New legislation could give Karuk Tribe uninterrupted access to sacred land

June 24, 2022

WASHINGTON D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. lawmakers introduced new legislation to put sacred land back into the hands of the Karuk Tribe.

Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein introduced the Katimiîn and Ameekyáaraam Sacred Lands Act to transfer ownership of sacred lands in Humboldt and Siskiyou Counties from the U.S. Forest Service to the Interior Department. The department will then place those lands into trust for the federally-recognized Karuk Tribe.

This means the tribe will receive full, uninterrupted access to 1,000 acres of federal land that the tribe has used for hundreds of years to hold ceremonies and teach new generations about traditional culture and customs. The ancestral land called Katimiîn is considered to be the center of the Karuk world and is the ending point for the tribe's World Renewal Ceremonies.

"The return of these lands will ensure that future generations of Karuk People are free to exercise their religious freedoms as their ancestors have since the beginning of time,” said Karuk Chairman Russell ‘Buster’ Attebery.

Since much of the Karuk aboriginal territory is occupied by Six Rivers and Klamath National Forests, the tribe needs to obtain a permit before conducting a ceremony on Forest Service land. Even after doing so, the tribe has often been interrupted during ceremonies.

“While the tribe has a federal permit to access the lands for ceremonies, that access isn’t guaranteed," Feinstein said. "This bill will ensure the tribe maintains access to these lands into the future.”

Sen. Padilla said putting the lands back into the stewardship of the tribe is a "long-overdue moral imperative."

Rep. Jared Huffman previously introduced the legislation in the House.

“Natural resource stewardship of land, wildlife, plants, and water is at the core of the Karuk people’s culture and identity. Yet 95% of their aboriginal territory is currently under federal management, undermining the tribe’s ability to exercise traditional practices that have been passed down since time immemorial,” Huffman said in a statement. “This bill seeks to return sacred ground to the Karuk Tribe, correcting an historic injustice. I’ve had the immense privilege and honor of visiting Katimiîn and its surrounding acres – these places are not only majestic, they are central to Karuk history, religion, culture, and identity. Placing them in trust ensures that the Karuk culture and way of life can endure for future generations.”

The bill is also supported by Humboldt County, the Northern California Tribal Chairpersons Association, Western Klamath Restoration Partnership, California Native Plant Society and Sierra Forest Legacy.


By:  CARLY WIPF
Source: KRCR