Foresthill ancestral homelands return to local tribe

The Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, Placer Land Trust (PLT) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) on Wednesday gathered near Foresthill to celebrate the Owl Creek Project, a 308-acre forest conservation and tribal land-back initiative in rural Placer County. The project enabled the transfer of forested land along Foresthill Road near the unincorporated community to the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. The project was primarily supported by $1.36 million through CAL FIRE's Forest Legacy Program. A perpetual conservation easement will be held by Placer Land Trust as a condition of the CAL FIRE funding. Located within the tribe's ancestral territory, the property – known in Nisenan as Hym hym hop', or Owl Creek – holds deep cultural significance, with tribal members recalling family connections to the land spanning generations. "For generations, our tribal members have lived on, traveled and stewarded these lands along Owl Creek," said Clyde Prout III, chair of the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. "This land has so much rich history and so many memories. It's a monumental moment to have this land back in the tribe's hands. Taking Owl Creek back creates a place where past and present meet, and a place to preserve our history and educate the next generation." This effort marks the second, and largest, land-back project completed in partnership between PLT and the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. "We are honored to continue our partnership with the Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe, who for countless generations has had a deep relationship to this land and its care," said PLT Executive Director Jeff Darlington. "Together, we are working to address the injustices of the past while building our shared vision of conservation, connection and stewardship for the future." Without conservation, the property was at risk of being subdivided for rural residential development. The successful acquisition reflects strong collaboration and strategic timing between partners committed to protecting the land's ecological and cultural values. The tribe has identified six acres as a "designated improvement area" for a future tribal headquarters and forest stewardship operations center, noting land ownership is key to pursuing future federal recognition. Plans include the restoration and maintenance of fuels and forest health on the property and eventual managed public access for recreation and education. "This project represents a meaningful investment in both forest conservation and tribal partnerships," said CAL FIRE Director Joe Tyler. "By protecting this landscape from development and supporting tribal stewardship, we are advancing California's commitment to climate resilience, cultural preservation and healthy forests." A dedication ceremony for Owl Creek was held Wednesday, April 22. CTVCT leadership and tribal members gathered with project partners from PLT, CAL FIRE, California Council of Land Trusts and other community supporters at the Owl Creek site to celebrate the project's successful completion. "Many of our tribal ancestors were born in a place called Owl Creek; we have learned this through oral and written history," said Pamela Cubbler, Tribal Council vice chairwoman. "For many generations, our families have been hunting and gathering on this property. Our tribe's relationship with the Owl Creek property is not just physical or economic but spiritual, cultural and communal. The land represents our identity, heritage and survival. It holds stories, traditions and sacred places that define our tribe's way of life."