn't do that would you. What GVRD wants to do is disrespectful and pretty dispicable.

This article is strange as it claims to investigate the "other side" of the story, but does NO SUCH INVESTIGATION. Instead, it seems that the last two paragraphs of this article are the exact same, word-for-word statements issued by GVRD in the first place.

In general, journalists should stick to the facts of a particular story, not the "sides" or opposing polarities of a story. In this case, the facts are indisputable that an ancient burial mound, utilized by various Bay Area tribes (to this day, mind you), is being threatened to become a parking lot while the rest of the site is saturated in Garlon4 herbicide.

Oh, and $10,000 were used to pay off a "PR"-firm (read: propaganda) to perpetuate the misinformation regarding this "development."

I tried to comment and it didn't seem to show up so here I go again. Please don't buy into GVRDs lies. Glen Cove is a sacred burial ground to several Native Tribes. Most of this land were stolen from Native Americans and you want to build a park on a burial ground. That is ridiculous. There is a park 2 blocks away and that is not kept up. You want to build toilets so people can crap and urinate on these ancestors. The people that you say your dealing with like the California Native American Heritage Commission, and Kesler Flores do not even represent Native Americans. Why don't you deal with Native Americans. Talk to the leaders of the Winnemen Wintu, The Olhone, The Miwok and the other tribes who have their ancestors buried on this 15 acres of land. I am sure they will disagree with what GVRD wants to do. Those Native Americans that are there protecting this land are the ones who painted over the swastika and other grafitti not GVRD. The Native Americans that are there are the ones who cleaned up the beach not GVRD. They picked up so many pounds of garbage that was there and GVRD had nothing to do with it so how are they going to maintain the park if they are successful in building it? Get your facts straight. You say you were there three different times. You should know better then. Shame on you and shame on GVRD, Kesner Flores and The California Native American Heritage Commission.

How do you define "professional" on your site. From my wife and my experience in Native issues and archaeology, "professional" means that you were bought out. My wife was an archaeologist for over ten years before having to get out of that game with cities and companies. Look at the firms conducting these archaeological digs and information on the site. My wife dropped out of that field because of the misinformation and destruction that is caused, but I am glad that she knows their knowledge. I will ask you one simple question... Where are many of the bones housed that were taken from Glen Cove and other sites in California in in the past without being returned? The answer is UC Berkeley - That's right, the same school that claims to work for preservation of sacred sites and supporting GVRD. In fact, the mounds and burials that have been destroyed around California reflect a poor track record on your state's part. I am asking you to read these letters that I am posting below this comment to further see why these sites are important for the protection of cultural heritage. They were both published in the Vallejo Times Herald. You actually missed the point on saying that the state or local laws dictate what happens with sites. Federal and international law plays a bigger role. Feel free to e-mail me and we can discuss that further if you wish.

Most recent letter:

An open letter to Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis, GRVD, Carone and Company Inc., Shane McAffee, and The Native American Historical Preservation Committee:

We ask that you reconsider your position concerning building on Glen Cove or fencing the area off from the local Native people who worship there. The bottom line, and I hope this letter makes this point clear, is that preservation of ALL cultural significant sites and spiritual places must take place in order to protect our beautiful diversity of ALL people for the future.


Once sacred sites -- such as mounds, burials, spiritual grounds -- are destroyed, they cannot be replaced. In many ways this makes the sites similar to the resources that we are abusing now from the earth. In fact, these sites hold deep spiritual value for the Native community, and once those are destroyed, part of the sacred ways of peoples are destroyed as well. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People clearly explains that these sites belong to ALL Native people who worship there.


We do not feel that the tampering or fencing off of the Glen Cove site respects this law, and we encourage you to rectify this situation. Furthermore, this law gives all Native people who hold the mound sacred the right to voice their concerns and use the sacred space for religious purposes. We do not feel that the Native American Preservation Committee is hearing ALL Native voices connected with the mound, and has only vested its decisions


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on the opinions of one or two individuals. Indigenous people have right to full access of their lands and resources, as well as traditional social customs and judiciary practices.

