The events of 2020, the toppling of statues and discoveries of hidden history reminded me of events in early 2000 – soon after I moved my radio production and micro power transmitter to Mendocino County.
The State Historic Marker at the entrance to the Round Valley Indian Reservation in Northern CA read: “This valley was discovered by Frank M. Asbill arriving from Eden Valley, on May 15, 1854. During the same year, Charles Kelsey from Clear Lake also visited it, and George E White sighted it from Blue Nose” There is another account of the history of that day that is undisputed fact but forgotten. On May 15, 1854, the Yuki, inhabitants of the valley for over 12000 years, discovered six white men on their land. Led by Pierce Asbill the men opened fire and killed 40 of them.
The Asbills returned a year later and captured 35 Yuki women and sold them as slaves to gold miners.
In the Spring of 2000 an effort was begun to rewrite the language on the Marker and officially re-cast the bronze plaque.
TUC Radio joined the groups in the Fall of 2000, just in time for the first public meeting at the American Legion Hall in Round Valley. Descendants of the original Yuki people had come as well as Wylaki whose great grandparent had been force marched to the valley by the cavalry.
This is a moving collection of authentic voices – much spoken from the heart. All have the ambience of their circumstances, the echo of the Legion Hall, a speaker hiding from the microphone, hesitating to be heard. Kitchen noises from the North Fork Cafe. Ranchers leaning against the back wall remarking that the Indians had crossed the line.
But on March 21, 2002, California Registered Historical Landmark No. 674 was replaced with this:
“The first inhabitants of Round Valley were the Yuki who resided here for thousands of years in harmony with their natural surroundings. In 1854, European settlers entered the valley. In 1856, conflicts between settlers and Yuki escalated and to protect local tribes the entire watershed was designated a reservation. Additional tribes were subsequently forced on the property: Nomlacki, Wylaki, Lassik, Sinkyone, Pomo (including Cahto, Kabeyo, Shodakai, Yokayo, Shokawa, Shanel, Kashaya, and Habenapo among others), Wappo, Concow Maidu, Colusa, and Achumawi. In 1864, the government reduced the reservation by four-fifths, to its current size.”
And even this improvement leaves more opportunities for the future.
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