Ancestral homelands above North Fork of American River return to local tribe

Realizing their goals of caring for land in an inclusive and equitable way, Placer Land Trust recently transferred ownership of 40 acres of forestland above the North Fork of the American River to the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. The Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe is comprised of Nisenan, Maidu and Miwok people of the Sierra Nevada mountains and foothills of Placer County, and they consider this land to be part of their ancestral homelands. "For a long time, Tribes in California have lost land," says Tribal Chairman Clyde Prout III. "Having a piece of land actually come back to the Tribe, where we can utilize our traditional cultural stewardship practices and have a place to gather — it's huge. Now we have a place where we can keep our traditions going." The land will now be known as Yo' Dok'im Pakan – Gerjuoy North Fork Preserve. "Yo' Dok'im Pakan means 'North Fork Spring' in Nisenan," Prout said. "It's important to speak the language of the area and pay homage to the people who were here and are still here. These lands, plants and animals remember the Nisenan language, and this name honors the area and what the land offers." The land transfer does not change any protections that exist on the Preserve. As of April 2022, the Preserve is now owned by the Tribe's nonprofit, Koy'o Land Conservancy. The Conservancy will assume responsibility for requirements and deed restrictions that prohibit development and ensure the Preserve is forever protected as open space. The land was previously owned by Neil Gerjuoy, who worked with the Placer Land Trust to permanently protect the land. Placer Land Trust acquired the preserve in December 2020 with grant funding from the State of California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB). According to Placer County Land Trust, Gerjuoy and WCB are in support of the land transfer. "The Wildlife Conservation Board is proud to be part of this important project supporting collaboration between the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe and Placer Land Trust to steward the Yo' Dok'im Pakan – Gerjuoy North Fork Preserve," says Rebecca Fris, WCB Assistant Executive Director. With the financial support of Gerjuoy, Placer Land Trust was able to provide the conservancy with a grant for ongoing stewardship of the preserve. The two nonprofits have agreed to continue to partner for the foreseeable future, starting with monitoring the property together for the first three years. "We plan to learn from each other and listen to what the land has to tell us," says Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. "This land donation isn't a beginning or an end, it's an important milestone in our ongoing work to diversify and bring more justice into land conservation. And like this Preserve, that commitment is here to stay." The preserve is home to a diversity of wildlife, from large mammals such as bear, deer, bobcat and coyotes to reptiles, amphibians, birds and insects. It contains mixed oak and conifer forest, a vibrant spring, small seasonal waterfall and several large rock outcrops. Prout said the tribe will now be able to gather and utilize the space for traditional practices. "My tribe became landless completely when they sold our Rancheria," Prout said. "So it became harder and harder to maintain our cultural places that we gather. Having a piece of property back will allow us to do those things with the tribe." Darlington said he's excited for Placer Land Trust's and Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe's missions to overlap. "These tribes were unfairly treated in the past," Darlington said. "We can't undo that, but we can partner with them to do some things in the conservation arena that can help address that injustice." Prout said working with Placer Land Trust has been important also because they recognize the group as a tribal government. "These were dreams and ideas that people had for years that no one ever thought was possible," Prout said. "Now it's like, 'Wow, we are doing something. Something is happening.' "