Letters to the Editor Sep. 2, 2010

There are many places to hunt; dunes area is sacred to Tolowa

At the Aug. 25 meeting, the reason given by California State Parks to allow hunting on ponds and sloughs in the northern part of Tolowa Dunes State Park was that hunting there was an established “historic use.”

This raises a serious question. Who determines when history, especially the history of the area under consideration, begins? If the only history considered by state parks begins when Europeans and their descendents settled Del Norte, this fails to acknowledge thousands of Tolowa Indians living on this coast for at least 6,000 years before Jedediah Smith camped on the banks of Lake Earl in the early 1800s.

In the decades following the 1853 massacre at Yontocket, when more than 450 Tolowa were slaughtered by militia, the village site, ponds, sloughs and surrounding land became private property, with the landowner controlling access. Hunting occurred only by permission.

In 1982, the land was sold to the state, primarily to aid the recovery of the endangered Aleutian goose. The bottomland was to be a foraging and resting area for the geese. It was classified as a “State Park Project” and some uses (including hunting) were allowed that are never permitted in an “official” state park. In 2002, when full classification to state park status was approved by the State Parks Commission, all hunting should have ceased. The fact it continued for several years was not only a gross oversight but also illegal.

I have learned from Tolowa friends that the village site at Yontocket and the cemetery, which holds the remains of all who perished in the massacre, are sacred to the Tolowa people. Their history here predates mine by thousands of years, as it does the ranches and dairies that have occupied their land for 160 years, and the hunting that has occurred there for only 25 years.

For the Tolowa people, Yontocket is the “Center of the Universe.” In their history, it is the source of all creation. It is as revered by them as the great cathedrals in Europe are to the Christian world. This place of history and tragedy needs to be protected and given its appropriate place within our nation’s past just like other major massacre sites. 

For state parks to even consider allowing hunting and gunfire near Yontocket disrespects the Tolowa and their history. There are many county locations for waterfowl hunting, but there is only one “Center of the Universe” for the Tolowa people.

Susan Calla

Crescent City

Every student has a right to succeed at something

Regarding John Cupp’s Aug. 31 letter (“Contrary to Don Olson, I don’t know all students can succeed”), every student has the right and ability to succeed at something, no matter how small and meaningless that something may appear to you.

Instead of fretting over IQs, Mr. Cupp’s time would be better spent volunteering in the classroom.

Diane Blackberry

Crescent City

EBT cardholders should take advantage of farmers market

You may have noticed that over the years, the  Crescent City Farmers Market has expanded in the number and variety of vendors available to Saturday shoppers; what you may not have noticed is this summer’s new acceptance of EBT food stamp cards at many of the produce and plant nursery vendors.

An EBT cardholder myself, I say from experience that this is a huge opportunity to not only support our local farmers in a way never available to us before, but to teach our families the essentials of natural, healthy living.

By taking your EBT card to the market’s manager vendor, you are allotted any number of $1 chips, which can be redeemed at vendors to purchase fresh meats, breads, fruits, vegetables and even potted herbs and fruit-bearing plants.

Though I have never been much of a gardener myself, the new EBT option of the Farmers Market has inspired my family to turn our back porch into somewhat of a food-bearing paradise consisting of cherry tomatoes plants, strawberry plants, rosemary and parsley, all purchased from vendors such as The Dutch Gardener and Annie Mack’s Family Produce. Now every day I have the opportunity to watch my 2-year-old son exploring and caring for the garden we have created together, and to me, nothing is sweeter.

EBT cardholders should take advantage of this opportunity because it gives us a chance to support the community by keeping our money local, all the while encouraging families to shop, cook and eat together, which promotes healthy family living. Therefore, I encourage you to experience the organic wonders of locally grown produce, and to enjoy your Farmers Market experience with the entire family.

Rachael Fair

Crescent City

Thanks to everyone who helped with the CASA golf fundraiser

CASA of Del Norte (Court Appointed Special Advocates) hosted our 11th annual golf tournament Aug. 28 at the Del Norte Golf Course. It is our annual major fundraiser for the organization and it was a big success.

As everyone is well aware, the current economic downturn has most non-profits cutting their budgets and looking for creative ways to fund their programs. CASA of Del Norte is no exception. So when we experienced the community support last Saturday with a record number of participants in our tournament, we were absolutely thrilled!

To our major sponsors, Sutter Coast Hospital, PacifiCorp, Cholwell, Benz & Hartwick, and Phil Shafer, I would like to say thank you. Dale Miller, Stacey McClaflin and Elk Valley Rancheria, thank you for hosting our event and helping it to run so smoothly.

There are several local businesses™that, once again, contributed to our raffle prizes or in-kind donations — you are so appreciated! Thank you to Josh our CASA photographer, for traveling up from Eureka for each event faithfully.

To my fellow board members and volunteers and our wonderful staff and ED who volunteer their time and energy to make this event happen, you are awesome! And please know the thank-yous come not only from all of us at CASA, but from the children of Del Norte County who are in foster care and are in need of CASA services as that is why we are here and what this is all about.

For anyone interested in knowing more about CASA, please call our office at 464-3320 or visit our website at CASA.org Thank you one and all!

Vicki Lambson

Chairperson

 CASA of Del Norte 

Peace officers in fish bowl; must we tap on the glass all the time?

It has seemed lately to me that the situations going on in the Sheriff’s Office have turned into a bunch of gossip. Regarding the arrest of Deputy Shneck (“Police arrest deputy in a domestic violence case,” Aug. 26) I found it rather quick to post something about his arrest. Had he not been a deputy would it have gone into the paper so fast?

And adding Officer Latham’s resignation into the same article was a bit tasteless. As a former sheriff’s employee, I worked right beside both of them and found them to be some of the most stand-up guys I ever had the pleasure to work with.

I understand that the things that are going on are making great news, but is it worth throwing it out there so fast even before you get the story from the arresting agency?

An officer told me once that they are constantly in a fish bowl, but really, do we have to all tap on the glass all the time?

Logan Sturdevant

Crescent City