Environmental Press # 133

Subj: HELLMAN at Seal Beach City Council: Shock and chagrin
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2002 23:57:27 -0700
From: Doug Korthof <doug@seal-beach.org>
To: voiceforveterans@aol.com (via HellmanMesa@SealBeach.org)

Hellman Mesa in Seal Beach:

City Council meeting Monday, Oct. 14...Columbus day, it is said.

What a day for a shock. This was paradigmatic for how effective a presentation of Native American issues can be, when made meaningful to the mainstream.

Often, damage and even evil is done to our Native Americans in silence and secret, things that would appall the gentle reader if only they knew. But with public exposure, the issue becomes known to many and the bad things can no longer occur.

During "public comment", one of the presenters read a condensed version of the violations of the Hellman Permit, with references to the permit language that had been violated. This boring text was also handed out to the Council, and any bystander that would take one. This laid the groundwork for the Tongva, whose presence was gently introduced by Lisa Rosen, who also

 

  

pointed out the discrepancy between the sacred sites: the sub memorial is honored, but the NA graves were bulldozed.

Andrew Morales spoke as representative of the Gabrieleno/ Tongva Tribal Council, first greeting them in Tongva, then translating, and expressing the importance of this issue.

Jordan David made the violation personal, stating that he was, indeed, one of the monitors who had stood in front of the tractors and been yelled at and threatened by the construction crew -- and still would not move.

The other brave monitor was also present, and echoed the testimony. Without these conscientious, diligent monitors, these violations might never have surfaced, and all the protections written into the permit by the efforts of Lillian Robles might have been in vain.

Thanks to Chief Anthony, for coordinating the presence of so many important people.

Wes Roosa and several others also spoke, keeping the issue alive.

Several of the Council members, and most of the audience, were literally aghast, it seemed, by the ugly revelations. So unnecessary, and so humiliating. Not for the NA, but for the listeners who were unpleasantly surprised. Prior to the Council meeting, 3 reps from the Gabrieleno Tongva were alone at the demonstration -- chanting, and holding signs. There is always a LOT more support from passing cars when the Native Americans are picketing.

Picketing continues, 4PM to 6PM every work day.

This issue has been elevated to the highest levels of the Native American Heritage Commission, Coastal Commission, and other concerned entities. Indications are that there may be a settlement in the works which is somehow acceptable to the Native Americans.

THANKS to all those who wrote letters! They made a noticeable impact, and I still have a big sheaf of them to FAX and USMail. And they still keep coming in.

/Doug
562-430-2495 (msg)
714-496-1567 (cell)

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