Ohlone People Ask San Francisco Planning Dept to Follow the Law

For Immediate Release Contact: Mishwa Lee

Jan. 12, 2010 cell: (415) 606-9541

Ohlone people ask SF Planning Department to follow the law and protect ancient village sites at Candlestick Point/Hunters Point Shipyard.

Ohlone representatives are calling for an extension in the Draft EIR Comment Period and inclusion in the Planning Process.

Who:

Ohlone representatives: Ann Marie Sayers, Carmen Sandoval, Anthony Sul, Francisco Da Costa, Rosemary Cambra, and Espinola Jackson; International Indian Treaty Council, American Indian Movement West, United Native Americans, Ohlone Profiles Project, Indian People Organized for Change, POWER (People Organized to Win Employment Rights), GreenAction for Health and the Environment.

Where:

San Francisco City Hall, Polk St. steps, between McAllister and Grove

What:

Welcome & Blessing by Ohlone, Press Conference, delivery of letters to Planning Dept. on last day of public comment period on Candlestick Point/Hunters Point Shipyard

When:

Tuesday Jan. 12, 2010 at 12 noon

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—

In 2006, San Francisco Board of Supervisors amended the General Plan to allow for development of the Hunters Point Shipyard. According to California Senate Bill 18, passed in 2005, local Ohlone tribal members whose names are listed with the Native American Heritage Commission are to be included in the planning process of any such development. It now appears that none of the Ohlone representatives were contacted so that they could be involved in the planning process.

'We are wondering why no contact was made with Ohlone people.' said Neil MacLean. 'We want the SF Planning Dept. to follow Senate Bill 18 which requires them to include Ohlone people in the planning process.'

Tuesday January 12th is the deadline for public comment on the draft EIR for the Phase II of the Candlestick Point/Hunters Point Shipyard. Ohlone and their supporters will be turning in their comments and asking for an extension to allow them to meet with the planning department and provide input into the planning for the development of the 700 acres, the largest undeveloped area of San Francisco in recent years.

'This is an important opportunity to work together to protect these ancient historical sites, honor our ancestors and insure that development pressures do not further damage critical Ohlone Indigenous sites,' said Ohlone representative Corrina Gould.

'The sites affected by the development are extremely significant and are believed to be burial or ceremonial sites.' said Ohlone Chairperson AnnMarie Sayers 'In addition to protecting these sites, we also want to work with the local community to protect their health, the land and the fragile Bay marine environment.'

At the Press Conference, Ohlone representatives, along with the American Indian Movement and the International Indian Treaty Council will deliver letters to the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors and the City Attorney, asking them for the extension for public response to the draft EIR to allow for Ohlone input.

The draft EIR states that there are at least 4 and probably 5 Ohlone village sites within the development boundaries and another 16 that are within one-quarter mile of the project. According to Ohlone representatives this is an important opportunity to work with the city to create an Ohlone Cultural Center and protect their historic sites, which may be 6,000 years old.

Olhone organizers of the Press Conference would also like to work with the Bayview Hunters Point community to protect the unique characteristics of the neighborhood and allow for the protection and restoration of the important environmental resources. The economic vitality of the neighborhood also depends on the health of the people in the neighborhood.

'The area, including the Shipyard, must be cleaned up so that it can support healthy living and working conditions,' said Mishwa Lee, a Bayview resident and Ohlone supporter. 'We want this land to be a healthy place for the future generations, just as the Ohlone ancestors lived to protect their lands and waters for our generations.'

Media Contacts:

• Mishwa Lee, Bayview/Hunters Point resident and Ohlone supporter (415) 606-9541

• Neil MacClean, Ohlone Profiles Project (415) 515-8430

• Ann Marie Sayers, Ohlone Chairperson (831)-637-4238

• Jaron Browne, POWER (415) 377-2822