Protecting our ways and the way forward
As Patwin people, we prioritize the protection of cultural sites and honor traditions that teach respect for the environment. Knowledge of the location and appropriate management of our cultural sites has been handed down through the generations. Today, this knowledge guides the work of the Yocha Dehe Cultural Resources Department.
Tribal cultural resources are defined as sites, places or objects with cultural value. Cultural sites can be archaeological, such as village sites or cemeteries; historical sites, such as gathering areas for baskets or medicines; or traditional sites, such as a place where specific cultural events have occurred. Sites can be located above or below ground, or at water level. Cultural resources are of critical importance to Native peoples because they help define tribal Nations as distinct cultural and political groups and they inform us about our past.
We have created a Tribal Historic Resource Center that resembles the California Historical Resources Information System, allowing us to maintain and monitor all information regarding our archaeological and historic resources. Drawing on information from this center and our elders, we collaborate with numerous federal and state agencies, as well as private developers, to protect traditional lands. This is often done in the field, where our Tribal Monitors are on-site to ensure that culturally sensitive resources are protected.
In 2011, the Tribe gained more authority to manage our historic and cultural resources when it was conferred a Tribal Historic Preservation Officer by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Currently, this office is held by Tribal Council Member Yvonne Perkins.
In 2014, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, and Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians signed a historic document, adopting many of the cultural resource protection principles found in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Together, we exercised our rights as sovereign nations to preserve and protect our shared culture collectively.
Yocha Dehe has been increasingly involved in government consultations, sharing our expertise and authority in situations involving tribal rights, properties, and territory issues.
For cultural related inquiries about the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, contact the Cultural Resources Department.