Reso. No. _____
DocID #55470v1
RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND
THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MUWEKMA OHLONE TRIBE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA’S FEDERAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, the Muwekma Ohlone people, is the only Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) documented and historic Ohlone Tribe from the San Francisco Bay Area, who have maintained their distinct culture, social and political identity for the past 230 years despite genocide and political erasure; and
WHEREAS, the Muwekma Ohlone have a presence in the San Francisco Bay Area since time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, the direct ancestors of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe were missionized into the three Bay Area Missions: Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Francisco during the expansion of the Spanish Empire into Alta California from 1769 to secularization in1836; and
WHEREAS, the United States Government maintained a “trust” relationship with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, historically identified by agents and superintendents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs as the Verona Band, from 1906-1927; and
WHEREAS, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has never been legally or illegally terminated by an act of Congress, but were bureaucratically politically removed from the list of landless tribes and bands identified and eligible for land/homesites purchase via the Congressional Appropriation Acts of 1906, 1908, and later years, without any due process in 1927 despite its “trust’ relationship and its previous status as a federally recognized tribe; and
WHEREAS, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe enrolled (1928-32, 1948-57, and 1968-71) with and was approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Secretary of Interior, and Federal Courts under the 1928 California Jurisdictional Act and later Acts, and have consistently organized themselves under the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act, and also attended Indian Boarding Schools in the 1930s and 40s, still must obtain reaffirmation by the Secretary of the Interior or U. S. Congress; and
WHEREAS, there are over 614 BIA documented enrolled members of the Vero na Band/Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in the San Francisco Bay Area; and
WHEREAS, the Muwekma men and women have served overseas with honor in all branches of the United States Armed Forces in all major campaigns in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and are still serving today; and
WHEREAS, justice and equal treatment under the law demands that the Department of the Interior and the federal government officially recognize the historical, social, military and political history of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe through its efforts to regain federal recognition.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The City of Richmond that:
1. The United States Congress and the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs acknowledge the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area as a federally recognized, sovereign tribe as defined un 25 C.F.R. 1.2 (the Secretary retains the power to waive or make exceptions to his regulations as found in chapter I of title 25 CFR in all cases where perm itted by law and the Secretary finds that such waiver or exception is in the best interest of the Indians).
2. The City Council direct the City Manager to draft and execute a letter transmitting this resolution to Bay Area congressional delegation, the S ecretary of the Department of the Interior, with instructions that all actions be taken to support and ensure the immediate recognition of Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s federal status, and include them with the federal registry of recognized tribes under the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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Reso. No. _____
DocID #55470v1
***THE CLERK’S OFFICE WILL COMPLETE THE INFORMATION BELOW****
I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held on Mmmm dd, yyyy, by the following vote:
AYES: AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
Mayor
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. _____, finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on Mmmm dd, yyyy.
_______________________________________
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond