Ladies Valley Landback – Returning Native Lands to Native Hands
Kimberly ShiningStar Petree, Executive Director of CCAWW
(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) June 29, 2022 —
Cosumnes Culture and WaterWays (CCAWW) and the Indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada are so honored to have our ancestral lands returned!
CCAWW is a Native-based 501c3 non-profit created to care for the land, waters, and indigenous species throughout the ancestral lands of the Miwok people. CCAWW has been partnering with the American River Conservancy (ARC) in caring for the 320 acres of land straddling the North Fork of the Cosumnes River known as Ladies Valley in Placerville, CA. ARC has a proven commitment in protecting lands and waters within the American River and Cosumnes River watersheds. This partnership has blossomed into a successful combination of land stewardship, education, environmental care, and culture.
ARC has now declared their intention to give the 320-acre Ladies Valley property to CCAWW in perpetuity. Both non-profits are partnering to raise $25,000 as “seed money” to support CCAWW’s stewardship of the land. Everyone is welcome to support this rare and unique landback experience in Northern California.
As the executive director of CCAWW, I would like to share our excitement about this landback! We feel so blessed to be recognized by ARC and our community supporting Native Indigenous endeavors. It is such a tremendous honor to receive our ancestral lands to perpetuate the Indigenous culture. This landback is a big step to heal the “his-tory” of local places and the original people who resided here. While CCAWW has been committed to cultivating our culture, taking care of the land, water, and all the living things, this landback has inspired the participation of many Native people throughout our region.
As knowledge of the Ladies Valley Landback spreads throughout California, other Native communities are also excited and reaching out to participate. What a gift to all of us! Recently a Chuckchansi Miwok woman reached out to gather Sourberry, as her long-time gathering spot was recently destroyed by “progress.” CCAWW took her to Ladies Valley where she properly introduced us to Sourberry along with Whiteroot. While we gathered and ate the berries, we also learned about the medicinal properties and how it is used for basketry. Sourberries are such a treat, truly the first “sour patch kid” candy!
We also had a neighboring tribe visit with their Natural Resource Department to learn about the land management and the water monitoring we’ve been conducting on the Cosumnes River. We have been sharing our water monitoring results with the California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN) where interested parties can look up the health of the Cosumnes River. In return, our neighboring tribe invited us to their lands. Relationships like these propagate Native culture and add to our collective knowledge base. In this way, knowledge will be shared for future generations.
We are also excited to announce our friends at the Maidu Museum invited us to share the Ladies Valley Landback during their Night Out at the Museum event on 9/17/22. The public is welcome to join and hear more about our plans for this special gift of land and funds.
The Ladies Valley property is a place for people to learn about natural systems and our human relationship with them. Our relatives are just delighted to know there is a place to gather, dance, and learn, to share stories and culture, and to teach our children. This beautiful land will be a place to continuously tend and care for plants, which in turn, will take care of us. ARC will also carry a conservation easement on the property, which will protect its natural resources forever. All these practices contribute to the health of the ecosystem. When the ecosystem is in balance, all things thrive within it.
It is rewarding to share our knowledge with our people, students, teachers, and all others who have a sincere desire to learn. As we perpetuate our culture, it becomes part of everyone who takes the time to learn. They carry it with them and share it with others. In the long run, the more we know about land, the more we understand how to care for it. This makes us all better stewards of the land.
ARC has my earnest respect and gratitude for this gift. I am so blessed to take part in this landback. To bring Native culture back to the people is my deepest honor. As I reflect on my own life, I feel this is one of my greatest achievements. You can also take part in this experience and share these feelings.
Our hope is that everyone who feels moved to participate in the Ladies Valley Landback knows they are welcome. All funds raised in this effort will be given to CCAWW to accompany the land title transfer. In these many ways and more, you can support the Ladies Valley Landback:
- 9/17/22, join ARC and CCAWW for Night Out at the Museum from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Maidu Museum located at 1970 Johnson Ranch Drive, Roseville, CA.
- 10/1/22 to 10/22/22, bid online during the art auction at www.bit.ly/lvlb-auction. The online auction will conclude during the event on 10/22/22.
- From 10/5 to 10/19, view some of the amazing art donated for this fundraiser live at the Native American Center for Arts and Culture at 3184 Center St., Placerville, CA. Hours are generally 4:00 to 8:00. Dates include the Placerville Art Walk on 10/15 with storytelling by Kimberly in the gallery.
- 10/22/22, attend the Ladies Valley Landback Fundraiser Event at Wakamatsu Farm in Placerville, CA. Register for the event and/or donate money at www.bit.ly/lvlb-event.
- Every month on the second Sunday, join CCAWW’s Work-N-Play Days on the Ladies Valley property. Find more info at ccaww.org.
The way we carry ourselves upon this earth sets the tone for those who follow. The Ladies Valley Landback is one step to right the wrongs of our past and an opportunity to contribute to a better future!
Many Blessings,
Kimberly ShiningStar Petree, Executive Director of CCAWW
Tribal Chairwoman of the El Dorado Band of Miwok Indians
530–363-4816
Communicated by:
Melissa Lobach, Development Manager