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[GRRN] [Fwd: bombing in California?]



Navy Bombing Proposed For Salinan Territory
                  By Debra Utacia Krol

                  The U.S. Navy has been quietly planning to use one of
the
Salinan Nation's most sacred areas for a bombing range. Reports from
environmental groups say that the Navy is preparing an Environmental
Analysis (EA), one of the first steps in setting aside land for military

use, for the Stony Valley. The Navy proposes over 900 bombing runs each
year, dropping many tons of ordance over Stony Valley and surrounding
areas.
Located in a remote part of Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL), in Southern
Monterey County, California, Stony Valley was continually inhabited by
the Salinan People for over 10,000 years before newspaper magnate
William Randolph Hearst purchased huge tracts of Monterey County land
for a hunting preserve in the early 1900s. The U.S. Army later acquired
165,000 acres of Hearst property for a training base. Congress ordered
FHL to be decommissioned in 1995, and several groups have wrangled over
the pristine property ever since.
Plans for FHL include a national park, private development, a National
Guard or police training facility, and recreation. However, none of
these plans include the Salinans, who have been pursuing federal
recognition for over ten years, and who maintain first claim to FHL
lands. FHL lies in the old San Antonio Mission lands, which were pledged

to local Indian tribes by first the Spanish, then the Mexican
governments. In 1851, Salinan leaders were signatories with 500 other
California Indian leaders to eighteen treaties with the United States;
however, the California Constitutional Assembly, not wishing to lose out

on the eight million acres promised to Indians in return for the rest of

the Golden State, refused to send the treaties to Washington for
ratification, and the Salinans lost their lands again.
The traditional lands of the Salinan People range from Dolan Springs in
the north to Morro Rock in in San Luis Obispo County, and from the
Pacific Ocean east to Peach Tree Valley in neighboring San Benito
County. However, the lands in and around FHL are considered to be
especially precious to the Salinans, also known as Jolon Indians, as the

center of creation, and many sacred sites are sprinkled throughout the
region. Also, FHL encompasses the site of at least eight traditional
Salinan villages.
Due to pressure from U.S. Representatives Sam Farr (D-Carmel) and Lois
Capps (D-Santa Barbara), the Navy has extended the period for public
comment until January 31. To express your opinion, send your comments
to:


                  Larry Jones (Code N45F),
                  Building 307, NAS Fallon, 4755 Pasture Road,
                  Fallon, Nev. 89496.
                  Telephone: (775) 426-2405,
                  Fax: (775) 426-2680,
                  e-mail: jones.larry@fallon.navy.mil





--
Gene & Ellie Bluestein
http://zimmer.csufresno.edu/~geneb/




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