Broken Promises and Broken Treaties

In 1851, the United States sent Federal Indian Agents to California where they negotiated 18 Treaties with Tribal leaders. Land was to be set aside forever: a twelve-mile by twelve-mile section of land was identified between Penn Valley and Rough and Ready. The people agreed to move to this land, keep peace, and convert to farmers.

The United States agreed to provide cattle, plows, farming equipment, cloth, a schoolhouse and teacher, and more. Even though our Ancestors signed in good faith, moved onto the lands identified in the Treaty and held hope in the promises made with the Treaty Commissioners, the Treaties were never ratified by Congress. For the first time in thousands of years, the Nisenan became landless and homeless.

The 18 California Indian Treaties were forgotten until they were found accidentally in 1903. Justice is sometimes long in coming ...but hasn't it been long enough? Moving into 2021, this injustice continues and stands like a shadow in our lives. Our Federal Recognition was taken illegally, and we have yet to be restored.

Adding the Nevada City Rancheria to the list of Federal Tribes is not a deep dive. The Federal Indian programs already exist, we would simply regain access that was taken with termination. I call on all recognized and non-recognized, Indigenous, and non-Indigenous people to remember that this injustice is still a reality for us today. How do we help legislators see that we are not a threat and how do we proceed when we are between a rock and a hard place and a crumbling cliff? It all seems absurd when the fix is so simple.

Restore Nevada City Rancheria to its rightful place on the list of Federally Recognized Tribes.

Here is a link to the treaty where you can see all that was promised and not delivered. Go to "F" on pg 44...