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California Indigenous Communities Reclaim Stolen Territory Amid Growing Calls for Land Back

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NICASIO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 14: A view of nearly full Nicasio Reservoir on March 14, 2019 in Nicasio, California.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In July, members of the Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin purchased 26 acres of land, part of what was once the tribe’s territory. The fundraising effort to buy the plot, priced at $1.3 million, is just the latest successful Land Back campaign in California, a movement to return stolen land to indigenous control. The deal signaled a momentous return for a community displaced from their land over a century ago but it also evoked conflicted feelings about having to buy back land that was never willingly relinquished. We’ll talk to members of California tribes about recent  Land Back successes and the growing momentum around this movement.

Guests:

Joe Sanchez, elder, Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin

Caitlin Keliiaa, assistant professor of History, University of California Santa Cruz

Michelle Vassel, tribal administrator, Wiyot Tribe

Inés Ixierda, creative director, Sogorea Te' Land Trust

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