Please respect the ancestors and those with us today who this long belongs to. Keep Berkeley on the side of the people - not forsaking them for profits.
B
Burke Dunphy
9 years ago
Please don't allow commercial development to erode the City's commitment to supporting indigenous rights.
L
Loren Yglecias
9 years ago
save the shellmound!
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Especially with what is happening in this country, we cannot continue to operate as if everything is still going as normal. Please do not destroy further sacred sites.
T
Tess Bonoan
9 years ago
Dear Ms. Allen and Berkeley City Planners:
I am writing to express my deep concerns about the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) regarding 1900 Fourth Street. The site was designated as a City of Berkeley Landmark # 227 by the Landmarks Commission. It was also listed in the California State Registry of Historic Places, as well as determined to be eligible for the National Registry of Historic places. The West Berkeley Shellmound site, completely encompassing the proposed 1900 Fourth Street site, is known to be the oldest bayside settlement in the San Francisco Bay Area, approximately 5700 years old. It is the true birthplace of Berkeley. It continues to be of utmost significance as a ceremonial center to the Ohlone people today.
The draft EIR is heavily disputed, as revealed by massive community opposition voiced at the Dec 1st meeting of the Berkeley Landmark Preservation Committee. There is significant controversy surrounding the methodology used to establish the archaeological reports and there has not been adequate peer review of the data in the draft EIR. Past excavations in and around the proposed site have uncovered human burials and undisturbed cultural remains. The report completely fails to address remains specifically documented in the EIR for the adjacent Grocery Outlet site that is part of the same Landmark Shellmound site. This constitutes a significant oversight and inaccuracy in the methodology of the 1900 Fourth Street EIR.
Furthermore, there has not been adequate tribal consultation in the EIR’s preparation. The primary consultant had multiple conflicts of interest, while a second Ohlone person repeatedly requesting inclusion was not consulted for the EIR. This manner of consultation with Ohlone people seems like a mere token gesture given the importance of this site to members of the Ohlone community.
Resolution No. 67,353-NS of the City of Berkeley "Honor Berkeley Shellmound Indigenous Sacred Site, UC Berkeley Return Ancestral Remains
J
Janeen Singer
9 years ago
Please honor the native people of this country...There are enough shopping malls that have already abused the sacred Shellmounds...
S
Stephanie M Collins
9 years ago
PLEASE keep this site as a preserve in HONOR of the Ohlone people and culture and as a treasured part of Berkeley history. This shellmound is so special and we should be jumping to defend and protect this site. PLEASE PROTECT THIS SACRED PLACE
R
Raychel Starr
9 years ago
Native rights are human rights!
J
jessica phrogus
9 years ago
I feel our city can again be in the forefront with honoring EVERYONE
G
glenna mote
9 years ago
Please
B
Bridget Brehen
9 years ago
As a Berkeley resident and human rights worker, I am vehemently opposed to the acceptance of this EIR. It would be a flagrant violation of indigenous rights and the convention Berkeley has signed.
H
Heather Phipps
9 years ago
Featured
The City of Berkeley must reject the developer's Environmental Impact Report since there was not adequate consultation with the Ohlone community. Sacred sites are important to everyone's well-being and need special protection and considerations.
R
Rafael J Gonzalez
9 years ago
Ohlone sacred ground, sacred land must be protected. No commercial, no political reason can justify the injustice of desecrating indigenous sacred ground
J
James Hosley
9 years ago
Who was here first (for over 5,000 years), and deserves some respect ? Not us, not the folks who want to change this place. Let it be. Make sure the original inhabitants have a say in this project.
S
Susan Park
9 years ago
Shame on the developers for wanting to desecrate a sacred burial site. City of Berkeley, do the right thing.
L
Laura Atkins
9 years ago
Come on Berkeley! Lead the way and show that our city doesn't just put profits first, but actually cares about people and the importance of our indigenous communities.
