[A collection of photos from Sept. 19th can be found here.]

Santa Cruz, CA – During a tense meeting at City Hall on September 19th, housing developer KB Home agreed to not build on or near Ohlone burial sites at the Branciforte Creek Knoll. A cultural easement will be established to protect the burial ground in its natural state, prohibiting development regardless of who owns the property in the future. The easement will also grant Ohlone people special rights to hold ceremony on the sacred grounds and to act as caretakers of the Knoll, a 6,000 year old Ohlone village site.

A spirited march organized by the Save the Knoll Coalition began earlier in the morning at Mission Santa Cruz, passing through downtown and arriving at City Hall just prior to the 10:00am meeting with KB Home, the City of Santa Cruz and Ohlone elders. The group of about 75 native and non-native people held a vigil just outside the room where the meeting was taking place, forming a large outer circle with an inner group singing traditional songs around a drum.

The songs and the beat of the drum were clearly heard inside the meeting room, and Ohlone elders later explained that this influenced the tone of the meeting. As KB Home vice-president Ray Panek announced that his company would not build on the burial site, the sound of an Ohlone prayer song carried softly in to the meeting room.
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On September 13th, dozens of demonstrators returned to City Hall, holding a vigil outside before entering at 5:00pm for the “public comment” section of the monthly Santa Cruz City Council meeting. About 10 people spoke to the Council asking them to take action to protect the Branciforte Creek Knoll, some demanding that the Knoll be placed on the public agenda so that meaningful discussion and action are possible.

In a surreal turn of events, the Santa Cruz Follies (a Senior group) opened the public comment session with a robust rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The heavy and incisive testimony of Native people and their supporters was interspersed with the humour of bizarre, random statements from other members of the public, such as an elderly woman who presented a gnarled, dirty root taller than she was from the “Running Bamboo” plant, which she said should be made illegal, because it is destroying her sidewalk.
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Today’s speaking event was a great success. Opening prayers were given by Ohlone elders, traditional Ohlone songs were shared, and speakers included Tony Cerda, Ann Marie Sayers, Corrina Gould, Wounded Knee DeOcampo and Henry Dominguez. Over $1000 was raised to support organizing efforts to protect the Knoll. Thanks to everyone who attended. A more detailed summary of the event will be posted soon, with full transcripts to come later.

• 9/15/11 Photo story by Alex Daorcy about the speaking event, focusing on the words of Ann Marie Sayers

[ A set of photos from this action can be found here. ]

As morning fog gave way to sunlight on Thursday, August 25th, over 50 people marched through downtown Santa Cruz to City Hall, responding to a call to action that had been issued only 24 hours previously. Ohlone prayer songs and the sharp clack of a clapper stick echoed off downtown shop windows, and hundreds of flyers were handed out to curious onlookers.

The marchers gathered in a circle in front of City Hall at 10:45am before entering the council chambers, where a closed session City Council meeting was to be held. Though the Branciforte Creek Knoll was not on the official agenda, the Mayor allowed advocates of protecting the Knoll 20 minutes of oral communication, during which 10 speakers addressed the council with eloquence and passion.
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On August 19th, sixteen people woke up early in Santa Cruz and drove out to KB Home Northern California’s headquarters in Pleasanton to deliver a demand letter on behalf of the Save the Knoll Coalition.

The unexpected visitors filled the small KB Home lobby, and a perplexed secretary called division president Chris Apostolopoulos. “I think you better come up here”. A few minutes later, Mr. Apostolopoulos himself entered the lobby, with two other KB Home representatives. Appearing quite nervous, they were handed six copies of the demand letter.
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On Monday the 15th, over 40 people attended a Save the Knoll Coalition meeting to discuss next steps and divy up tasks. Plans for future actions were made, with a focus this week on community outreach.

Volunteers have been distributing flyers and collecting petition signatures downtown and at community events and Farmers Markets throughout Santa Cruz county. On Wednesday alone, over 1000 of the new Save the Knoll brochures were handed out. An online petition was created yesterday, and within six hours of being posted, it had already been signed by 100 people.
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A collection of photos from Sunday’s demonstration and ceremony is available here. Until a report is written, here are some links to other stories from local, national and international news outlets:

Latest news articles

• NEW – SC Sentinel 8/16; Plans unclear for knoll where remains were found
• Washington Post 8/15: California protesters want construction halt after Native American remains unearthed
• Santa Cruz News 8/15: Discovery of Ancient Remains Sparks Protest
• Santa Cruz Sentinel 8/15: Native American remains unearthed at Santa Cruz housing development site; protesters rally for halt to construction
• Santa Cruz Patch 8/14: Ancient Ohlone Village and Burial Site Uncovered in Santa Cruz
• KION/Fox TV 8/15: Group Protesting Santa Cruz Construction Site on Burial Grounds
• Alex Darocy via Indybay 8/15: Save the Knoll march: photos
• Huffington Post SF, 8/15: Santa Cruz Indian Remains Ignite Protests
• Taiwan news 8/15: Protest in US after Indian remains unearthed