"COMING SOON TO TOLEDO!
"An organization called Second Chance is proposing to develop a 48-bed,
medium-security, residential JUVENILE OFFENDER BASIC TRAINING CAMP at St.
Mary's Center. This beautiful facility has served our community well,
most recently housing the elementary and middle schools during their
remodel."
blahblahblah...
What is most interesting is this: My uncle (my Mom's uncle), an elder
with the Cowlitz Tribe, remembers this site well. It seems that many years
ago, when smallpox was busy wreaking havoc upon my people, the Catholic
church would not allow burial with the "normal" bodies. Instead, they were
buried nearby, on the same land. The headstones have since been removed, and
memories are not as sharp as before (although I'm sure they have records
in their basement). The plans for this facility call for new construction,
probably where our Grandfathers rest.
This project is backed mostly by private parties, although I know of two:
the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, and Ramtha channeler
J.Z. Knight, who lives in nearby Yelm.
What to do?
Public hearings, slated for 13 & 15 Feb., are too close at hand to do
much about. However, there is an advisory board that will meet quarterly to
discuss issues, make recommendations, etc., so there is an opportunity to
make one's voice heard.
I do not need to tell you good people how important it is to hold builders
and developers responsible for their undertakings. I have no illusions
about being able to actually halt construction, but I do believe we can
locate the gravesites and prohibit the development of same.
Question: is this feasable under NAGPRA?
Favor: I need input. Anyone with ANY insight re: how to proceed (my Cowlitz
brothers are attending those meetings (I'm 85 miles away), so we'll draw
attention on that front). Also, if anyone with the time could, email me,
or write directly to the addresses listed below (and I'll snail them myself),
so that these people will see they must be accountable for their actions.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
I'm typing all this in a hurry, so that I can still catch the last bus home,
but I hope it makes some sort of sense...
ADDRESSES:
developers:
Second Chance
Angela Rinaldo, Director of Development
Security Building
P.O. Box 10220
Olympia, WA 98502
(206) 443-8002
(360) 754-4568
owners of St. Mary's:
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity
Attn: Sr. Michele Mangan
P.O. Box 1028
Redwood City, CA 94064
Most Reverend Thomas J. Murphy
Archdiocese of Seattle
910 Marion Street
Seattle, WA 98104
18th Legislative District (senate_18@leg.wa.gov)
Sen. Joseph Zarelli
401A Legislative Building
Olympia, WA 98540
(360) 786-7634 FAX(360) 786-7520
Rep. Betty Sue Morris
338 O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7850 FAX(360) 786-7317
Rep. John Pennington
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7812
Lewis County Commissioners:
Richard Graham (206) 740-1283
Glen Aldrich 740-1286
Carl Hemenway 740-1288
Sample Letter:
Dear __________________________:
The Cowlitz Indian Tribe and its people should need no introduction to you.
They have been a part of this region since before the coming of settlers, and
in fact were instrumental to the survival of the newcomers. When the Cowlitz
met their first white man, a Plomondon, they welcomed him with open arms, and
in doing so, help ensure the survival of the newly arrived.
You should also be aware of an important part of the history of the Cowlitz
People. Like many tribes, the Cowlitz fell prey to diseases against
which they had no protection, diseases from across the oceans; smallpox, most
notably. The Cowlitz lost as much as eighty percent of its people -- entire
families, entire villages, an entire region had been robbed of its original
inhabitants.
Some who fell, as you also may know, were buried at St. Mary's Center. The
bodies were not allowed in the cemetary proper, however; instead they were
interred elsewhere on the property. Sadly, the headstones have since been
removed, and the only records are believed to be in the hands of the
proprietors of the property.
A relatively recent act, the Native Artifact and Grave Repatriation Act,
NAGPRA, has taken effect. It states that any owner of any collection of
Indian artifacts must make every available effort to return that collection,
those artifacts to the tribe from whence they originated. It also has
specific guidelines for dealing with the graves of aboriginals.
It is believed that neither the developers nor the owners of St. Mary's have
taken any action that the law, and common sense, deem neccessary. Please
look into this matter, and belay any further development until the graves of
Cowlitz past can be located and protected. No one wants their ancestors
violated in the name of progress. You can make sure it doesn't happen to
the Cowlitz.
Thank you for your time and cooperation.
*Please modify this letter as you see fit, as it helps to get as many
different versions of the same message across as possible
*LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE BETTER SAID
*I realize I may have taken liberty with the definition of NAGPRA.
Notify me, please, of what I can or need to correct.
Thank you.
All My Relations
dAVe Burlingame
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
Cowlitz Indian Peoples Coalition