Enjoying renewable energy, natural resource conservation, community health, education and organic food – The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation (California, USA)

Self Determination: A Path to Health and Sustainability for Native Americans

By Marshall McKay, Tribal Chairman, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation

For thousands of years, members of our Yocha Dehe Wintun Tribe tended the land, protected plant and animal species, and preserved environmental balance. The land was rich and our early communities thrived. However, by the early 1900s, our tribal population was nearly extinct, subject to enslavement, abuse, genocide and relocation by the arrival of the missionaries, the Gold Rush and federal policies supporting mistreatment of Native Ameericans.

By 1970, with no economic base, our people had become dependent on the U.S. government for aid and survival. With most of our homeland taken from us, we lost touch with our traditions, our culture and our native language.

Finally, in the late 1980s, the tide began to turn. Some of our ancestral lands were restored to the Tribe, providing a land base for tribal housing and for sustainable economic development. Today, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation enjoys success in areas of renewable energy, green building, natural resource conservation, community health, education and organic food and farming. Sustainability and land stewardship are core values of the Yocha Dehe Tribe, and it has been due in large part to the protection and advancement of our rights to self-determination as a Native American Nation that we have been able to fully realize and renew our commitment to sustainability.

That is why we support the work of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF). Without the assistance and support of NARF to help protect the legal rights of our Tribe and that of other Nations, this may not have been possible. Through its advancement of self-determination, NARF helps open doors to opportunity for Native Americans.

Please join the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in supporting the important work NARF performs for all Native peoples. NARF is dedicated to protecting tribal sovereignty and rights to self-determination, and enforcing tribal treaty rights. NARF also helps protect the rights of Native Americans to practice their traditional religions. speak their own languages, and enjoy their cultures. NARF is also dedicated to improving education for and ensuring the welfare of Native American children. Contact NARF at 800-447-0784 or [email protected], and help open more doors tor Native Americans.

Source: American Indian Spring 2012 issue
Address : http://content.yudu.com/A1vgsp/Spring2012/resources/2.htm
Date Visited: Sun May 27 2012 10:42:24 GMT+0200 (CEST)

Heritage

Yocha Dehe–pronounced “YO-cha DEE-hee”–means “home by the spring water” and takes us back to our origins, our roots, our land. As the historical inhabitants of California’s Capay Valley, our homeland is at the heart of our culture and heritage.

We are a forward-looking, independent, self-governed nation that supports our people and community by strengthening our culture, stewarding our land and creating positive economic impacts and security for our future generations

Learn more about the The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation of California >>

“Together, we must endeavour to strengthen tribal communities which are the role model in preservation of water, forest and land, and learn from their connection with nature and the surrounding environment for the sake of the entire human race.” – journalist and tribal rights activist Dayamani Barla in The Wire >>