City, give Wopumnes Tribe back "rights of access" to their sacred site
This petition will be delivered to Placerville City Council: Mark Acuna, Kara Taylor, Dennis Thomas, Patti Borelli, Mike Saragosa and staff.
On June 23, 2020, the Placerville City Council proclaimed they were sensitive to racism in their city. Then in item 12.1 they voted to approve the staff report and "give away" the historic El Dorado County Wopumnes Nisenan-MeWuk Indian Tribe's Upper-Broadway sacred site to a non-resident group from Sutter County, the Sacramento-Verona Band (SSBMI/Redhawk Casino).
- We want the City of Placerville to repeal Resolution #8865, and;
- Give back to the Wopumnes jurisdiction (rights of access) to their sacred site, and;
- Include the Wopumnes by giving them "Tribal Consultation Status" in City Planning matters of CEQA, and;
- Allow the Wopumnes Tribe to bring in UC Davis to study their sites, inventory and collect their artifacts for safe keeping in the University Federally Registered Repository.
- Send a letter of endorsement from the City to the Native American Heritage Commission requesting the Wopumnes Tribe of El Dorado County to be placed on the "AB-52 State Tribal Consultation List".
Why is this important?
This is important because during the June 23, 2020 City Council Meeting, the City Council took the Upper Broadway sacred site away from the historic aboriginal Tribe of El Dorado County and gave it to the Sutter County Tribe (Redhawk Casino) just as the 2004 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors did before.
The Upper Broadway sacred site belongs to the Wopumnes Nisenan-Mewuk Tribe with over 20 decades of history in El Dorado County. This is their sacred site that they have been protecting for over 100 years. Featured in the Mt. Democrat "Historic Rock Grinds Broadway Project to a Halt".
On April 16, 2020 the City of Placerville bull-dozed the site without CEQA review and without warning. The City claims they gave notice in their 2018 MND but the site was beyond the study area delineated on the map. The description did not include the parcel the sacred site is on ...so there was no need for the Tribe to reveal the site to the City. The City admits the Wopumnes Tribe saved the City over $800k by putting a "HALT on the project to protect their sacred site". The site is located on private property partially in the City Right of Way.
The City has chilled the elderly private property owner's participation in negotiations with the Tribe.
On June 23, 2020, item 12.1 on the City Agenda, the Placerville City Council, in an unprecedented act of insensitivity in these times of "racial sensitivity" and amidst much support of the historic Tribe, decided to deny the Wopumnes’ request to allow them "jurisdiction access" to their own sacred site; to monitor study and construction activities, and bring in UC Davis to do the dig, and collect their store their artifacts. Instead the City Council decided to give the Wopumnes sacred site to the Sacramento-Verona Band (who was placed in El Dorado County in 1980, owns Redhawk Casino and calls themselves (SSBMI)). The City did exactly what the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors did in 2004... they gave the Wopumnes' sacred site away to the Sacramento-Verona Band (an out-of-town group from Sutter County with no relationship to the sacred site, so they could build Redhawk Casino). The Citizens of El Dorado County say "Not in my town. Placerville City Council, give the Wopumnes back their sacred site so they monitor construction and study activities, and bring in UC Davis to do the dig, Collect, Study and Care for the Wopumnes Tribe's artifacts."
Stand up to the abuse of our history which includes our Nisenan-Mewuk heritage by telling the City to repeal their Resolution #8865 and give the Sacred site back to the historic Tribe.
This petition does not replace a signature on the 2020 City of Placerville Referendum and the Voter's Initiative on behalf of the Wopumnes Tribe. If you are a registered voter in the City of Placerville please find the Voter's Referendum and Initiative signature gatherer locations in Placerville to add your wet signature to the Referendum and Initiative.
How to help more....
Help us out here... forward the Petition link and ask 10 of your friends to sign the petition.
Thank you for your attention.
To make donations to the Tribe to Protect out Sacred Sites around El Dorado County https://www.gofundme.com/f/wopumnes-sacred-site-preservation-fund?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet
For more information about the Tribe www.RealMiwokTribe.com
Updates
June 26, 2020
I am still honestly stunned by how many people care about justice for the Wopumnes Tribe. This entire situation feels much larger than me now because you chose to pay attention to something that was ignored for far too long.
June 26, 2020
Seeing this level of support for the Wopumnes Tribe brings me to tears because I honestly never thought this would reach so many people. This movement belongs entirely to you and your commitment to correcting a deep injustice. I am just humbled to be watching this grow alongside you.
28 Comments
Do the right thing, rrcognize and preserve the true native peoples, culture and sacred sites of El Dorado County.
Make it right! Support the True Miwuks, give them back their rights to protect their ancestral sites.
History is a great economic stimulator. Authentic Native American and Western history promote tourism. Give the big box stores, round-abouts, and kitch second priority!
Life would be much simpler for everyone if the City Council would just follow what is within their General Plan and policies and work with those that want to help them to facilitate the preserving of our historical and cultural resources. Instead it seems they would rather spend hours in Board meetings mocking and ridiculing those that dare oppose their build out plan for Placerville.
My hope is that the City Council members (and BOS's) would look more deeply into this, look beyond what their staff is telling them. AB52 is there for a reason. The Tribe does NOT have to be on a list to be included in CEQA matters. The casino tribe, The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians have deep pockets and appear to have too much influence, both locally and State wide. It's not an either/or situation; both tribes can be included in CEQA concerns. City Council, please take the time to read the letters that have sent to you by the Tribe and informed citizens. There is a side to the story you don't appear to be considering.
good Luck
Use common sense. Give the people their land and their sacred artifacts. You’ve taken enough!
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
City, give Wopumnes Tribe back "rights of access" to their sacred site
This petition will be delivered to Placerville City Council: Mark Acuna, Kara Taylor, Dennis Thomas, Patti Borelli, Mike Saragosa and staff.
