Winnemem Wintu Tribe again denied closing of river for Coming of Age ceremony.

Fearing a sacred rite of passage will again be ruined by recreational boaters, the Winnemem Wintu tribe has canceled this year's Coming of Age ceremony. The ceremony, which marks a girl's transition into womanhood, had been tentatively scheduled for today through Sunday.

This small tribe has been fighting it's rights to perform the Coming of Age Ceremony on their sacred rock.

"We tried to use the voluntary closure, but it didn't work," she said. "Boats were still speeding through the area." And apart from the safety risk that boaters pose, some have been disrespectful to the tribe, Sisk-Franco said. When her daughter went through the ceremony in 2006, drunken boaters yelled at and flashed her as they passed by, she said.

In fact a 19 year old girl on one of the boats flashing and showing disrespect was accidentally killed that day.

But Sisk-Franco said it's unfair to give precedence to boaters when the tribe uses the river for sacred ceremonies. "What boaters are just absolutely going to fall apart if they can't go up that 300 yards of river for four days?" she asked. "The recreating boaters have more rights than the tribe does to hold the ceremony."

It's really a very tiny area they are asking to be closed.

"They've talked about a problem with some boaters in the past, but that was years ago," she said. "I think people will be respectful of what they're doing."

I wish that were true. The past ceremonies have been shown major disrespect.

I realize they are not a Federally recognized as a Tribe.

They do have a Casino.

I wish TPTB would respect this ceremony and close that area.

The history of this Tribe is really tragic.

Local Story

Flagged.
How hard is it, not to go boating in THAT particular area for 4 freaking days a year!

Seems everyone preaches tolerance when it pertains to them. However it seems it is tough to tolerate anyone else's accommodations for four days. If not exaggerated, which it seems it is not, pathetic.

Originally posted by drakus
Flagged.
How hard is it, not to go boating in THAT particular area for 4 freaking days a year!

The worst part is the tribe is so small that they only need it every few years.

It is embarrassing what has happened to these people.

They have a sacred rock where the McCloud River hits the lake.

It's 300 yards of a huge man made lake.

They manage to have the lake roped off for House Boats....Sad.

While I sympathize with the apparent struggles and frustrations of the tribe, the way the story is reported leaves me with some questions...

Because the Winnemem are not a federally recognized tribe, the Forest Service doesn't have the authority to close the river for the ceremony, said Brenda Tracy, a public services staff officer with the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. A voluntary closure means forest employees ask boaters not to use the river, rather than demanding they do so.

Based on that statement, I am left with the impression that there is no agency who can legally close the river for he 'tribe'.

In a last-ditch attempt to get a closure for this year's ceremony, tribe member Pat Lind spoke to Shasta County supervisors late last month, urging them to help. "I just ask you as elected officials to keep an open mind and open heart," she said. But Sisk-Franco said they "didn't get anywhere." "If they could even issue a letter to say, 'Gee, you guys should close this river,'" she said. "But nothing came about."

So why is the tribe trying to petition other agencies, like the Sheriff and the local Board?

I sympathize, for sure, but it sounds like they are expecting results that are unattainable.

Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said his office can only close the river in an emergency situation, such as when boaters would interfere with emergency crews during a fire. "I don’t have the authority to do the closure unless an emergency exists," he said.

Sisk-Franco said that the tribe will not stop fighting for the closure and that she considers the lack of local support to be discrimination.

Ye, sounds to me they are trying to make this more difficult, than figuring out a way to work WITH local authorities to make a volunteer closure more effective. It's lame if people wont respect the tribes requests, but for the tribe to expect various agencies to make some kind of 'exception' is to display an amazing misunderstanding of how the law works.

I suspect if the tribe was willing to work WITH various agencies to enforce the speed limit, for example, and to engage in more pro-active community outreach to have the boating community police themselves, they might actually be able to achieve the goals they seek.

Also, it's a minor point, but closing off 300 yards of a river impacts the entire river if it is a major thoroughfare. So phrasing it as they 'only' want to close 300 yards is misleading. That might be like saying to dont want to close the WHOLE road, just the middle of it.

reply to post by incrediblelousminds


Everything you point out is correct.

They do not have their Federal Status.

I believe there is some history with local LE.

I still hope there is a meeting of the minds.

Thanks for reading.

Also, Shasta Lake is a sprawling man made lake, isnt it? Depending on where the Winnemem Wintu do their ceremony, that could mean the shut down a a very large portion of the lake, depending on bot launch sites, etc.

Do you know what sorts of local 'issues' theyve had with le?

reply to post by incrediblelousminds



Shasta Lake is a huge lake.

When I was searching I found this online petition from Barbara Boxer.

Wintu Tribe Puberty Petition

For the first time in my life...I support Sen. Boxer on this.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a1e733b08f31.gif[/atsimg]

I believe it is right at #21 on the map.

The rock is used to be exposed at the river edge.

I believe they covered the rock when they made the lake.

Looks like an interesting Ceremony.

Originally posted by incrediblelousminds
Also, Shasta Lake is a sprawling man made lake, isnt it? Depending on where the Winnemem Wintu do their ceremony, that could mean the shut down a a very large portion of the lake, depending on bot launch sites, etc.

Do you know what sorts of local 'issues' theyve had with le?

I remember it has something to do with access to tribal land.

I don't have any facts and I am relying on my memory.

I lived in the area a few years. I read the local history.

It is truly shameful how these people were treated.

Well, let's put it in the balance
Ancient Ceremony pertaining Cultural and Historical Identity VS Getting drunk on a boat
I, for one, don't have to think it three times... It's not like they want to close every lake in the state, it's a part of ONE lake for just four days.

And then we have these "Corporate Meetings" where a private company can "rent" a public park for a day... Of course, money is the "master key" of America....


PD: I don't believe they should stop fighting for their rights only because the state doesn't recognize them, what are they expected to do then, just give up on their culture?

reply to post by drakus


But, to play devil's advocate, if they are a minority, why should the state cater to their needs? Boaters pay lucrative recreational fees. Should the state lose potential revenues in the name of multi cultural tolerance?

reply to post by incrediblelousminds


That's a great question....I know it was not directed at me. I hope you don't mind a reply.

If any additional costs are incurred by the state.

The Tribe should pay the additional security cost.

However, It seems they have the manpower available to keep the river open.

We are talking about a sixteen year old girl wanting to obey her heritage.

The Tribe has been doing this ritual for hundreds of years.

I just wish they could meet somewhere in the middle.

reply to post by incrediblelousminds


Sounds like they are a bunch of phonies to me!

Trust me, I've dealt with plenty of fake "tribes" where I come from. A lot of the people behind these groups are WHITE!

reply to post by whyamIhere


I completely agree that it is an unfortunate unfolding of events. But since this site so often has people complaining about 'the government' i wanted to point out that a small, unrecognized tribe using the state to give them special rights over the majority of recreational lake users might be seen as catering to a minority, which usually gets frowned upon here in pseudo libertarian ATS land.

Originally posted by The Sword
reply to post by incrediblelousminds

 

Sounds like they are a bunch of phonies to me!

Trust me, I've dealt with plenty of fake "tribes" where I come from. A lot of the people behind these groups are WHITE!

That's a bold statement. Can you elaborate a bit, or are you just angry?

reply to post by incrediblelousminds


At the end of the day we are in agreement.

The taxpayers of the State should not be ask to cater to this minority.

Shasta Co. Indian History.

Maybe the reason they are a minority...

Is that we killed them all.

Originally posted by incrediblelousminds
reply to post by drakus

 

But, to play devil's advocate, if they are a minority, why should the state cater to their needs? Boaters pay lucrative recreational fees. Should the state lose potential revenues in the name of multi cultural tolerance?

But the boaters could use the REST of the place, if as the others say it's a portion they are claiming.

Originally posted by drakus

Originally posted by incrediblelousminds
reply to post by drakus

 

But, to play devil's advocate, if they are a minority, why should the state cater to their needs? Boaters pay lucrative recreational fees. Should the state lose potential revenues in the name of multi cultural tolerance?

But the boaters could use the REST of the place, if as the others say it's a portion they are claiming.

Oh, yes, of course they could. But who would authorize a shut down of the portion of the lake they want close temporarily? Under what authority and jurisdiction?

Originally posted by incrediblelousminds

Originally posted by drakus

Originally posted by incrediblelousminds
reply to post by drakus

 

But, to play devil's advocate, if they are a minority, why should the state cater to their needs? Boaters pay lucrative recreational fees. Should the state lose potential revenues in the name of multi cultural tolerance?

But the boaters could use the REST of the place, if as the others say it's a portion they are claiming.

Oh, yes, of course they could. But who would authorize a shut down of the portion of the lake they want close temporarily? Under what authority and jurisdiction?

I have no idea what authority has jurisdiction over there, but for me is a matter of common sense and respect. It is a very small thing they are asking I don't get what they make all the fuzz in the first place, just let them do their ceremony those four days and the day after no one but them will remember that happened...
It doesn't hurt being nice.

reply to post by drakus


Agreed The boaters should voluntarily allow the ceremony to continue.

Hopefully some outreach from the Tribe will facilitate that sort of thing.