If President Barack Obama does sign the declaration, this will mean that all U.S. cities are accountable for their actions. The importance of preservation of cultural heritage and diversity should be priority No. 1 on the council's agenda, and we hope that you will respect these laws. Furthermore, there many U.S. laws in place for the protection of mounds and sacred places that we encourage the city of Vallejo to support. For example, President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 13007, which is to protect Native Sacred Sites, in 2006. Section 1, Article 3, clearly explains that the U.S. government recognizes the protection of sites that are considered sacred to Native groups or "individuals."


We have the understanding that the city will commence with building around and near the mound in Glen Cove soon. We also understand that there will be peaceful Native prayer gatherings on that day. Under the same law stated above and the U.N. Declaration, we ask that no interference with these prayer gatherings happen on any day. The law clearly states that Native individuals have a right to worship on their "own" land, and that the physical integrity of all sacred sites will be protected.


The League of Indian Nations of North America supports ALL Native peoples' rights to be able to practice their spirituality without the threat of arrest or destruction of their site. We hold that preservation of cultural heritage, the appreciation of diversity of ALL people, and the preservation of sacred sites is essential in order to allow for religious freedom and the education of future generations of children.


We encourage the city to protect this sacred place, and would support your effort in doing so.




Robert and Cora Dunaway
Ambassadors for The League of Indian Nations of North America
Strong Heart Preservation Movement

My wife's letter explaining broken archeaological laws:

Dear Mayor Davis and Mr McAffee,

I am writing this letter concerning the impeding destruction of the Glen Cove shell mound, a sacred site in the Vallejo Valley. I am writing this letter on behalf of the Strong Heart Preservation Movement. I am the Co-director of this group and our work involves educating the public on the importance of cultural preservation. I am also an archaeologist with over 10 years fieldwork experience and serve as a Counselor for The League of Indian Nations of North America. My Master’s thesis focused on the symbolic and religious characteristics of mound sites, such as Glen Cove.

For this site to be preserved, it must have significance and integrity from a research and public view. Publically, people are interested in mound sites as well as interested in learning about other cultures and their heritage. Mounds are a cultural phenomenon that occur all over the world. Mounds vary in size, shape, and function. Scientifically and archaeologically, we have not discerned all the functions and significance of mound sites. Because of this, the integrity and significance of Glen Cove has not been discerned either, and it is important that we protect and preserve these cultural ecofacts so that we can learn more about them and our cultural diversity.

What we do know about mounds, archaeologically, is that they do signify places of ceremony and worship; thus, mound sites denote sacred space. From the standpoint of a human being that listens to others, I know from the local Natives that Glen Cove is indeed a very significant site related to cultural beliefs and practices. Because the Glen Cove site is a known place of worship, desecrating it will violate the Archaeological Resource Protection Act of 1979. According to this Act, “archaeological resources on public lands and Indian lands are an accessible and irreplaceable part of the Nation’s heritage.” Furthermore, any destruction to this site or inhibiting access to such sacred sites is in clear violation of the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978. This law was enacted because sacred sites and public access land were in conflict, and because Native Americans were not being allowed access to their sacred sites. Additionally, this Act was created so that Native Americans could worship as they pleased based on their first amendment rights. Furthermore, the American Indian Religious Act Amendments of 1994 clearly states:
The Congress finds that- (1) unlike any other established religion, many traditional Native American Religions are site-specific in that the Native American religions hold certain lands or natural formations to be sacred; (2) such sacred sites are an integral and vital part of the Native American religions and the religious practices associated with such religions; (3) many of these sacred sites are found on lands which were formerly part of the aboriginal territory of the Indians but which now are held by the Federal Government; and (4) lack of sensitivity or understanding of traditional Native American religions on the part of Federal agencies vested with the management of Federal lands has resulted in the lack of a coherent policy for the management of sacred sites found on Federal lands and has also resulted in the infringement upon the rights of Native Americans to religious freedom.

