On Friday, November 19th, 2021, the California Valley Miwok Tribe attended a previously scheduled event to share the unique life experiences of its eldest tribal citizen, Mildred burley.
On behalf of the University, Ms. Tracy Patton Executive Director Community Involvement Program, Equity and Inclusion at the University of the Pacific, invited the tribe and worked with the tribe in coordinating all logistics and the agenda the tribe wished to present.
Although anyone on campus could attend, Mildred was asked to speak before the students of the ( U.O.P.I.S.S.) “University of the Pacific Intercultural Student Success” program.
This is a program based on diversity and inclusion, and the goal of this program is to give these students the education and skills needed at all levels of professional, personal and public life to make lasting differences. To improve, correct and enrich societal issues at all levels in making this a better world for all of us in which to live.
Mildred Burley, our eldest citizen, was able to speak of experiences maybe unknown by any other federally recognized Native American at this time in history. She not only was the last born of a known indigenous settlement, but also a member of the last family that existed there.
Mildred spoke in depth of even though she lived in rural California of not seeing her first non-native until she first attended a local one room school house at the age of eight.
Mildred went into great detail of her life experiences that are included in the videos included in the links accompanying below.
Sadly though, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is currently trying to take all this indigenous elders rights and services away for the benefit of bay area casino seeking oligarchs.
The California Valley Miwok Tribe wishes to thank Ms. Tracy Patton and the University of the Pacific for inviting us to share with those in attendance a part of our rich indigenous culture.
Threatened Tribal extinction by Bureau of Indian Affairs last full-blood and fluent speaking Miwok, California Valley Miwok Tribal Elder speaks at University of the Pacific. In this presentation, she talks about her life, her culture, being the last born and being the last family of one of California’s many rancherias.
Mildred Burley’s current Tribal citizenship and even existence of her Tribe are being threatened by an illegal take over by the BIA to instill individuals neither recognized or enrolled who currently have a casino deal in the Bay Area with influential backers and a current United States Senator.
Her Tribe, while this is going on, was invited in representation this month to the White House Tribal Nations Leaders Summit.
The Tribe is asking anyone who views our elder in this video to communicate to Native Americans, the Director of the Department of the Interior Deb Haaland and current Bureau of Indian Affairs AS-IA Bryan Newland.
The very fact that true Native Americans are the lead in both departments and this is Native American Heritage Month is illegal, immoral and disingenuous. (Please Stand With Us, Let Your Voices Be Heard and Help To Stop Our Extinction)
University of the Pacific : http://www.pacific.edu/
University of the Pacific Intercultural Student Success : https://www.pacific.edu/student-life/equity-inclusion/intercultural-student-success
