The Wiyot Tribe has been particularly blessed to work with a large number of extraordinary professional historians, archaeologists and other cultural resource professionals who live and work in Wiyot country.
It is well known that the relationship between the Wiyot Tribe and the surrounding communities that have emerged over the past 165 years has rarely been a positive one. However, this is not the time to revisit the genocide most typified by the coordinated set of mass murders that took place on Feb. 24, 1860 — today known as the Indian Island Massacre. Instead, a new narrative is emerging. The Tribe enjoys positive relations with many of the communities in Wiyot country. This can be seen in the return of part of Indian Island to the tribe in 2004, and the ongoing work between the city of Eureka and the tribe to bring the island home to the Wiyot Tribe. It is also seen in smaller projects and ongoing cooperation with local municipalities, agencies and nonprofits.
While we still have much work to do, the genuine partnerships that have been forged are rare examples of how tribes and communities can begin to overcome the historical trauma associated with Anglo-American settlement. At the forefront of this effort, local historians and cultural resource specialists have worked with the Wiyot Tribe to take an unflinching look at what happened in a way that incorporates a tribal perspective and oral traditions.
History matters. Our understandings of the founding fathers, Civil War and American expansion westward have a major impact on our understanding of current events and major national discussions. This is also true for local history. By incorporating tribal perspectives, most local history experts have both improved the quality of their professional work, and created a context for the hard work of improving relations carried on by both the Wiyot and other communities.
Unfortunately, the article “Murder in Arcata” (Oct. 8) by Lynette Mullen failed to incorporate any Wiyot perspective. Indeed, it failed to even mention the Wiyot Tribe, never mind incorporate a tribal perspective. In an email to the tribe, Mullen explained that she felt that it is possible that the murder victim in question might have been trafficked into the area in the 1850s, which is why she didn’t identify her as Wiyot.
That she was trafficked may or may not be true. The tribe is not aware of any evidence for this, and without any references, it is impossible for us to comment on whatever evidence was used in writing the article. However, even if it is true, it still does not justify washing the Wiyot name from the events in question.
For starters, the article clearly discusses the “natives” around Humboldt Bay. There were no other tribes with ancestral territory around the bay except for the Wiyot. While individuals from other tribes might have moved into the area, Humboldt Bay was, and still is, Wiyot country. The events that happened around Humboldt Bay during those times were targeted at the Wiyot people.
While the Wiyot Tribe cannot fully deny the assertion that the victim of the murder was trafficked from the outside, we do not accept that explanation either. However, if it is true, her presence on the island during the World Renewal Ceremony suggests that she had incorporated herself into the local Wiyot community. This should not be a surprise. Wiyot culture simply does not allow for turning people out into the cold. An Indian woman trafficked into the area would have found comfort, friendship and equality among the Wiyot people that she would not have found elsewhere. In many ways, her presence on the island on the night of the massacre implies that, whatever her individual story, she was a Wiyot.
Throughout the United States, Indian nations have an important story to tell. In many ways it is a common story, but by eliminating the individual tribes and cultures from the historical narrative we condemn what happened to the past. While no Indian nation escaped the specter of genocide, each faced it in its own way. Of course, individual stories must be told as well. But denying the cultural context does a disservice to the individual and the affected communities.
The Indian Nations of Northern California have, against amazing odds, preserved cultures and life ways that are vibrant and distinct. It is unfortunate that the article “Murder in Arcata” did not reflect this understanding. By simply contacting and working with the tribe, such a difficulty could have been avoided. While cultural preservation remains a struggle, the hard work of the Wiyot Tribe has been supported by professionals who understand the importance of Wiyot culture both as part of the history and the future of this amazing place.
Thomas Torma is the tribal historic preservation officer (THPO) and cultural director for the Wiyot Tribe.
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This article appears in The Ripple Effect.
I’m confused.
If the Wiyot tribe has no oral record of this particular incident, then what could they have added to the article.
Did I miss something?
Explain, please.
I think the problem is that the Wiyot Tribe was written out of their own history. The article talks about the Wiyot Tribe, but never mentions them by name.
Sounds like professional jealousy to me. Ms Mullen didn’t brand the victimization properly.
I think you miss the human tragedy of the story.
