News From Native California - Spring 2015 Volume 28, Issue 3 | Page 44

big times/little times
occupation. In a letter to university leadership, the students
stated that, “HSU occupies Wiyot land due to the results of
colonization and illegal theft.…Therefore, as Indigenous students, we are not ‘occupying’ the Bolman Forum, we are liberating occupied land.” We will continue to update our readers via social media as this progresses.
California Indians and allies have stood up in opposition to
the Willits Bypass construction in Sonoma County. They
argue that the construction of the bypass would cause harm
to Pomo historic sites and have a negative environmental impact. As a result, protesters have regularly gathered at
both the bypass construction site and the Army Corps of
Engineers office in San Francisco. Tribal leaders have spoken
out against the project, and when asked for Indian Country
Today Media, tribal representative Eddie Knight (Coyote Valley Band of Dry Creek Pomo Indians) said, “We’re not trying
to stop the project. All we’re asking is that they follow the
laws that give us a chance to protect our history.”
In other protest news, the largest anti-fracking protest in
American history occurred in Oakland on February 7 to

pressure Governor Jerry Brown to stop fracking, which has
had a detrimental impact on our water sources. Native Californians had a strong presence in a group estimated at eight
thousand people. Corrina Gould (Chochenyo Ohlone), Ann
Marie Sayers (Indian Canyon/Mutsun Ohlone), and Desirae
Harp (Mishewal Wappo) were among the California tribal
leaders present to stand in opposition to fracking and bring
prayers for the water. We thank those who attended and
hope the good work to protect our planet continues.
The Agua Caliente Cultural Museum hosted the Wikitmallem Tahmuwhae: Singing the Birds festival at the end of January in Palm Springs, kicking off fiesta season in Southern
California. Michael Mirelelz (Desert Cahuilla) beautifully
emceed an enchanting day of harmonies, dancing, and some
astoundingly syncopated gourd rhythms. The festival featured the Hot Water Bird Singers (Pass Cahuilla), Cocopah
Bird Singers, Morongo Bird Singers (Pass Cahuilla),
Larry Hammond (Mojave), Pai’niktem Bird Singers (Pass
Cahuilla), Parker Boys (Mojave), Desert Cahuilla Bird Singers, Hubert McCord (Mojave), Inter-tribal Bird Singers,
and the Kumeyaay Bird Singers. ▼

CALL FOR POETRY SUBMISSIONS
FOR ANTHOLOGY
Deadline June 1, 2015

Red Indian Road West: Poems on the Native
American Experience in California

A Sacramento Landmark
Since 1940!
Visit our store—we offer a large
selection of Native–made items
and California Indian books!

To be published by Scarlet Tanager Books
www.ScarletTanager.com
Who should submit?
Native American poets from California tribes as
well as poets from tribes nationwide who were
born or