Events
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ANNUAL PROTEST AT THE DEAD MALL IN EMERYVILLE, CA
WHEN: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2012
TIME: 12-2PM
PLACE: CORNER OF SHELLMOUND ST AND OHLONE WAY
BRING SIGNS AND SNACKS TO SHARE, IF YOU'D LIKE.
East Bay Regional Parks Master Plan Community Comment Meetings. Please write letters and submit by December 15 and urge EBRPD to give local Natives a voice in the land of their ancestors, by being equals at the table especially when it comes to the sacred sites of their ancestors.
You can send your comments by letter addressed to:
Master Plan Policy Update
2950 Peralta Oaks Court
Oakland, CA 94605
Here is a Template:
East Bay Regional Parks District
2950 Peralta Oaks Ct
Oakland, CA 94605
Dear EBRPD Board and Staff-
I recently read the Draft Master Plan revisions and would like to add my comments. The language in the Cultural Resources Management section of the draft Plan revisions is too general. EBRPD needs to use more specific phrasing when defining how they will involve local Native peoples in the preservation of their cultural resources. Indigenous people from this region must be equal partners in the management of their sacred sites and that is up to the Master Plan to ensure. Furthermore, cultural and natural resources cannot be seen as separate entities as they are inextricably linked for Native peoples who must have a guiding voice in the stewardship of both.
The following are suggested modifications to the Cultural Resource Management section. Changes are found in red lettering.
CRM1: The District will manage, conserve and when practical restore parkland cultural and historic resources and sites with local Native American communities, to preserve the heritage of the people who continue to inhabit occupied this land before the District was established.
CRM4: The District Native American communities will determine the level of public access to their cultural and historic resources.using procedures and practices adopted by the Board of Directors. The District will research the practices being employed andgenerally accepted as best management practices by State and Federal Parks and SB18 to minimize the impact of public use and access on these resources, and to appropriately interpret the significance of these resources on a regional scale when appropriate.
CRM5: The District will include Native American and other culturally associated peoples in discussions, at least 90 days prior to making any changes regarding the preservation and land use planning of sites and landscapes significant to their culture.
CRM6: The District will try to accommodate requests by historic groups, Native Americans, and other culturally affiliated groups to maintain and use cultural sites and to play an active role in their preservation and interpretation.
Similar language should be adopted into the Natural Resource Management component of the plan, as what the EBRPD defines as natural often has cultural significance to Native peoples. EBRPD should commit to convening an advisory board of local Indigenous people to oversee the decision-making that pertains to their sacred places.
By including these modifications to its Master Plan, East Bay Regional Parks will be making significant changes to its historical relationship with the Indigenous people whose land they now occupy. It would demonstrate the desire of EBRPD to become partners with those who have the longest continuous investment in this land.
Sincerely,
