Indians Split on Plans for Yosemite Valley

by Kim Baca - Associated Press
The Fresno Bee - October 28, 2002

Recognizing the historic claims that American Indians have on the jewel of the National Park Service, federal officials have included some descendants of the Yosemite Valley's indigenous people as overseers of the $441 million plan to presence the area's natural beauty.

The Park Service also is working with descendants of Chief Tenaya, whose tribe lived in the valley for centuries before whites arrived in 1850, to build an American Indian center on the valley floor, not far from Yosemite Falls.

The 15-year agreement with the American Indian Council of Mariposa County which is partly made up of Southern Sierra Miwoks, allows them to build the center and a traditional roundhouse on 7 acres where some descendants of Tenaya had lived in Park Service cabins in the 1930s. The tribe will raise funds for construction.

Dave Forgang, curator of the Yosemite museum, is the park's liaison to the Miwoks and other area tribes. He said Indians have a role in overseeing the park's effort to restore Yosemite Valley's natural beauty by reducing some of the human impacts that have overwhelmed the area in recent years.

Chris Brocchini, a Southern Sierra Miwok who is overseeing an archaeological survey, said he doesn't see Yosemite Valley construction as destruction because many of the artifacts found will be stored. Instead, he's glad the federal government has included area tribes in the planning.

But not all American Indians have endorsed the plan.

Joe Rhoan, a Southern Sierra Miwok has lobbied against the building of the center and opposes any development in the valley.

He said the efforts will mean more destruction of ancient sites.

Park officials broke ground this summer on the first phase of the restoration plan, which includes relocating garbage bins and a restroom.

"By doing this groundbreaking, it's destroying a culture that has been there. The Park Service looks at this as a thing of preservation, but it's a thing of desecration," said Rhoan.

He lamented that much of his people's culture was lost after parts of the valley floor were paved over, hotels were built and parking lots constructed.

"That's basically an area where our people have lived and died," said Rhoan, who planned a protest Sunday in Yosemite Valley against the park's renovation project.

Amy Rhoan, 92, attended Sunday's protest. She said her grandmother and mother were among those removed from the park.