Winnemem Wintu fight continues

I received an interesting press release this weekend. The Winnemem Wuntu tribe has scheduled a War Dance and is filing suit in Federal Court to protect their ancestral lands, threatened anew by plans to raise the level of Shasta Lake. It was the construction of Shasta Dam that flooded their land originally without any compensation. This is more than an issue of racial justice, it is yet another battle in the California Water Wars.

War Dance begins in the evening on the Sacramento River.

Full press release by clicking "Read more!"

Tribal War Dance and March
Next Steps in Winnemem Wintu Tribe’s Journey to Justice

Ceremonies Initiate Federal Lawsuit on behalf of Tribe


Who: The Winnemem Wintu Tribe, a traditional California Tribe.

The Winnemem have been fighting for years to sustain their culture and address generations of broken promises by the federal government.

What: War Dance, March and press conference from Sacramento River to the State Capitol.

Winnemem war dancers and tribal leaders will perform a traditional ceremonial War Dance next to the Sacramento River and will then march to the State Capitol building. The March and War Dance initiate the federal lawsuit the Tribe is filing, asking for compensation for damages done by federal land management policies, including the construction of the Shasta Dam.

Schedule of events:

Sunday, April 19th: War Dance begins at 6:00 PM on Sacramento River at the site of the proposed California Indian Heritage Center, across the river from Discovery Park on the west side of the confluence of Sacramento and American Rivers: On Levee Road, off Marina Way from Lighthouse Dr, West Sacramento.

Monday, April 20th: Ceremony and address by Tribal leaders. California Indian Heritage Center site, Levee Rd, West Sacramento

10:00 AM March from Sacramento River to State Capitol, from Levee Road to Capitol

Press Conference with Tribal leaders and community members

12:00 Noon to 1 PM State Capitol Location 27 West side of capitol building


More Information:

The Winnemem Wintu Tribe is filing a lawsuit against Department of The Interior; Department of Agriculture; United States Forest Service; Bureau of Reclamation; Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau of Land Management; Ken Salazar, Secretary of The Interior; Assistant Secretary for Water and Science; Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks in The Department of Agriculture; and Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture asking for redress for decades of injustices and harm related to federal land management policies which have destroyed Winnemem cultural practices and sacred places.

The Winnemem began a journey to justice in 2004 with a War Dance at Shasta Dam. Today we continue that journey with another War Dance and this lawsuit. Our people are a traditional people, steeped in our culture and traditional lifeways, who have continued our cultural practices throughout the written history of the state of California. With this lawsuit and War Dance, we continue our journey to ensure our basic quality of life and freedom to maintain our traditions and culture.


Winnemem Wintu Tribe
14840 bear mountain road • Redding, CA • 96003
Phone: 530-275-2737 • Fax: 530-275-4193
http://www.winnememwintu.us