NAGPRA Position ends

I want to thank the Robinson Rancheria for my employment opportunity that provided two years of Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA)/ Cultural Resource Management (CRM) for the Tribal consortium. I also want to thank both the Elem and Habematolel Tribes for their support and participation in our 2009 NAGPRA Consortium. Most importantly, as a person who has been directly involved as a cultural leader in my community, I was excited to be able to help address many of the Cultural Resource issues at the tribal, county, state and federal levels.

After reviewing my two years in NAGPRA and THPO, I honestly feel that once again small tribes of California are at a disadvantage in funding. Although National Parks Service endorses consortia it does not allow for additional funding to support addressing cultural resource issues. Just in funding, each tribe has a possibility of receiving a small piece of the 1 million dollar pool of funding for Cultural Resource Management. Therefore, these agencies only provide piece meal funding that seems to be deliberately designed to slow down and complicate the intent of the Cultural Resource Laws. Thus, it defeats our tribal sovereignty and ability to professionally address and protect our most important cultural resources at the tribal, county, state and federal levels.

The Dog Bane Plant

Common and Scientific Names: Dogbane is the common  name of the plant: Apocynum cannabinum.  In Latin, Apocynum means "Away dog!" and cannabinum means "hemp like". 
What Does Dogbane Look Like? Dogbane has thin reddish stems that grow in spindly clumps up to three feet tall.  When dogbane is cut, the stems ooze a thick, milky liquid.   The leaves of Dogbane grow opposite from one another, and sometime three or more leaves grow in from one place.   Dogbane leaves are shaped like a spear-point, and have  smooth edges.  On the top the leaves are smooth and waxy; underneath they have downy white hairs.   Tiny white, cup shaped flowers are in clusters at the top of stems.  Dogbane flowers in late spring through the summer. Many small insects, such as bees and flies, pollinate the flowers. Dogbane seeds have white hairs and are found in two, long thin pods that hang downwards. Where is Dogbane Found? Dogbane habitat is found in moist areas, near rivers or streams, or along ditches. Warning! Dogbane is poisonous when fresh do not try to make string with fresh dogbane! Native Uses: Dogbane is an important plant to the Eastern Pomo because it is one of the few plants which cordage is made from. The twines cordage was used to make dance nets, dowry bags, tump lines for carrying baby baskets, and other uses. 

But why bring it up?  The Native Plant Nursery has about 80 tap roots and will be using them for future reparian projects.

 Some of the RREC projects
Hitch Monitoring                    Native Plant Nursery

Tribal Roads Repair                    Water Sampling