L
Linea Larsen
9 years ago
Please make this space a protected monument
A
Anna Christensen
9 years ago
Contact the California Native American Heritage Commission and tell them to immediately list Corrina Gould as a Most Likely Descendant of the Ohlone Tribe. Lack of consultation under Senate Bill 18 is standard practice. City planners, consultants, archaeologists, and developers have developed a system that excludes California Indians working to save their heritage and streamlines the destruction of sacred sites. Demand that the City of Berkeley sit down with all Ohlone descendants and the community at large - no more business as usual.
Save this sacred site!
Please protect the remaining shell mounds.
Please respect the ancestors and those with us today who this long belongs to. Keep Berkeley on the side of the people - not forsaking them for profits.
Please don't allow commercial development to erode the City's commitment to supporting indigenous rights.
save the shellmound!
Especially with what is happening in this country, we cannot continue to operate as if everything is still going as normal. Please do not destroy further sacred sites.
Dear Ms. Allen and Berkeley City Planners: I am writing to express my deep concerns about the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) regarding 1900 Fourth Street. The site was designated as a City of Berkeley Landmark # 227 by the Landmarks Commission. It was also listed in the California State Registry of Historic Places, as well as determined to be eligible for the National Registry of Historic places. The West Berkeley Shellmound site, completely encompassing the proposed 1900 Fourth Street site, is known to be the oldest bayside settlement in the San Francisco Bay Area, approximately 5700 years old. It is the true birthplace of Berkeley. It continues to be of utmost significance as a ceremonial center to the Ohlone people today. The draft EIR is heavily disputed, as revealed by massive community opposition voiced at the Dec 1st meeting of the Berkeley Landmark Preservation Committee. There is significant controversy surrounding the methodology used to establish the archaeological reports and there has not been adequate peer review of the data in the draft EIR. Past excavations in and around the proposed site have uncovered human burials and undisturbed cultural remains. The report completely fails to address remains specifically documented in the EIR for the adjacent Grocery Outlet site that is part of the same Landmark Shellmound site. This constitutes a significant oversight and inaccuracy in the methodology of the 1900 Fourth Street EIR. Furthermore, there has not been adequate tribal consultation in the EIR’s preparation. The primary consultant had multiple conflicts of interest, while a second Ohlone person repeatedly requesting inclusion was not consulted for the EIR. This manner of consultation with Ohlone people seems like a mere token gesture given the importance of this site to members of the Ohlone community. Resolution No. 67,353-NS of the City of Berkeley "Honor Berkeley Shellmound Indigenous Sacred Site, UC Berkeley Return Ancestral Remains
Please honor the native people of this country...There are enough shopping malls that have already abused the sacred Shellmounds...
PLEASE keep this site as a preserve in HONOR of the Ohlone people and culture and as a treasured part of Berkeley history. This shellmound is so special and we should be jumping to defend and protect this site. PLEASE PROTECT THIS SACRED PLACE
Native rights are human rights!
I feel our city can again be in the forefront with honoring EVERYONE
Please
As a Berkeley resident and human rights worker, I am vehemently opposed to the acceptance of this EIR. It would be a flagrant violation of indigenous rights and the convention Berkeley has signed.
The City of Berkeley must reject the developer's Environmental Impact Report since there was not adequate consultation with the Ohlone community. Sacred sites are important to everyone's well-being and need special protection and considerations.
Ohlone sacred ground, sacred land must be protected. No commercial, no political reason can justify the injustice of desecrating indigenous sacred ground
Who was here first (for over 5,000 years), and deserves some respect ? Not us, not the folks who want to change this place. Let it be. Make sure the original inhabitants have a say in this project.
Shame on the developers for wanting to desecrate a sacred burial site. City of Berkeley, do the right thing.
Come on Berkeley! Lead the way and show that our city doesn't just put profits first, but actually cares about people and the importance of our indigenous communities.
Please make this space a protected monument
Contact the California Native American Heritage Commission and tell them to immediately list Corrina Gould as a Most Likely Descendant of the Ohlone Tribe. Lack of consultation under Senate Bill 18 is standard practice. City planners, consultants, archaeologists, and developers have developed a system that excludes California Indians working to save their heritage and streamlines the destruction of sacred sites. Demand that the City of Berkeley sit down with all Ohlone descendants and the community at large - no more business as usual.