Healing and Restoration of Impacted Indigenous Watershed and Sacred Sites

Nisenan Rancheria and Sierra Streams Institute: A Story of Hope, Land and Healing

On January 27, 2019, Joanne Hild, Executive Director of Sierra Streams Institute, and Shelly Covert, Executive Director of the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project presented a forum sponsored by Social Justice, Adult RE, and Green Sanctuary.  Sierra Streams Institute is a scientific community dedicated to environmental conservation and land and water stewardship.  We learned how the Sierra Streams Institute partners with the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe in restoring the Nisenan's sacred watershed from damage created by the Gold Rush.  Shelly Covert related some of the history and struggles of the Nisenan people. We can help the Nisenan by joining our voices with theirs as they lobby for legislation to restore their federal recognition as a tribe. Joanne Hild discussed the many projects underway through Sierra Streams including the possibilities for volunteering as citizen scientists.  The efforts of Sierra Streams incorporates the needs of the local and broader community into research projects that include human and ecologic health related issues.

Green Team Leader for this project: Janie Evans

Click below to learn more:

Rush for Gold (a video produced by Sierra Streams about the impact of the gold rush on the Nisenan people and the local rivers - parents, please be advised that some of this video may not be appropriate for children)

A short interview with Shelly Covert about life as a Nisenan before the Gold Rush