Colfax Indian Burial Grounds

The Colfax Indian Burial Grounds AKA Colfax Indian Cemetery has long been the cremation and burial site of our ancestors- the California Nisenan Maidu and Miwok who once lived in this region of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They used the cemetery area for spiritual purposes and our rights to continue to do so have been ignored and have attempted to be terminated.
Our relatives- past and present, have always maintained the property but unbeknownst to us it may have been taken from a family member and somehow given to the Colfax District Cemetery Trustees. In all honesty this exchange is still uncertain and not verified by either side.
A VERY important fact is that the deed that is on file with Placer County has been blacked out in critical areas where it may refer to the Indians, and should NOT be called a legal document. It is NOT our wish to have to buy back something that was and has always been ours exclusively in every sense of the word.
Since January of 2009 we have been struggling to keep our familys resting sites. The price demand put upon us by the Cemetery Trustees is $30,000.00, with no consideration given to the years of work weve taken off of their shoulders by maintaining the property ourselves, the water and garbage costs to us, the general upkeep weve paid, never mind the grief and mental anguish theyve inflicted upon us.
We were completely locked out of the grounds for 4 months. We have since regained access. This is on a conditional basis with the Trustees insurance company. It has been told to us that if we were to lose a loved one, at this point we would not be able to bury them along side their family, because hand digging their graves is against their insurances policy. They would like us to sign away this right of religious freedom and cultural practice. We would like to reach some common agreement with the District Trustees and the County of Placer to let us once again possess the land that was taken away unjustly and without warning. Namely, give it back without a price tag involved. Thank you for your support.
PETITION FOR SUPPORT
By signing this Petition, I hereby SUPPORT the Colfax Indian Burial Ground Committee in its efforts to reclaim and continue to maintain the Colfax Indian Burial Ground, located in Colfax, Placer County, California, USA.