Commercial development in Vallejo Valley and at Glen Cove are threatening the Native American people’s first amendment rights as well as threatening cultural resource protection laws. Therefore, the impeding destruction of the Glen Cove site is more than a Native American issue because it deals with violation of HUMAN rights guaranteed by our American Constitution and system of democracy.
Furthermore, one of the most important acts instituted by our country’s founding father, George Washington, guaranteed protection to the Native American people indefinitely, which is the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
Article 1 states: No person, demeaning himself in a peaceable and orderly manner, shall ever be molested on account of his mode of worship or religious sentiments, in the said territory.
Article Three states: Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged. The utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians; their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent; and, in their property, rights, and liberty, they shall never be invaded or disturbed, unless in just and lawful wars authorized by Congress; but laws founded in justice and humanity, shall from time to time be made for preventing wrongs being done to them, and for preserving peace and friendship with them.

What is the point of having laws if nobody is upholding them? I believe what is happening with the Glen Cove site is not in “upmost good faith,” nor founded in “justice and humanity…. [for maintaining and] preserving peace and friendship” (Northwest Ordnance of 1787).

This needless destruction must stop, and it will take both sides listening to the other, and I think the mayor and people of Glen Cove should really stop to listen before mindlessly destroying more culture. I strongly encourage Vallejo Valley to listen and work with its Native members so that we maintain cultural heritage and integrity. It is up to all of us to act as a social and moral conscience to protect these sacred sites so that we preserve our identities as human beings. We learn from the past so that the present and future are better. We must think of our children and their children’s children. We have to set the positive examples now so that these sacred sites are more than a picture in a book, but very real and intact. These sacred sites are important to all of us, of all cultures and ethnicities, because they do signify our identities as human beings and define our cultures as well as exemplify and honor our spiritual essence. I am writing this letter to appeal to the City of Glen Cove and the people of California to stand up and help in this fight to save the Glen Cove Shell Mound. The past must be preserved so that, in the future, our children are not lost and suffering. I thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Cora Dunaway
Co-Director Strong Heart Preservation Movement
League of Indian Nations of North America Counselor
cbell420 [at] yahoo.com

First of all Indybay supporter. Attacking my character is immature. There is nothing wrong with my post nor my discovery of information. All citizen journalists take it from both sides. I'm used to it.
I merely posted what I discovered in public records.
I must state I personally believe the Occupation is Just. Remember this, the organization involved with the Occupation sought me/us out. I didn't merely decide to cover it, so I sought out information and found out some stuff you all have a problem dealing with.
People need to know why this is going down and I simply stated the process. If you all have issues with the State and it's law then take it up with them.
No one maintained that site before the occupation because no one could not even Native Americans. If you all cared about it that much then the whole site should have been maintained. And unless it's developed, that mansion and the grounds will be a magnet for graffiti artist's, or grave robbers or vandals. From here on out someone will have to be on that site 24 hours a day. There is no more caretaker either.
I don't care what tribe was there, I still believe it is Scared Burial ground, but the State of California has stated publicly who it thinks are the most likely descendants. Personally i believe all Native American land should be returned, BUT????
If you don't like their decision then take it up with them. I did not post a lie there either.
You all have a problem with Kesner Flores, once again, I stated the truth, if you don't like the States decision then ummm take it with them.

Glen Cove is on the Bay Area Nature trail system. The California Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission wants to connect the trails on that side of the Carquinez Strait. That is where the money is coming from. Maybe you all could approach those entities as well, because their the ones' with the money.

California and the Greater Vallejo Recreation District followed the law.(period) Don't attack the person who wrote the truth attack the State. Thats' why I believe the Occupation is Just. Everyone needs to know that Cali is out of control when it comes to it's laws and processes.

I must reiterate, there are no misconceptions or lies in my post, I merley read from public record. A lot of your rants under my post, I have dismissed. And as for the letter posted here, I saw that but it apparently had no effect on their decision. They still came up with this plan to develop that area into a waterfront park.

I do believe that Native Americans were blindsided by this. Trust me I am not falling for or listening to GVRD's propaganda, but I do feel obligated to tell the story according to public record. I did not lie nor make up facts, and I checked them.

One thing that has me concerned here, and please respond, it is my understanding that it is Native American practice to keep all Native American archaeological sites CONFIDENTIAL for fear of vandals and or pot robbers. How come that did not happen here?

