West Berkeley Shellmound-Mapping the Victory

The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) invited Sacred Land Film Project director Toby McLeod to tell the story of the successful, long-shot, eight-year battle to protect the West Berkeley Shellmound, which was led by Lisjan Ohlone leader Corrina Gould. His keynote speech on May 23, 2024 captured the drama, the collaboration, and valuable lessons learned in a #LandBack win of national and international significance.
For more information: Visit the BAHA website: www.berkeleyheritage.com/
A CORRECTION: It was not 2018, but February 18, 2021 when the California Court of Appeal for the First District heard oral arguments appealing Judge Roesch’s decision denying the SB-35 permit, which would have protected the sacred cultural site. On that same day, the landowners erected a six-foot chain link fence around the entire 2.2-acre site and topped it with three strands of barbed wire.
In the spirit of collaboration, Toby wants to thank the many colleagues and allies and family members who he did not have time to name and appreciate during this talk: Tom Lippe, Michelle Lee, Jessica Abbe, Fiona McLeod, Miles McLeod, Fui Niumeilolu, Ariel Luckey, Morgan Curtis, Callie Shanafelt Wong, Susi Alexander, Malcolm Margolin, Chris Walker, Claire Greensfelder, Lenore Goldman, Stephanie Manning, Markley Bavinger, Chris Oakes, Richard Schwartz, Perry Matlock, Cat the webmaster, Inés Ixierda, Denny Abrams, Rick Auerbach, Will Rogers, Dave Sutton, Christy Fischer, Brandon Moriarty, Patty Quillin, Reed Hastings, Polly McLeod, Regan Pritzger, Nwmaka Agbo and everyone at Kataly Foundation, Melissa Nelson, Julie and David Solnit, Kent Lightfoot, Lucy Gill, Jordan Brown, Ben Porter, Rick Freiss, Peter Prowes, Vince Medina, Andy Black, Dave Wendlinger, Brooke Anderson, Chris Dore, Winnemem Chief Caleen Sisk, Deb Haaland, Barbara Lee, Joanna Macy, Rucha Chitnis, Adam Glickman, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and of course: Corrina Gould, Ruth Orta, Deja and Cheyenne Gould, Gregg Castro, Wounded Knee DeOcampo, Mayor Jesse Arreguin, Berkeley Councilmembers Sophie Hahn, Ben Bartlett, Rigel Robinson, Terry Taplin, Cheryl Davila, Susan Wengraf, Kate Harrison, Mark Humbert, Linda Maio, City Attorney Farimah Brown, and everyone at Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. Collaboration was the key to this victory!

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