The historic McCloud Dance Hall drew over 200 people on Saturday for the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument Celebration. Many indigenous people from the Pit River Nation and Modoc Tribes joined with Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center to spearhead this project since President Biden announced the designation of the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument at Medicine Lake in northern California on January 14, 2025. This monument encompasses 224,676 acres of varied habitat on the Modoc, Shasta-Trinity, and Klamath National Forests and provides protection to tribal ancestral homelands, historic and scientific treasures, rare flora and fauna, and is the headwaters of a vital source of water.
“Trump’s January 20, 2025 executive memo Putting people over fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to provide water to Southern California is in line with the water supply protection provided by the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, as it is a headwater of California that serves millions of people downstream,”
Brandy McDaniels, Sáttítla Highlands National Monument lead for the Pit River Nation.
McDaniels also said that it has taken three decades of advocacy, collaboration, litigation, and perseverance to achieve this permanent protection for generations to come.
Yatch Bamford, Chairman for the Pit River Nation, said that this victory is not just for the Tribal Nations but for every American who understands the value of clean water and healthy lands, preventing industrial development. “This is a sacred place.”
Nick Joslin with the Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center studied Geology at the University of Oregon and in the 90’s studied the geothermal wells and obsidian flows around Medicine Lake. He says that he is a 5th generation Siskiyou County resident and his family has had property near Medicine Lake. “As a child, this was a special, peaceful place where my family would go. Glass Mountain is made up of obsidian which the Native Americans would use to make arrowheads and other tools. The MS Bioregional Ecology Center has been working with the Pit River Nation through the Stanford Law Clinic to prevent commercial geothermal development where they would drill below the fresh water aquifer that they could not guarantee they would not contaminate. Layers of protection have been going on for decades. Any company, like Calpine (a geothermal development company) would have to first consult with the tribes.”
Sáttítla in the Ajumawi language, which is the spoken language of the Pit River Nation Tribe, translates to ‘obsidian place’. The Medicine Lake volcanic area is rich in obsidian.
During the ceremony, people told cultural stories, read poems, and recognized the Tribal leaders, co-stewardship, educators, businesses, conservationists, scientists, and rural communities that helped in supporting this monument come to fruition. Lunch and food to go included traditional foods such as Indian tacos and homemade kombucha.
Kristen Cunningham, who owns the McCloud Dance Hall says, “It is an honor to have indigenous people here to celebrate because they are the stewards of the land and they have worked so hard for 30 years on this project. I am so pleased to have this many tribal people and community members here to celebrate this special triumph. This building was originally built for the Masons. I am glad to bring the people of the land here to celebrate this momentous event.”
For more information go to www.protectsattitla.org.
For more information go to www.protectsattitla.org
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Great Article!
Very exciting! So glad this important landscape was protected
A wonderful, moving celebration. I’m so glad these lands and waters are protected for everyone.
I’m glad you were able to cover this historic event! The Sáttítla HIghlands National Monument designation is a positive outcome for the community and the landscape.
Had a great time at the celebration. The Pit River Nation are excellent hosts. Congratulations on protecting Sáttítla!
This was a wonderful celebration of a wonderful achievement!
Looks like an amazing event! Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
Great news! Monument protections and co-stewardship with the Pit River Nation will no doubt be good for the community and the health of the national forest.
Such a wonderful and momentous celebration!
Thanks for your coverage! I’m very happy the Medicine Lake Highlands have been protected and look forward to visiting them again soon.