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Rainbow family's latrines worry tribe
Published July 1, 2004
Paiute official says latrine digging at Rainbow gathering may harm artifacts
By JEAN BILODEAUX
FORT BIDWELL - Participants of the Rainbow Family Gathering are digging latrines by the hundreds on the Modoc National Forest, and thereby raising the ire of the Fort Bidwell Paiute Indian Tribe.
The tribe based in northeastern Modoc County called on the Forest Service to remove the Rainbow Gathering to protect archaeological resources, and faulted the agency for issuing a permit for the gathering.
"We don't question their right to assemble. We protest their right to dig up cultural artifacts," said Ken Williams, tribal administrator.
Some of the trenches are 18 inches wide and 6 feet long.
"We know that Forest Service archaeologists ran around the site picking up all the surface artifacts they could find," Williams said. "But the Forest Service will save and catalog them, then put them away in a vault."
Tribal Chairman Frances Benally said the Bearcamp Flat area where the Rainbow Family is gathering is rich in Indian heritage and culture.
"Yet, in such a rich area a permit has been issued which is allowing thousands of people to gather and dig," Benally said. "Dig into soil no Indian person would ever disturb. Dig into thousands of years of history, memory and connection. Dig into tribal villages and cemeteries in order to dispose of human waste."
Benally disputed a statement by Warner Mountain District Ranger Edie Asrow that there would be losses, but that they would not likely be permanent losses.
"Our committee was told that the artifacts will never be returned to the site, nor will they be handed over to the tribe or one of the other three federally recognized tribes in the area," Benally said.
"We see the digging of slit trenches, potentially thousands of slit trenches, and hundreds of compost pits as permanent losses to the heritage resource and to us as a people."
Loyette Meza, a tribal cultural committee member, said she visited the Rainbow Gathering site and was aghast at what she saw.
"We pointed out they were digging our cultural artifacts," Meza said. "They asked us what they could do to pacify us. We told them they could leave. They said they would - in a week."
A statement from the Forest Service said the agency would address the tribes' concerns.
"We have numerous resource and law enforcement people working together at the site daily with the gathering individuals to relay information about public health and safety and regarding protection of cultural resources."
Correspondent Jean Bilodeaux covers Surprise Valley. She can be reached at (530) 279-2031, or at P.O. Box 5, Cedarville, CA 96104, or by sending an e-mail to jeanb@hdo.net.
Paiute official says latrine digging at Rainbow gathering may harm artifacts
By JEAN BILODEAUX
FORT BIDWELL - Participants of the Rainbow Family Gathering are digging latrines by the hundreds on the Modoc National Forest, and thereby raising the ire of the Fort Bidwell Paiute Indian Tribe.
The tribe based in northeastern Modoc County called on the Forest Service to remove the Rainbow Gathering to protect archaeological resources, and faulted the agency for issuing a permit for the gathering.
"We don't question their right to assemble. We protest their right to dig up cultural artifacts," said Ken Williams, tribal administrator.
Some of the trenches are 18 inches wide and 6 feet long.
"We know that Forest Service archaeologists ran around the site picking up all the surface artifacts they could find," Williams said. "But the Forest Service will save and catalog them, then put them away in a vault."
Tribal Chairman Frances Benally said the Bearcamp Flat area where the Rainbow Family is gathering is rich in Indian heritage and culture.
"Yet, in such a rich area a permit has been issued which is allowing thousands of people to gather and dig," Benally said. "Dig into soil no Indian person would ever disturb. Dig into thousands of years of history, memory and connection. Dig into tribal villages and cemeteries in order to dispose of human waste."
Benally disputed a statement by Warner Mountain District Ranger Edie Asrow that there would be losses, but that they would not likely be permanent losses.
"Our committee was told that the artifacts will never be returned to the site, nor will they be handed over to the tribe or one of the other three federally recognized tribes in the area," Benally said.
"We see the digging of slit trenches, potentially thousands of slit trenches, and hundreds of compost pits as permanent losses to the heritage resource and to us as a people."
Loyette Meza, a tribal cultural committee member, said she visited the Rainbow Gathering site and was aghast at what she saw.
"We pointed out they were digging our cultural artifacts," Meza said. "They asked us what they could do to pacify us. We told them they could leave. They said they would - in a week."
A statement from the Forest Service said the agency would address the tribes' concerns.
"We have numerous resource and law enforcement people working together at the site daily with the gathering individuals to relay information about public health and safety and regarding protection of cultural resources."
Correspondent Jean Bilodeaux covers Surprise Valley. She can be reached at (530) 279-2031, or at P.O. Box 5, Cedarville, CA 96104, or by sending an e-mail to jeanb@hdo.net.
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