Press Release: 232 Acres of Ancestral Homeland Restored to the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe
This Press Release was written in collaboration with the Center for Ethical Land Transition, CHIRP, and Woolman.
The California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP) and the College Park Friends Educational Association (CPFEA) AKA Woolman are deeply proud to announce their successful endeavor to transfer 232 acres and the site of the John Woolman School into the hands of CHIRP and the Nevada City Rancheria (NCR) Nisenan Tribe. The escrow completed on September 27, 2024 and was the result of significant and inspired effort of all parties.
The land, located on the historic Nisenan village site of Yulića, will once again become a landbase for the Tribe and provide an opportunity for the NCR Nisenan Tribe to reclaim a piece of their land-based ceremonial and Cultural practices, Elder housing, and renewal of the Tribe’s relationship with their Ancestral Homelands and its more-than-human kin.
For the past sixty years, Woolman has used the property to operate Quaker-based educational programming, including a residential high school, a semester school for high school juniors and seniors, outdoor school and after-school programs, summer camps for youth, and educational experiences for adults on topics such as activism, the arts, peace, justice, environmental sustainability, and personal and spiritual growth.
In the last few years, due to both the Covid pandemic halting in-person programs and the Jones Fire which incurred unexpected costs, Woolman could no longer sustain its programming, and began to look for a way to transition the property to new hands consistent with its mission and values. The Woolman board asked themselves, “Is there something good that could come from our loss?”
The Woolman board and staff had already been participating in their own internal process of coming to terms with the history of the land they occupied, including the Indigenous Peoples who called that land home, the legacy of colonialism that violently dispossessed those communities, and the land theft and commodification that ensued and led to current day “ownership.” Guided by the belief that the land is Sacred and that restoring “ownership” into the hands of the original stewards was most consistent with the values upheld by Woolman, the Woolman board reached out and began interfacing with CHIRP, who confirmed a commitment to the site. A few years later in Fall of 2023, formal conversations about a land transition emerged between the Woolman board and CHIRP, and an exclusive “discount sale” negotiation between the non-profits began.
Historic cultural complexities mandated significant diligence in this land transition requiring support above and beyond conventional real estate agents and attorneys. Thus, facilitators from the The Center for Ethical Land Transition and the Pacific Yearly Meeting of Quakers accompanied the process. Their involvement helped to create a roundtable environment building trust and offering support among those involved.
What guided this process was the enduring need for repair held by everyone involved. And though painful at times, in the end, transitioning the land was a rich, relationship-centric process that allowed all parties to walk away with a deeper understanding of each other. As Shelly Covert, NCR Nisenan Tribal Spokesperson and Director of CHIRP, comments: "There is a deep desire to return land to Indigenous communities. But many times, one’s desire to return land to Tribes and their real-time dependence on equity and/or dollar value of that land becomes problematic. Emerging conversations to navigate these complexities present an opportunity to evolve the discussion, engage modern economic constraints and possibilities, and craft a new path forward, together."
Proving that these conversations are taking shape and moving forward, CHIRP was successful with their fundraising efforts that currently stand at just over $2.5 million. Crowdfunding was the main conduit used to meet the financial needs of the transition. The Quaker Friends activated locally, nationally, and internationally to provide their contributions to the campaign, ensuring their community would be part of the success story unfolding, and committed to supporting the long-term goals of restoring this small piece of the NCR Nisenan Tribe’s Ancestral Homeland.
This story is exemplary of a new movement of title transfers often referred to as ethical land transitions, in which current title holders voluntarily engage in a reparative process to support land acquisition for communities who have been historically marginalized via land theft and policies of racial discrimination, which has particularly impacted Indigenous, Black, and other communities of color. These processes typically focus on building meaningful relationships between communities over time, eventually resulting in off-market title transfers between known parties.
“Although the sale has closed, our commitment to the well-being of CHIRP and the Tribe will continue. We understand that land-back is always a complicated process and can take many forms; each effort is unique. Supporting CHIRP’s Homeland Return goals for the Nisenan Tribe has been, and will continue to be, a profound and worthwhile endeavor, ” emphasized Sandra Schwartz, Woolman Board Clerk.
In an era of increasing support for Native land return, this story is an important example of partnership and working together to return what was stolen. Exciting next steps include moving Tribal Elders into safe housing together on the Land, opportunities for Indigenous-led environmental healing and stewardship, celebration of the completed transition, and continued land-based Cultural revitalization for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe.
“I’m inspired by the dedication and commitment of everyone who donated to this campaign that will restore a small portion of our Ancestral Homelands,” continued Shelly Covert. “It makes me hopeful and confident that this is just the beginning in an awesome movement for Indigenous peoples everywhere.”