This is the most confusing "article" I have ever read in this publication. I don't even know what I read, was it an "article," a promotional kit for the GVRD, a propaganda pamphlet, an opinion piece? Was this written by the GVRD? How is it that you D. Boyer only came to your decision to write a glossy-eyed romanticized version of GVRD's destructive plan to build on top of graves and a sacred site only AFTER speaking to their public relations firm? Their job is to sell you whatever it is they're representing, they do so with clever little marketing ploys and elaborate presentations meant to sway your opinion, and you ate it all up. If the public relations firm hired by GVRD told you they had "Ocean Front property in Arizona" for sale would you believe them? Judging by your lack of research abilities and lapse in judgement I would think you would. Your opinion piece is confusing, very subjective, and you deliberately pepper it with GVRD propaganda photos. As a reader, I was questioning if what I was reading part of the public relations campaign that GVRD spent $10,000 on? for I found myself looking for a footnote that might as well stated "this paid advertisement is sponsored by the GVRD," since what I was reading appeared to be a promotional pamphlet rather than any article I have ever read. I cannot describe what I just read as an article but rather a promotional kit for the GVRD.

Aside from you only changing your opinion as a direct result of what the paid public relations firm told you, (and not by any actual independent research you've conducted), you proved that you have no integrity by promoting an outdated photo of the Stremmel mansion with graffiti. You purposely added that photo as a tactic to garner support for the GVRD. If you were really "digging deeper" as you claim than you would know that the graffiti had been painted over, and NOT by the GVRD. The people who cleaned up the area and painted over the graffiti at their own expense and labor are the people who are at Glen Cove protecting the Glen Cove shellmound.


What you wrote also leaves the reader confused by how you contradict yourself. At the same time you are advocating for the GVRD by promoting their proposed "master plan" that would desecrate the Glen Cove shellmound, which is a documented sacred site, you write "It is important that I mention it is Native American practice to protect Native American sites at all costs, which means no cameras, no visitors etc. They are kept secret. However the alleged desecration of Native American burial grounds was imminent, so the community was called to action." Doesn't this statement you wrote lend validity and credibility to the Native Americans and their supporters who are out at Glen Cove shellmound right now working to protect the desecration of their sacred site from none other than the GVRD! The same GVRD proposed "master plan" that you are promoting is indeed the imminent threat of desecration to the sacred burial ground.

After you heavily promote the GVRD's proposed $1.5 million project that will include heavy construction and development that will desecrate the ancestors buried at the Glen Cove shellmound sacred site, which is a known 3,500-4,000 year-old ancient village and trading center where many different California Indian tribes gathered, you end your "article" by stating "I personally hope the construction and development does not disrupt, kill or destroy Newt’s and their habitats. And I hope the herbicide that will be used will not run-off into the water and kill the fish." What else do you think will happen with the application of herbicide by the proposed "master plan" from the GVRD? Not only does it desecrate the ancestors buried there and destroy the natural setting, but the use of herbicide destroys by poisoning habitats, plants, animals, and will definitely cause run-off into the bay and water ways that will kill the fish and poison the water.

I have been out to Glen Cove shellmound many times and I have seen many people with strollers, in wheelchairs, using canes, etc., and I even seen a person with a prosthetic leg, and all have been able to enjoy that "little piece of heaven." Interesting choice of words on your part since Glen Cove shellmound is literally a sacred burial ground, the ancestors final resting place and what should remain as their final resting place.

It's interesting that you write as if you worry so much about the habitats (of Newts), and that you "jumped on the opportunity to stick-up for" your "favorite group of people’s" yet you completely threw them under the bus by promoting the GVRD's proposed plan (and only AFTER contacting their public relations firm mind you, but not before, hmm something just doesn't add up there) that will desecrate the sacred site of which the Native Americans are trying to protect. What do you think a project for that large amount of money will look like? That is major overhauling, development and construction which can only lead to the destruction of the natural setting and habitats (that is why there are environmental people are also in support of saving Glen Cove shellmound and do not agree with the GVRD) and the desecration of the shellmound sacred burial site.