The Wiyot tribe does have much to be proud of and I would look forward to an article by them of their tribal perspective of the times Lynette mentioned and how from those terrible harsh days they did manage to retain their culture. I don’t exactly understand their request that any articles written about those days be allowed to be edited by them. Murder in Arcata concerned a point in time I am not sure how the more encouraging events of the future such as the would have fit into the piece.
As you can see from the other comments people are hungry for the Wiyot history and perspective. It is a great and open opportunity for you to respond.
Well, this is awkward… I’m a Wiyot tribal member, as well as an acquaintance of Ms. Mullen… Although I live out of the county, I am sorry to have missed this particular “kerfuffle” when it occurred more than a year ago.
I’m not acquainted with Mr. Torma, our Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, but I completely understand his point that the telling of history has been under the control of those who have not had other points of view in mind. Having raised two sons in the California educational system, and suffering a great deal of frustration at the use of history curriculum that was horrendously inaccurate… For instance, how would you like to read about history only from the point of view of the “forty-niners”, the immigrants… when your own personal family history, passed on by your own elders, was a history of genocide and forced slavery. The history books used in schools do not validate “our” version. It is a continuation of policy that does not accord us dignity or recognize our humanity.
As a young child, listening to my mother recount the story of an ancestor who was a survivor of one of the many massacres that occurred in Humboldt County during that era, I can remember thinking, “Why do they hate us so much?” When she told me about that same ancestor being a servant to a family in Ferndale, who gave her an “English” name, I wanted to know what was wrong with her original name. It was later, on my own, that I learned about indentured servitude, which was a merely another name for slavery, just prettied up to make it sound better. My mother said she often heard relatives speaking their original language, but couldn’t even tell me a single word. When I asked her why, she would say there her mother told her that “White man’s ways are best.” As a little girl, I didn’t understand, but as an adult, I came to understand that my grandmother was merely trying to make her children’s lives better than her own. But I also understood that we were not valued, not our language, nor our culture, nor our knowledge of medicines… So much has been lost… Did we not deserve our existence?
So, forgive us, because we are a bit touchy on the topic of history! We do wish to own it going forward. That being said…
I was “surfin’ the ‘net” one day, and I happened upon a TEDx video about indentured servitude. It was given by Lynette Mullens, and I thought she’d done an excellent job with it… Actually, since it isn’t a topic that is commonly discussed, I was impressed that anyone even attempted to cover it. In it, she had actually mentioned the same ancestor that I’ve spoken of, here. I sent her a note complimenting her, and mentioning that one of those she’d spoken of was my gggrandmother. From that, she also sent me her article on Lucy Romero. Our discussions continued from there.
As Mr. Torma mentioned, since Lucy had been present at the Indian Island massacre, I made the assumption she was Wiyot. It did come up in discussions between Lynette and I, and she’d said the same thing, that she thought Lucy was not originally from the immediate area. I don’t recall if our discussion went much further in that area, but I do remember thinking that she must have family ties, if she’d been at the World Renewal ceremonies. I don’t suppose that particular riddle will ever be resolved. I do have a sense of Ms. Mullen’s intent, however, as well as a sense of her nature to present information as accurately as possible. Her intent, obviously, was to tell the story of Lucy. It wasn’t focused on the massacres, or indentured servitude, or specific tribes… It was merely to give a voice to a victim of an atrocity. Lucy Romero once lived, she suffered, she had children so she left a legacy… By conjecture, people can assume that her story was not unique… Being Indian was not a pleasant experience after the arrival of immigrants, and that continued well into the 20th century. In some ways, and in some areas, it continues to this day. Remember what I told you about those history books used in schools? The ones that do not tell the entire story about what happened? Our history, our stories, are still not validated, still not respected… At least, not by many, partially because of ignorance, or being uncomfortable to view the uglier side of our national history, and some, because they still have no tolerance for those who are different from themselves.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
If the whole truth is not taught, not a sanitized version, but one that looks at all perspectives, then how do we ever begin to heal all the wounds?
Yeah. A lot of these stories are handed down through families. Indian Country is small. Very few people recorded the Native American perspective. The “winner” gets to write the history. The history got white washed. So sad. So many stories from Native America are inaccurate.