They hate me, they love me, they hate me, they love me

Petal by Petal

This past week was a bit of a revelation.

 The two other candidates that I have decided to run with and I, got together to go over our list of supporters.

 Prior to reading a single name off the list, I had a very different opinion on my level of support.

 The rules were simple. We would read a name off the list. Then we would assign a number to the individual’s name we just read.

 The indicators were as follows:

1.  Supports the entire ticket without a doubt

2.  Supports at least one member of the ticket without a doubt

3.  Doesn’t necessarily support the ticket, but isn’t against us

4.  Absolutely against the ticket and everyone on it

 To be honest, we have tons of supporters in the first two groups. It’s a good feeling to have that level of support. I definitely appreciate it.

 What didn’t feel good was the amount of people in the fourth category. Which quite disturbingly, had a lot.

 For the most part they fall into a few categories. The second and third groups have never bothered me, however the fourth has taken a while to get used to.

There’s a sad reality about some of our people. Some of our people are simply hateful people, who are descendants of hateful people, who in turn give birth to future hateful people. These people if you haven’t guessed it, don’t like anyone.

Some of our people will act like they like you, but in reality, are looking for anything to not like you. You know these kinds of people. They will get in one argument with you and suddenly they can’t stand you. They will say “everything people have been saying about you is true”. You can spot these people a mile away, they use humor as a way to insult you, they always tell what people are saying about you behind your back, and lastly, they get along with everyone.

Coming to terms with the fact that not everyone will like you is something I did years ago and have no issue with.

 The fourth group however, was the hardest for me to adapt to. The people who believe rumors or gossip.

 When I think about all the things that happen behind my back, the stuff people are saying about me when I’m not in the room, the rumors, the accusations. I have no reaction. I don’t feel anything. It’s not because that’s naturally how I am, it’s because I’ve learned how to live in this manner.

 I read this book and remember this quote.

 “We have the power to hold no opinion about a thing and to not let it upset our state of mind- for things have no natural power to shape our judgements” – Marcus Aurelius

 So, to all my people in the fourth group. I will not be wasting my time in seeking your support this election. However, if by some chance I do end up becoming your Tribal Council Member, I will serve for you in the same capacity and with the same compassion as if you did vote for me.

As always, If you don’t know now you know, a Native!

Tribal Learning Center coming soon to Fort Bragg

Article via MENDOFEVER

A portion of the Fort Building just north of City Hall in Fort Bragg is on its way to becoming a tribal learning center, in collaboration with the city and a coalition of local tribes. And the city is trying to attach some educational and policy commitments to its land acknowledgment. These are some of the recommendations that came out of a citizen’s commission tasked with researching public opinion about changing the name of the town and “the deeper issues of racism.”

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic and a national reckoning with racial violence, the city council held an hours’-long in-person partially outdoor public meeting considering a ballot measure asking residents if they wanted to change the name of the city, which is named for Braxton Bragg, a Confederate general who never set foot on the premises.

Instead of a ballot measure, the council convened the citizens’ commission, which met for more than sixty hours over a year and a half and presented its recommendations to the council late in 2022. One of those recommendations, which then-City Manager Peggy Ducey predicted would form the “backbone” of the city’s approach to the rest, was crafting an MOU with the city, the school district, and local tribes, to “present a more complete and inclusive history of the local area.”

Tuesday night, at a city council culture and education ad hoc committee meeting, Fort Bragg Vice Mayor Jason Godeke reported that he had just met with a school district committee about plans for an ethnic studies curriculum at the high school. And he shared a progress report about associating specific actions with the land acknowledgment.

“Just having the land acknowledgment in and of itself is a starting point, but it needs to have some resolution behind it,” he declared. He said that the city is working on formalizing government-to-government consultations with the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians on “initiatives, issues and items of concern,” like how to deal with artifacts found within the city of Fort Bragg. Another commitment is to “raise visibility and public awareness of the history and contemporary presence of the native population in our area.”

Godeke said the city is collaborating with a non-profit called Kai Poma, to figure out how to use two of the rooms in the Fort Building to exhibit art, artifacts and other educational materials. He said Kai Poma’s board includes members of Round Valley, Coyote Valley and Sherwood Valley to receive property from the state, like the 172-acre Blues Beach property by Westport, which was transferred from Caltrans to the tribes in 2021. “A lot of their charter and articles align very much with what we were hoping for from that learning center,” he said. “And they’re also very interested in having an office presence here on the coast.”

