The California Valley Miwok Tribe – located at 10601 Escondido Pl., Stockton, CA 95212 – sent (Assistant Director/Senior Native Consultant Adam Lewis, Senior Native Consultant David Rummerfield and Senior Native Consultant Harold Rummerfield) representatives from the Tribe’s Cultural Preservation Department (assisted by Tiger Paulk, Tribal Consultant) to various sites located in San Joaquin County on Thursday, 4/15/2010. A couple of sites of a more immediate concern are addressed here.
The Tribe was made aware by a local concerned citizen of a major construction project still in the early stages being performed at a county school location. Normally the type of site location would never be disclosed except that in this case the rumors have already abounded about finds and disturbances by individuals without the proper credentials or training to legitimately make such claims. Upon further investigation at the site, and in-depth discussions with officials from the school, the contractor and his engineers, no findings were made. School District personnel, contractors, engineers and other parties involved were very cordial and accommodating, helping the Tribe to address all immediate concerns at the site and agreed to work with the Tribe through to the completion of the project if any cultural disturbances become an issue in the future.
At this time, an extensive investigation of the grounds showed no desecrations or disturbances and again, we thank the local officials and the contractor for their utmost professionalism in handling our concerns. A few other areas in the county “undisclosed” were also looked at where it looks like there is impending future development. On one such site, building material is already waiting to be used, ultimately causing much ground disturbance and the cultural preservation department is already in the process of making contact with project officials with hopes that the same professionalism is shown towards their concerns at this site, as was the case at the school project.
