More Special Investigations From CBS13
May 7, 2009 5:36 am US/Pacific
Local Native Americans Locked Out Of Burial Ground
COLFAX (CBS13) ―
A group of Placer County Native Americans has been locked out of a local cemetery that they consider sacred burial grounds.
The Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe has been locked out of the Indian Cemetery since January after questions about who owned the property surfaced. Local tribe members have been burying their ancestors here since the 1800's, but now the gate is locked and the only way it may open is if they pay.
"It's like you can't come home. This was home to us," explained tribe member Steven Proutt who can only visit his sister's grave from a distance. "We can't go in and it is a slap in the face."
Helen Wyland of the Colfax Cemetery District says papers prove the district owns the cemetery. She says the lock won't come off the cemetery until there is insurance coverage or there is a change of ownership. Now the tribe will have to pay $37,000 for the property in order to go in the cemetery.
Tribe members are not confident they will be able to come up with the money to buy the cemetery and are still challenging the ownership.
"I don't see why we should (have to buy it) if it was ours in the first place," said Josh Stewart of the Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe. "We will try and fight for it but doesn't look too good right now."
For now, the Colfax Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe is trying to raise money. They cannot go to the federal government for help because they are not recognized as an official tribe.
Tribe members are holding a community meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Old Colfax Pharmacy building.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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