Eddie Knight, a Kai Poma board member, shared some ideas from the cultural center at Lake Mendocino. He said that for almost 30 years, visitors to the limited space could watch videos of basket making legend Elsie Allen creating her masterpieces as she spoke about the process. “Instead of having all the baskets on display,” he added, which exposes the fragile materials to light and causes them to age faster. There were also videos about the native plant and animal life. He said Kai Pomo is also interested in displaying art by local native and non-native artists.

It’s not settled yet how the rooms would be set up to accommodate what combination of exhibits and office space. Chelsea Boehm, a curator from Ukiah’s Grace Hudson Museum, recommended low lighting and special coating on the windows to preserve artwork and artifacts, cautioning that this arrangement is “not always conducive to a working environment.”

The committee is also seeking funding from the Community Foundation for educational signage about local Pomo history and people, including an acknowledgment of Buffy Schmidt of the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians, who created signs with sayings on them in the Northern Pomo language and images inspired by local basketry.

Kali Reis - Wampanoag

 Kali Reis, born on November 17, 1986, in Providence, Rhode Island, is a figure of immense talent and resilience. Of Wampanoag, Cape Verdean, and Portuguese descent, Reis's diverse heritage has profoundly influenced her career and advocacy work. Her journey began in challenging circumstances, where she discovered boxing as a powerful outlet for expression and empowerment.

Embarking on her professional boxing career in 2008, Reis quickly established herself as a formidable athlete. Her ring name, "KO Mequinonoag," reflects her pride in her Native heritage and her formidable presence in the sport. Reis's boxing accolades are numerous, including capturing multiple world titles across different weight classes.

A landmark moment in her career was her 2018 bout against Cecilia Brækhus, which was the first female boxing match broadcasted on HBO. Though Reis did not win, her performance was lauded for its skill and determination, significantly raising her profile in the sport.

 Off the ring, Reis is a passionate advocate for social causes, particularly the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. Her activism is a beacon of hope and a call to action, addressing these deep-seated issues in Tribal communities. She also focuses on youth empowerment, leveraging her experiences to inspire and educate, especially among young girls.

 Her talent extends into acting. Her notable debut in the 2021 film "Catch the Fair One" at the Tribeca Film Festival garnered critical acclaim. In this thriller, she portrayed a former boxer embroiled in a quest to uncover a sex trafficking ring, mirroring her real-life advocacy.

 Building on this success, Reis co-led in the renowned HBO series "True Detective." Her role in this popular series not only showcased her versatility as an actress but also brought wider attention to her as a rising star in the entertainment industry. This platform has allowed her to reach a broader audience, further amplifying her voice and advocacy work.

 She stands as more than a champion boxer; she is a symbol of strength, determination, and commitment to justice. Her multifaceted career, spanning sports, advocacy, and entertainment, highlights her dynamic impact and enduring influence in challenging the status quo and fighting for important causes.

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Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians

The Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians (Redwood Valley Rancheria) is a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California. For several thousand years the Tribe’s ancestors lived along the West Fork of the Russian River, located north of Calpella, CA. The Tribe interacted with other Pomo tribes located within the Russian River watershed, the Eel River watershed, and tribes found along the coasts of the Clearlake and the Pacific Ocean.

 Much was lost with the advancement of European settlers before and after the California Goldrush.  In 1908 Redwood Valley Rancheria was established as a home for "Homeless Indians." However, In 1958 the United States Congress terminated Redwood Valley Rancheria and many other tribes by enacting the California Rancheria Termination Act. In 1983 this act was declared illegal as a result of the Tillie Hardwick, et al. v. United States of America, et al. Case. Redwood Valley Rancheria and many other rancherias had their tribal status restored.

 The Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians is a sovereign indian tribe with the powers of self-governance. Its tribal members elect a Tribal Council which acts as the governing body. The Council is authorized to write and enact ordinances and resolutions, conduct tribal business, and perform other actions that are commonly delegated to local governments.

​Today, Redwood Valley Rancheria has 159 acres of land in trust. It manages a wide array of social, educational, environmental and infrastructure programs. Click on the menu above to find out more about these programs.

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