YUBA COUNTY - The discovery of Native American artifacts and human remains by
work crews at a levee in south Yuba County has ignited a dispute between two
tribes. The Enterprise Rancheria hope to build a casino and hotel near Sleep
Train Amphitheater in south Yuba County, and Mooretown Rancheria of Oroville
oppose it.
Tribal chairman of the Mooretown Rancheria, Gary Archuleta, has sent a letter to
the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority (TRLIA) questioning why Enterprise
was the only tribe contacted for the proper treatment of the artifacts.
"Did the experts approach Mechoopda, Berry Creek, and Mooretown, who also have
lands in federal trust in Butte County, to determine to which of the Butte
County tribes the remains should be rightfully entrusted?" he wrote.
"What criteria established that the remains you found were not from Berry Creek
or Mechoopda?"
Archuleta suggested the TRLIA limited their contact to Enterprise Rancheria
because Yuba County will benefit if the tribe gets approval to build their
casino. "It calls into question the entire process if you indeed rely upon
'experts' from the Enterprise Rancheria in your efforts to comply with laws that
require the consultation of Indian tribes in regards to disturbed sacred sites,"
he wrote.
A reply letter from TRLIA executive director Paul Brunner said the California
Native American Heritage Commission determined Enterprise Rancheria was the most
likely descendent for the human remains and artifacts found at the levee site
and their decision had nothing to do with a casino proposal or how it would
benefit Yuba county.
TRLIA and Enterprise Rancheria officials agreed to rebury the artifacts before
the authority builds a new levee on top of it. The levee work has been started.
"I think it's pretty clear by the record that we have done all the procedures we
had to do," Brunner said. "The Native American Heritage Commission made their
determination, and we're following that determination."
Enterprise Rancheria's tribal chair, Glenda Nelson, said her tribal members have
responded to requests for assistance with cultural sites on several occasions.
"We know where our aboriginal lands are. As far as our ancestors go, we were
taking care of them long before any of these other issues came up."
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