🚀 go-pugleaf

[Also see recent post re: Rep. Herger's HR563 that would severely affect
protection of Native American sites under the Historic Preservation Act.
Please write letters!]

                   WAKA NUNIE TUKI WUKI COALITION
                        Native Coalition for
                Cultural Restoration of Mount Shasta
 
P.O.Box 1143 + Mount Shasta CA 96067 + Ph:916-842-5654 + Fx:916-926-3397


                       WINTER 1995 NEWSLETTER

** Keepers November Decision Drastically Reduces Historic District

   The Keeper's November 18, 1994 decision states that only the 
areas above timberline at 8,000 feet, and a limited Panther Meadows, 
are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places 
as a "Cosmological District." 
   Although there is no question that the entire mountain has
significance for Native American traditional culture, the deciding
issue was the integrity of Mount Shasta.  Because of past logging,
roads and a subdivision that altered the mountain's historical
appearance, the Keeper ruled that area below timberline did not
qualify.
   The Native Coalition and Save Mount Shasta have appealed this
decision and are trying to get the 4,000 foot boundary reinstated.
The question of integrity, on which the new decision was based,
should be left up to Native Americans, not be decided by outside
interests.
   The decision shrinks the Historic District from the previous
150,000 acres to a mere 19,000 acres, and leaves out many springs,
creeks, meadows, forests, food and basketry gathering ares, and
the mountain as a whole, now unprotected from timber sales and ski
development.  Many areas on Mount Shasta are in their natural state
and others can be restored.


**Status of Section 106 Process

   The Forest Service is re-opening the Mount Shasta Ski Area
Section 106 Process due to pressure by ski interests.  They are
not wasting any time now that Mount Shasta's designation has
been made, whereas they have not even considered doing a
Cultural Management Plan for Mount Shasta.  We intend to make some
demands of our own at an up-coming meeting with the Forest
Service.
   The Forest Service is currently doing an Effects Determination
for the proposed ski area.  However, since the ski area falls in
the Multiple Property study area, we are letting them know they
cannot consider the effects of a proposal until they have done a
determination of eligibility on the site for the National Register
of Historic Places.  The Multiple Property area, that covers the
entire mountain to 4,000 feet, requires that the Forest Service
evaluate each project site for cultural significance.
   
**Short History of the Case

   The March 1994 designation of the whole mountain was the result
of six years work by Native Americans, Save Mount Shasta and
others.  The story goes back to 1978, when the Forest Service
began reconsidering downhill skiing after an avalanche had
destroyed the previous ski area.  In 1984, a permit was awarded to
build the Mount Shasta Ski Area, a large ski-condominium resort.
Although the Forest Service was aware that Mount Shasta is
important to Native Americans, the Section 106 Process under NHPA
(National Historic Preservation Act) was not opened until 1991.
   A study was conducted by anthropologists Dorothea Theodoratus
and Nancy Evans, who concluded that Mount Shasta, in its entirety,
is considered sacred by all tribes surrounding the mountain, and
beyond.  Relying on interviews with 39 Native American individuals
and on previous field research, the study found that "contemporary
Indian uses of Mount Shasta are clearly rooted deeply in
traditional values and beliefs."  The proposed ski development and
continued logging on the mountain seen as "a violation of the
purity of a sacred site."
   On March 11, 1994, the Keeper of the National Register [of
Historic Places] issued a determination of eligibility for the
Mount Shasta Historic District to encompass an area of 150,000
acres, in one of the most controversial decisions made by the
National Register.  This decision resulted in a public uproar,
inflamed by many false statements about what a Historic District
means, made by people who are against any kind of protection that
might limit their commercial agendas.
   In response to this uproar, the Keeper reopened public comment
on Mount Shasta in August 1994, and issued a new decision, as
described earlier in this newsletter.

**The Native Coalition -- Purpose and Goals

   We are currently working on formal incorporation of the
Coalition as a non-profit organization, so our purposes and goals,
stated below, can become a reality through projects and funding.
We welcome your comments on these draft purposes and goals.

   a) To protect, preserve, and restore Mount Shasta, around,
above, and below; and to revitalize cultural values, communities,
traditional lifeways, practices and Native livelihoods;
   b) To create an educational and support Coalition of Native
American Tribes, Tribal Elders, groups and individuals with the
specific purpose of this corporation;
   c) To gather historical cultural information concerning Mount
Shasta; and disseminate such information through a newsletter and
other media;
   d) To serve as a liaison between the tribes and government
agencies regarding management decision on Mount Shasta;
   e) To establish interim guidelines until a cultural management
plan can be agreed upon;
   f) To create a cultural management and restoration plan for 
Mount Shasta;
   g) To advocate for further protection of Mount Shasta through
federal and international protection;
   h) To establish projects and activities that will directly
lessen the impacts of the local community on the mountain;
   i) To hold or support cultural events for the preservation and
education of Native people and the public.

**Strengthening the Coalition

   We need broad participation so we can actively pursue areas of 
concern to all people that tribes individually are often not able
to pursue or that are not their priority at this time.  These
areas include cultural preservation, natural preservation,
education of the young, restoration of heritage and lifeways that
link our spiritual life with the land and the way we live our
lives so that we will be uplifted, and the things that drag us
down can be left behind, so that we can become a stronger people.
   Write down your ideas and send them to the coalition. So often 
people criticize among themselves from the outside.  This is an 
opportunity to use that criticism  and put it to work in a
positive direction.  We can take the same energy that we use to
criticize and downgrade one another and turn it in a creative
direction to fulfill the purposes the Creator gave us. By doing
these things, respecting one another and taking care of the Earth,
we become spiritually, physically and mentally healthy because we
are doing good work.  We don't have to let the Forest Service, 
government or anyone tell we can't do it;  we just have to do it.
Our people don't have to ask what our purpose is in life;  we know;
we've always known it.  All we have to do is live up to it and
fulfill it.  We can start participating in positive ways.


           ** WAKA NUNIE TUKI WUKI COALITION **

                      MEMBERSHIP FORM

    $5     Individual or family membership
    
    $20    Tribal or group membership

    $50+   Business Sponsorship
    
    $100+  Stewardship

   Members will receive our quarterly newsletter and invitations
to all events.  People and groups who attend at least three
meetings or give time to projects are also considered members.

   Name:_____________________________________

   Address:__________________________________

   State/City/Zip____________________________


  Please return to: Native Coalition, 
                    PO Box 1143, Mount Shasta CA 96067

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 "When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully
   because we know the faces of our future generations are looking
     up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them."
                                      -Oren Lyons, Onondaga Nation
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      Michele Lord                         mosa@netcom.com
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