In this year’s California legislative session, a joint resolution between the California Senate, and California House has been introduced to restore recognition to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is Senate Joint Resolution #13.
If you didn’t know, the present day Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area are the Lisjannes. That is, the original Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone people of the Bay Area. First called the Costanoans, but later referred to as the Verona Band of Indians by the US Government.
From 1914 to 1927, the Verona Band was recognized by the federal government as an Indian tribe. Neither the United States Congress nor any executive agency ever formally withdrew federal recognition of the Verona Band. Despite its steadfast efforts, the Muwekma Tribe has been unable to obtain federal recognition, a status vital for the Tribe and its members.
Only an Act of Congress can restore federal recognition to Muwekma. So it’s doubly important that an act originating by a joint resolution of the California legislature sponsor a motion to Congress to restore Federal Recognition of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Encourage our California Legislators to move to vote on Senate Joint Resolution #13: to restore federal recognition to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Here are the five co-authors of SJR #13:
You can also Find Your California Representative by using the tool at the Official California Legislature website, and tell them to sponsor the restoration of federal recognition for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area: Senate Joint Resolution #13. [SJR #13]
You can also read the text of SJR #13 here.