On June 23, 2020, the Placerville City Council proclaimed they were sensitive to racism in their city. Then in item 12.1 they voted to approve the staff report and "give away" the historic El Dorado County Wopumnes Nisenan-MeWuk Indian Tribe's Upper-Broadway sacred site to a non-resident group from Sutter County, the Sacramento-Verona Band (SSBMI/Redhawk Casino).
- We want the City of Placerville to repeal Resolution #8865, and;
- Give back to the Wopumnes jurisdiction (rights of access) to their sacred site, and;
- Include the Wopumnes by giving them "Tribal Consultation Status" in City Planning matters of CEQA, and;
- Allow the Wopumnes Tribe to bring in UC Davis to study their sites, inventory and collect their artifacts for safe keeping in the University Federally Registered Repository.
- Send a letter of endorsement from the City to the Native American Heritage Commission requesting the Wopumnes Tribe of El Dorado County to be placed on the "AB-52 State Tribal Consultation List".
Why is this important?
This is important because during the June 23, 2020 City Council Meeting, the City Council took the Upper Broadway sacred site away from the historic aboriginal Tribe of El Dorado County and gave it to the Sutter County Tribe (Redhawk Casino) just as the 2004 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors did before.
The Upper Broadway sacred site belongs to the Wopumnes Nisenan-Mewuk Tribe with over 20 decades of history in El Dorado County. This is their sacred site that they have been protecting for over 100 years. Featured in the Mt. Democrat "Historic Rock Grinds Broadway Project to a Halt".
On April 16, 2020 the City of Placerville bull-dozed the site without CEQA review and without warning. The City claims they gave notice in their 2018 MND but the site was beyond the study area delineated on the map. The description did not include the parcel the sacred site is on ...so there was no need for the Tribe to reveal the site to the City. The City admits the Wopumnes Tribe saved the City over $800k by putting a "HALT on the project to protect their sacred site". The site is located on private property partially in the City Right of Way.
The City has chilled the elderly private property owner's participation in negotiations with the Tribe.
On June 23, 2020, item 12.1 on the City Agenda, the Placerville City Council, in an unprecedented act of insensitivity in these times of "racial sensitivity" and amidst much support of the historic Tribe, decided to deny the Wopumnes’ request to allow them "jurisdiction access" to their own sacred site; to monitor study and construction activities, and bring in UC Davis to do the dig, and collect their store their artifacts. Instead the City Council decided to give the Wopumnes sacred site to the Sacramento-Verona Band (who was placed in El Dorado County in 1980, owns Redhawk Casino and calls themselves (SSBMI)). The City did exactly what the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors did in 2004... they gave the Wopumnes' sacred site away to the Sacramento-Verona Band (an out-of-town group from Sutter County with no relationship to the sacred site, so they could build Redhawk Casino). The Citizens of El Dorado County say "Not in my town. Placerville City Council, give the Wopumnes back their sacred site so they monitor construction and study activities, and bring in UC Davis to do the dig, Collect, Study and Care for the Wopumnes Tribe's artifacts."
Stand up to the abuse of our history which includes our Nisenan-Mewuk heritage by telling the City to repeal their Resolution #8865 and give the Sacred site back to the historic Tribe.
This petition does not replace a signature on the 2020 City of Placerville Referendum and the Voter's Initiative on behalf of the Wopumnes Tribe. If you are a registered voter in the City of Placerville please find the Voter's Referendum and Initiative signature gatherer locations in Placerville to add your wet signature to the Referendum and Initiative.
How to help more....
Help us out here... forward the Petition link and ask 10 of your friends to sign the petition.
Thank you for your attention.
To make donations to the Tribe to Protect out Sacred Sites around El Dorado County https://www.gofundme.com/f/wopumnes-sacred-site-preservation-fund?utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet
For more information about the Tribe www.RealMiwokTribe.com
Updates
June 26, 2020
I am still honestly stunned by how many people care about justice for the Wopumnes Tribe. This entire situation feels much larger than me now because you chose to pay attention to something that was ignored for far too long.
June 26, 2020
Seeing this level of support for the Wopumnes Tribe brings me to tears because I honestly never thought this would reach so many people. This movement belongs entirely to you and your commitment to correcting a deep injustice. I am just humbled to be watching this grow alongside you.
28 Comments
City council should not have jurisdiction over sacred sites. Give the land back to the original holders. Not casino owners buying up land that was not part of their tribe.
Do the right thing, rrcognize and preserve the true native peoples, culture and sacred sites of El Dorado County.
Make it right! Support the True Miwuks, give them back their rights to protect their ancestral sites.
History is a great economic stimulator. Authentic Native American and Western history promote tourism. Give the big box stores, round-abouts, and kitch second priority!
Life would be much simpler for everyone if the City Council would just follow what is within their General Plan and policies and work with those that want to help them to facilitate the preserving of our historical and cultural resources. Instead it seems they would rather spend hours in Board meetings mocking and ridiculing those that dare oppose their build out plan for Placerville.
My hope is that the City Council members (and BOS's) would look more deeply into this, look beyond what their staff is telling them. AB52 is there for a reason. The Tribe does NOT have to be on a list to be included in CEQA matters. The casino tribe, The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians have deep pockets and appear to have too much influence, both locally and State wide. It's not an either/or situation; both tribes can be included in CEQA concerns. City Council, please take the time to read the letters that have sent to you by the Tribe and informed citizens. There is a side to the story you don't appear to be considering.
good Luck
Use common sense. Give the people their land and their sacred artifacts. You’ve taken enough!
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 100 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
City council should not have jurisdiction over sacred sites. Give the land back to the original holders. Not casino owners buying up land that was not part of their tribe.