The incident occurred a little over a week ago, just a few days before Wintu people and leaders expressed opposition to a riverfront development proposal, in part due to fears it would disturb the graves of their ancestors. Turtle Bay Exploration Park staff say they already have measures in place to protect Native burial sites but they’re discussing how to improve their processes.
Native people presented a united front against selling riverfront land to private developers at Thursday’s Redding City Council riverfront development workshop. They invoked their responsibility to protect their homelands and the remains of their ancestors and pledged to prevent further erasure.
ConnectGen is appealing a June denial of the controversial energy project by the Shasta County Planning Commission. They say their newly proposed modifications will reduce the scope of the project and provide “enhanced benefits” to the Pit River Tribe, which continues to oppose the project.
A lawyer specializing in Brown Act violations said the city's lack of transparency should be seen as a "red flag."
This is a developing story. Shasta Scout is reaching out to relevant parties for comment and further information.
The California water rights system’s foundations stretch back to the mid-19th century. It’s been criticized as “antiquated” and “discriminatory,” and critics are clamoring for reform.
With the news of mass graves at Canadian Indian residential schools garnering headlines, Native peoples living in what is now Shasta County continue to recover from the generational effects of the schools, which were designed to eradicate Native ways of life.
Local tribes regularly advocate for environmental protection and restoration. So why are local Native peoples' cultures and religions continually threatened by green projects?
The Pit River Tribe scored a temporary victory when the Shasta County Planning Commissioners voted down the Fountain Wind green energy project on June 22. But ConnectGen’s appeal of that decision, filed June 25, is now pending.
