We are thrilled to announce that a deal has been reached to protect the West Berkeley Shellmound site and return it to Indigenous stewardship. The property at 1900 Fourth Street will be purchased for $27 million by the City of Berkeley and transferred to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, which …
West Berkeley Shellmound supporters have continued to organize and spread the word this year, tabling at events, showing up at the Shellmound with prayers and posters, and encouraging the Berkeley City Council to continue doing everything in its power to protect the land. We are so grateful to all who …
Dear supporters, The West Berkeley Shellmound sacred site is more at risk than ever now that the property owner, a commercial real estate developer, holds an SB-35 permit and has taken additional steps towards development on the property. While the Shellmound hasn’t been making headlines over the past year since …
Statement from Corrina Gould "It is a sad day when a permit is issued to allow construction that would desecrate the 5,000-year-old Ohlone village and burial site known as the West Berkeley Shellmound. We have been working to preserve this sacred site for years and we will continue to fight. …
In response to the April 20 appeals court ruling in favor of Shellmound developers Ruegg & Ellsworth, the Confederated Villages of Lisjan and City of Berkeley have filed an appeal with the California Supreme Court. The court is expected to announce a decision in August on whether or not it …
On the very same day that three judges at the California Court of Appeal heard arguments over whether to uphold lower court protection of the West Berkeley Shellmound and Village Site, the landowners erected a six-foot chain link fence and topped it with three strands of barbed wire. It was …
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The California Court of Appeal for the First District will hear oral arguments tomorrow in the ongoing legal battle over the fate of the West Berkeley Shellmound and Village Site, one of the earliest known Ohlone settlements on the shores of San Francisco Bay. The lawsuit pits …
In recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, the Berkeley City Council has invited Lisjan Ohlone leader Corrina Gould to brief council members and city staff on 5,700 years of Ohlone history in Huichuin, the land we now call Berkeley. The media and the general public are cordially invited to join this …
In a extraordinary turn of events, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced today that they have placed the West Berkeley Shellmound and Village Site on their 2020 list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. “We are incredibly honored and grateful to receive this recognition for the sacred site …
In a step forward for sacred sites protection statewide, AB 168 has been unanimously passed by the California Senate, Assembly and Housing Committee, and was signed by Governor Newsom on September 25, 2020! Thank you to everyone who responded to our call for support by sending messages or making phone …
We are thrilled to announce that an Alameda County Superior Court judge has ruled in favor of preserving the West Berkeley Shellmound, by dismissing the lawsuit filed against the City of Berkeley by property owners Ruegg & Ellsworth and the Frank Spenger Company. The property owners had filed suit claiming …
Standing on this Land Together: Indigenous, Settlers and Migrants Corrina Gould and the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity will lead a prayer ceremony and discussion at the West Berkeley Shellmound at 1900 Fourth Street in Berkeley on Thursday, July 4, from 10am to Noon. Corrina will talk about the history …
On February 6, the Confederated Villages of Lisjan officially became an intervenor in the lawsuit filed by the 1900 Fourth St. property owners against the City of Berkeley. This is good news, because it means that Lisjan (East Bay Ohlone) people and their legal team can reinforce and augment the …
Greetings, supporters and friends. Here are the latest unfortunate updates regarding the West Berkeley Shellmound and Village Site. At this time we are also asking for additional donations to the Shellmound legal defense fund as we enter the next chapter in our fight to protect the sacred grounds of the …
On September 4th, the City of Berkeley sent a letter to 1900 Fourth St property owner Ruegg & Ellsworth, formally rejecting their SB 35 application for a fast-tracked 260-unit housing development for a second and final time. "We are one step closer to fully protecting this village site and Shellmound," …
We have monumental news: Blake Griggs Properties/West Berkeley Investors have quitclaimed their interest in the 1900 Fourth property, which means they’ve dropped the project! This is cause for much celebration, however, the struggle is not over: property owners Ruegg & Ellsworth and Frank Spenger Company have stated that they intend …
Please join us at the West Berkeley Shellmound on Sunday, September 9th from 9am to 12pm to lay down prayers, offer songs and learn about the struggle to protect this ancient ceremonial site of the Lisjan Ohlone people. We are asking our indigenous sisters and brothers to add their prayers …
On June 5, the City of Berkeley informed developers Blake Griggs/West Berkeley Investors that their application for fast-tracked approval of a massive 260-unit project at the West Berkeley Shellmound site does not qualify under the terms of SB 35. The letter from Berkeley city staff states that SB 35, a …
On May 29, hundreds of Berkeley leaders and residents, indigenous leaders and shellmound supporters packed the council chambers after holding a press conference on the steps of city hall in Berkeley. Representatives of the Confederated Villages of Lisjan, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and other tribal nations were present to voice …
The sun’s heat was strong this Memorial Day as over 300 people came out to the West Berkeley Shellmound to honor the oldest ancestors of the Bay Area. Faith leaders from different religious and spiritual traditions led the group in prayerful reflection and spiritual practices, while calling on the …
