Redwood Valley Rancheria
Encyclopedia
The Redwood Valley Rancheria (also called Redwood Valley Reservation) is the land reservation where the Native American
community known as The Redwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians
resides. It is located northeast of the town of Redwood Valley
in Mendocino County, California
.
The reservation land was purchased by the United States government on July 19, 1909, but the rancheria terminated on August 1, 1961, along with 43 other California rancherias, according to the California Rancheria Act of 1958.
In the mid-1970s, Redwood Valley Reservation, along with 16 other Native American communities, filed a lawsuit with the United States government seeking federal re-recognition in a case known as Tillie Hardwick v. United States of America. In 1983, the communities won the lawsuit.
Since then, the Redwood Valley Reservation has acquired 170 acre (0.6879662 km²), held in trust by the United States government since 1985.
In the early 1900s, Congress authorized an investigation of the living conditions of landless Indians. Congress set apart and purchased small parcels of lands as Indian Reservations (often called rancherias in California) for Native American people. Between 1906 and 1913 an attorney from San Jose, C.E. Kelsey personally oversaw the purchase of land in northern and central California pursuant to the acts, including the land for the Redwood Valley Rancheria.
The Rancheria was active until 1958, when it was terminated by the California Rancheria Act of 1958. At its termination many tribal members from Redwood Valley migrated to surrounding towns and cities in search of employment, while only a few Native American families on the rancheria. However, the rancheria was reinstituted in 1983, and since then the tribe has formed a tribal government, acquired a land-base, and began an economic-development program.
and bylaws, according to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This tribe now governs the Redwood Valley Rancheria by a General Council, who elects a seven-member Tribal Council. The tribe is federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
community known as The Redwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians
Pomo people
The Pomo people are an indigenous peoples of California. The historic Pomo territory in northern California was large, bordered by the Pacific Coast to the west, extending inland to Clear Lake, and mainly between Cleone and Duncans Point...
resides. It is located northeast of the town of Redwood Valley
Redwood Valley, California
Redwood Valley is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California. It is located southwest of Potter Valley, at an elevation of 722 feet . It comprises the northern portion of the Ukiah Valley. It is about 8 mi north of Ukiah and 12 mi south of Willits. Potter Valley is to...
in Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County, California
Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...
.
Location and land status
The reservation spans 177 acre (0.71629422 km²) on the northeastern side of the Russian River Valley. The terrain is forested and mountainous with some river and streams. The area is in a mild and transitional climate between coastal and interior valleys. Rainfall averages 35 inches (889 mm) per year.The reservation land was purchased by the United States government on July 19, 1909, but the rancheria terminated on August 1, 1961, along with 43 other California rancherias, according to the California Rancheria Act of 1958.
In the mid-1970s, Redwood Valley Reservation, along with 16 other Native American communities, filed a lawsuit with the United States government seeking federal re-recognition in a case known as Tillie Hardwick v. United States of America. In 1983, the communities won the lawsuit.
Since then, the Redwood Valley Reservation has acquired 170 acre (0.6879662 km²), held in trust by the United States government since 1985.
Culture and History
The Redwood Valley Pomo once lived in the Little River area northeast of the Clear Lake region. The arrival of European settlers in the 19th century displaced most Pomo people from their native lands.In the early 1900s, Congress authorized an investigation of the living conditions of landless Indians. Congress set apart and purchased small parcels of lands as Indian Reservations (often called rancherias in California) for Native American people. Between 1906 and 1913 an attorney from San Jose, C.E. Kelsey personally oversaw the purchase of land in northern and central California pursuant to the acts, including the land for the Redwood Valley Rancheria.
The Rancheria was active until 1958, when it was terminated by the California Rancheria Act of 1958. At its termination many tribal members from Redwood Valley migrated to surrounding towns and cities in search of employment, while only a few Native American families on the rancheria. However, the rancheria was reinstituted in 1983, and since then the tribe has formed a tribal government, acquired a land-base, and began an economic-development program.
Government
On June 20, 1987, The Redwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians was formed with a constitutionConstitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
and bylaws, according to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. This tribe now governs the Redwood Valley Rancheria by a General Council, who elects a seven-member Tribal Council. The tribe is federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
.
See also
Other current Pomo communities in Mendocino County:- Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians of CaliforniaCoyote Valley ReservationThe Coyote Valley Reservation in Redwood Valley, California is home to about 170 members of the Coyote Valley tribe of the Native American Pomo people, who descend from the Shodakai Pomo.It is also the location of the Coyote Valley Shodakai Casino....
, of the Coyote Valley Reservation - Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley ReservationRound Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley ReservationThe Round Valley Indian Reservation is a federally recognized Indian reservation lying primarily in northern Mendocino County, California, USA. A small part of it extends northward into southern Trinity County. The total land area, including off-reservation trust land, is 93.939 km²...
(part Pomo)