The history of Ya-Ka-Ama
Article by David W. Peri
News from Native California, Vol.1, No. 1.
March/April 1982
Ya-Ka-Ama, which means Our Land in the Kashaya Pomo language, is situated in a rural setting, on 125 acres of mainly prime agricultural land in western Sonoma County. "The Land", as it known locally, is partially bordered on the west and northwest by the Russian River, and on the north, south, and east by orchards, vineyards, open grasslands, and forested areas. Although in a rural setting, Ya-Ka-Ama is 12 miles west of Santa Rosa, the county seat, and some 70 miles north of San Francisco.
Even though Ya-Ka-Ama has only recently become the legal guardian for this small portion of what was once all our land, we have never relinquished our full claim to the surrounding areas. Neither have we relinquished our charge, given us long ago when the land was yet young, to act as its custodian. It is this responsibility that binds us together as a community of Indians, that gives additional strength and purpose to our lives, and that enables us to give to those who come after us a future of hope and opportunity. We today, like our ancestors, are the custodians of our future.
Before the coming of the Europeans, that portion we call Ya-Ka-Ama and
the surrounding area were under the stewardship of Southern Pomo-speaking peoples. However, this was all to change, all too soon. Based upon claims of greater purpose and a destiny said to be guided by a higher authority, the European settlers took possession of the land, securing their claims by the right to grant and sell land to others of their own kind. Such was the case with Juan Bautista Roger Cooper, who, in 1836, was granted four-square leagues of land, which came to be known as El Molino Ranchero. It was 136 years later, on a 125-acre portion of this same ranch, that Ya-Ka-Ama was established.
Between 1836 and 1953, the rancho was broken up and sold to a variety of
owners. The eventual site of Ya-Ka-Ama was acquired by eminent domain when one owner refused to sell 346 acres to the U.S. government. The government filed a "Condemnation Complaint" in federal district court " at the request and under the authority of the Director of Central Intelligence on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency." The court issued a "Declaration of Taking" judgment, and title passed to the federal government. Shortly thereafter, the agency constructed the West Coast Foreign Broadcast Monitoring Station on this site. A restricted access facility, the station operated for only a few years. After 1959, the government "released" the property to the Surplus Property Division of the General Services Administration for disposal. Local management of the deserted facility was the responsibility of a resident caretaker, and the land was leased to two cattle ranchers for grazing land.
In November 1969, a group of Indians calling themselves "Indians of All Tribes" occupied Alcatraz Island, a former federal prison. Interpreting the provisions of the Treaty of 1878 between the government and the Sioux as giving Indians the rights to surplus federal property, the island was claimed in the name of Indians of All Tribes.
Inspired and motivated by the Alcatraz Island occupation, the Pit River
movement to reclaim part of their land, and other Indian movements in
California and across the nation, a group of young Indians, many of whom were students at Santa Rosa Junior College, occupied and laid claim to the former federal broadcast station in November 1970. The group, reinforced by other Indians, was removed two day later by the Sonoma County sheriff, following a citizen's arrest by the caretaker of the property. Twenty days later, a second occupation, with a larger group, took place, which resulted in more arrests.
The principal newspaper in the county, the Press Democrat, ran the following headlines: November 5, INDIANS INVADE U.S. LAND NEAR SANTA ROSA. DOZEN SRJC STUDENTS "TIRED OF BUREAUCRACY";
November 6, MORE INDIANS JOIN LAND SQUATTERS. HANDS-OFF
POLICY BY THE GOVERNMENT; November 8, INDIANS OUSTED. PLAN
NEW TAKEOVER STRATEGY. DEPUTIES ARREST FIVE ON
TRESPASSING CHARGES; November 25, NEW INDIAN TAKEOVER BUT SEVEN ARRESTED. GROUP OF 30 MOVES ON GOVERNMENT LAND AGAIN; November 26, MORE THAN THE INDIANS ARE EYEING THAT U.S. LAND; November 29, INDIANS RETURN TO FEDERAL PROPERTY: THREE ARRESTED.
Charged with trespassing, some were released on bail and others remained in custody. Those arrested were later released on their own recognizance after a trial date was set. However, the trial was postponed numerous times, going finally to court a year later in November 1971. Following a brief trial, those arrested were found guilty and sentenced to two years probation.
Between the time of the first occupation and the trial, efforts and support to secure the land continued to grow. As a first step toward acquiring a land base, the nonprofit Indian organization, Ya-Ka-Ama Indian Education and Development, Inc., was formed in 1971 for the encouragement and fostering of educational, employment, social, economic, and cultural development for Indians and subsequently, to develop a more cohesive, informed, and self-sufficient Indian community.
In addition to the Indian community, strong support was forthcoming from a number of individuals in various levels of government, law, business, education, and community services. All gave their endorsement to Ya-Ka-Ama's application to the federal government for the establishment of a land-based organization on the site of the former CIA installation.
The application was approved, and on September 15, 1972, formal transfer ceremonies were held on the site between Ya-Ka-Ama and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare for possession of the land by means of an Escrow Agreement and quit claim deed. John Trippo, one of the leaders of the occupation movement, who had been arrested, jailed, and convicted of trespassing, accepted the deed to the land on behalf of Ya-Ka-Ama as its first chair of the board and president of the corporation.
Ya-Ka-Ama took possession of the 125 acres, which included a 25-acre apple orchard and a large administrative office building consisting of 23 rooms and outbuildings - all valued at $260,000. Under the terms of the Escrow Agreement, Ya-Ka-Ama had three years, 1972-75 to furnish "satisfactory proof" to the government that it had met the conditions of the agreement: (1) the establishment of educational programs on the property with a minimum student enrollment, (2) approval of the programs by the State Department of Education, and (3) arrangements for funding continuing programs. On August 28, 1975, Ya-Ka-Ama received notice from the government that it had "substantially
observed and performed all the terms and conditions set forth in the ...
Escrow Agreement."
Although the first set of conditions was satisfactorily met, other long-term conditions prevail. Namely, that for a period of thirty years, Ya-Ka-Ama must continuously use all 125 acres for educational purposes only. For each year that this condition is satisfactorily met beginning September 11, 1972, the date of the quit claim deed, Ya-Ka-Ama 'earns' 3 percent as a "public benefit allowance" toward the land. As of September 11, 1986, we have "earned" 46 percent of the land.
Ya-Ka-Ama's strength as an Indian organization, dedicated to Indian
self-determination through programs that promote self-sufficiency,
derives from the cooperative strength of Indians representing different
tribes, life experiences, and varying social and political positions all united by a single vision: The Restoration of Our Historical Legacy