THE MUWEKMA OHLONE WERE HONORED BY SUPERVISOR ERIC MAR AND DAVID CAMPOS - A FIRST STEP IN RECENT HISTORY - TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FIRST PEOPLE OF SAN FRANCISCO - ALL OF THIS LAND BELONGS TO THE MUWEKMA OHLONE.

Chairperson Rosemary Cambra listens

to Supervisor Eric Mar - acknowledging -

the Muwekma Ohlone as the indigenous tribe -

of San Francisco - having Patrimonial Jurisdiction.

It has been over 30 years now - that I have monitored the San Francisco City leaders - the way they have addressed the pertinent issues linked to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.

Today, June 7, 2016 at 3 pm at City Hall in Room 250 - history was made when two San Francisco Supervisors chose to honor the Muwekma Ohlone tribe of San Francisco - with Commendations - acknowledging them as the First People of San Francisco.

As the Tribal Liaison of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe - my mission is to facilitate and bring back to the Chairperson and to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council - the progress that the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has made - here in San Francisco.

Not long ago we had  Dr. Espanola Jackson who passed away - and now I am the one who has to bring about progress - and so far we are making progress - but there is a lot that has to be done. 

The Muwekma Ohlone tribe is mentioned in the General Plan of the City and County of San Francisco - Planning. 

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has been honored by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission - twice before.

The Director of San Francisco Planning has met and spoken to Chairperson Rosemary Cambra - for all practical purposes the SF Planning Department - knows the protocol - but has failed miserably to acknowledge what the Muwekma Ohlone hold dear - Mother Earth. The salient issues linked to the sacred remain - Shell Mound and other archeological issues - that are important  to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.

The abuse of the land, air, and water which is our Bay in San Francisco  - that has been contaminated - and this abuse - with intent - is something the White person - has no true clue about - but is critical to the Muwekma Ohlone and their sacrosanct respect for Mother Earth.

It is not as if the Muwekma Ohlone tribe has not been mentioned and honored before - by the Board of Supervisors - the Legislative Branch of the City and County of San Francisco.

It has - but this time the honor has come - at a juncture and time - when the City and County of San Francisco - has been adversely impacting the air, the land and the waters.

On the roads of San Francisco the congestion is the worst ever.

On the streets the homeless continue to create situation and happenings - never, ever seen before. Over 15, 000 homeless sleep under bushes, under bridges, in tents - here in San Francisco - the land of the Muwekma Ohlone.

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe recognizes and values that for over 10, 000 years - the ancestors kept the land, the air, and the waters pristine.

Today, all that was pristine - has been contaminated.

Chairperson Rosemary Cambra in red - hold the

Commendation - Supervisor Eric Mar left and

David Campos right - both wearing garlands -

back the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.

San Francisco fully understands that there is a cloud of darkness hovering over it - heavier than the thickest fog -  one of blatant discrimination - meted out to the Muwekma Ohone in recent years.

All over San Francisco we have Shell Mounds - where lie the remains of the Ohlone ancestors.

There are laws one of them the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) - again and again we have the National Park Service, the City and County of San Francisco - fail to abide by NAGPRA.

I have worked very hard and know  Chairperson Rosemary Cambra - as I have with the Tribal Administrator Norma Sanchez - for a long time. Also the Ethnohistorian of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Allen  Leventhal. Much has been accomplished - trails and tribulation - and we continue to strive - because we have HOPE.

The issue of Federal Recognition is a painful one.

 The Muwekma Ohlone were once on the Federal Register - only to be removed - illegally - by a Bureau of Indian Affairs agent - L. A. Dorrington - this matter is within the jurisdiction of  the Supreme Court - and waits adjudication.

We were afforded space by Supervisor Eric Mar -

to debrief the happenings of the day -

and to catch up on important issues - that matter -

to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.

Chairperson Rosemary Cambra has fought hard for her tribe - and so have Tribal Administrator Norma Sanchez and the Ethnohistorian Allen Leventhal.

 The Ethnohistorian Allen Leventhal - has researched the data available well - to present the facts and more the empirical data to the Department of Interior - who have been procrastinating on the issue of Federal Recognition. Time will tell.

We can and must preserve and protect the remains -

of the Muwekma Ohlone and stop the desecration -

those that went before us could not defend themselves -

from the many atrocities committed by those who stole the

land, raped the women, took the children to boarding

schools and brainwashed them.

As the Tribal Liaison of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe for the San Francisco area - the direction given to me - is to facilitate, educate, inform - and bring about progress.

At times advocate - which is not easy.

There are issues to address, things to do - matters to settle - and what must be done - has to be done - quickly and with transparency and accountability. - with our heart in the right place.

For me spirituality is important. Much like we feed our bodies and mind - for me feed the soul - is critical and the core of my being.

More - to take others to a better place.

Have a moral compass that works - to find tune the conscience of those that continue to have disdain for values and issues that matter in today fast moving - mundane world.

The goal is to  further the cause of Federal Recognition and to keep those who are trespassing and breaking the laws - honest.

 Bring the culprits to good and to  acknowledge what they seem to forget - because they think the land is theirs.

The strangers forget they stole it all - and there must be justice and with it meaningful - restitution. Aho. 

A Muwekma Ohlone Warrior