D. Boyer you state: "After watching the stories pile up online about the possible desecration of Native American burial grounds, I quickly realized that they were mostly one-sided. No one was mentioning the other side of the story." Did you not just answer your own question in your statement, there are no "two sides" to a story when there is desecration of Native American burial grounds. The majority of people with a conscious would agree that desecrating a sacred burial site is wrong and the GVRD are wrong to want to do so. The stories are not "one-sided," they reflect the moral consensus of the people. I just read through the comments and it seems that we all pretty much are picking up the same thing about you and your "research" and reporting, so maybe you should take some time to reflect upon that. I hadn't even had the chance to read through the other comments until now and they echo similar sentiments. Instead of getting defensive take this as a learning opportunity.

You end your response in the comments section: "One thing that has me concerned here, and please respond, it is my understanding that it is Native American practice to keep all Native American archaeological sites CONFIDENTIAL for fear of vandals and or pot robbers. How come that did not happen here?" Glen Cove shellmound is a known shellmound and was documented in archaeological records. The reason it is not kept CONFIDENTIAL (your language and tone throughout your writing is one of contempt and ignorance towards Native Americans) is because GVRD is proposing to develop on their sacred burial ground. Didn't you actually answer your own question but now are working towards discrediting Native Americans by your question? Here is the answer to your question, it came from your own words that I pulled from your own article:
"However the alleged desecration of Native American burial grounds was imminent, so the community was called to action." What is interesting is that you seem more concerned with why the Native Americans didn't keep the site "confidential" but you go into defense of the GVRD plans to desecrate the site.

If you actually did check your facts you would have not even brought up the Stemmel mansion or the "that mansion and the grounds will be a magnet for graffiti artist's,." Have you even gone on the website http://www.protectglencove.org
The Stremmel mansion is one of the points that is brought up with how to proceed in its removal.

You are not responding to people's "rants" and people are not commenting on your writing because you "found out some stuff you all have a problem dealing with." The problem in itself first of all is your writing, I am wondering why you are even considering yourself a journalist when you are writing with such immaturity and contempt. Your writing, delivery, and tone is not exactly Pulitzer but you are somehow wanting to pass yourself off as being some kind of "investigative journalist" when you didn't utilize basic research skills and you purposely add outdated and suggestive photos, so that people who have actually done the research know that apparently you have not. Also, if you are going to write about Native Americans why don't you educate yourself a little more than you have, for example you wrote "Native American practice to keep all Native American archaeological sites." They are not "archaeological" sites but rather sacred sites. Archaeology has been disastrous to Native Americans and when you refer to "vandals" and "pot robbers" Native Americans have more to fear from archaeologists and people such as the GVRD than they ever would a passerby at Glen Cove shellmound.

Here is proof that D. Boyer's "article" "Glen Cove: The other Side of the Story" that was submitted for indybay is in actuality propaganda for the GVRD. It is featured prominently in their new website which was launched as part of their recent $10,000 public relations campaign. You have shown yourself to be a liar D. Boyer by pretending to write an "independent" article and purposely submitting it to indybay, a known independent news source, when in actuality your "article" is used as a promotional tool on the GVRD's website: http://www.glencovenaturearea.org/fs/s:sh/x/news/83?cb=zpcziagt0skrw8&_1305411801=1.

The only other article shown is written by a former GVRD employee Janet Roberson. Also, the GVRD deliberately omitted the comments that were submitted below the article. If the GVRD had nothing to hide than they wouldn't have the need to spend $10,000 on public relations and they would actually have the original link to the "articles" they posted complete with the comment section. D. Boyer, the GVRD website is the definition of being one-sided, but you already knew that before you decided to write for them.

For the FACTS and FAQ about Glen Cove shellmound, sacred burial site: http://www.protectglencove.org

http://protectglencove.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Glen_Cove_Civil_Rights_Complaint.pdf

Interview of Shane McAffee.

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!! Glen Cove is NOT Winnemem Wintu land and their ancestors are NOT buried there! Winnemem means "middle water" and refers to the McCloud River in northern California and the people who used to live along it. That's all! Contrary to what one faction of present day Winnemem led by the Sisk-Francos claim, Northern California does not belong to them. I have never been to Glen Cove but I do believe our burial grounds must be protected. My question is: if this area is a native cemetary, why is a ceremonial dance going to be held there? This goes against everything our traditional people, and all tribes, teach. You do not hold ceremonies anywhere near a burial site.