Land Transfers To Maidu For Monument In Downtown Nevada City Today
A rare Title Transfer Ceremony will give prime, visible real property back to local Maidu people. The parcel in downtown Nevada City, at Broad and Union Street, is set aside for a monument to the Maidu people and the community, as a symbol of healing. The ceremony is set for Friday, October 5, at 6 PM. It is the opening ceremony for four days of ceremony and celebration, the eighth annual Indigeous Peoples Days.
Gary Tintle and Lowell Robinson, co-owners of the property, agreed to donate the land to the Tsi-Akim Maidu Tribe for a monument to the Maidu people. As part of the ceremony, they will sign over the property title to local Tribal Chairman Don Ryberg. Mayor Sally Harris will read a proclamation from the Nevada City Council declaring their support for Indigenous Peoples Day, and pledging partnership in building the Maidu Monument. Fred "Coyote" Downing, a Maidu spiritual leader, and other civic and community leaders will join the ceremony. Ludi Hinricks will perform an original Maidu Song. There will be traditional feather dancing and other ceremonial activities.
Eight years ago in Nevada City, at ground zero of the Gold Rush, several local tribal members and supporters held a candlelight vigil to honor their ancestors. On the same day, known as Columbus Day, KVMR 89.5FM Community Radio volunteers honored native people with a day of special on-air programming. Since then, the two groups have worked together. This year Indigenous Peoples Days has grown to a four day event.
Prior to the Gold Rush there were five round houses in what is now Nevada City, and thousands of Tsi-Akim Maidu Indians lived in this region. During and after the Gold Rush, almost all local Maidu were terminated, or killed, or force marched away from the Sierra foothills. In recent years the surviving Maidu have become active in the community.
The public is invited to attend this free event on Friday, October 5, at 6 PM. Indigenous Peoples Days are hosted by the Tsi-Akim Maidu tribe and the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated tribe. Community partners include: KVMR-FM, the South Yuba River Citizens League, the Sierra Fund, the Seventh Generation Fund, YubaDocs, the Miners Foundry, the Nevada County Land Trust, Nevada County Indian Education, Sierra Nevada Deep Ecology Institute, California State Parks, California Fish and Game, Washoe Native TANF, Placer County Children's Systerm of Care, Friends of Deer Creek, and the Briarpatch Community Coop.
For more information about Indigenous Peoples Days, check the website: www.indigenouspeoplesdays.org.
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