California Returns 17,000 Acres of Ancestral Land to Tule River Tribe
The state of California has returned **17,000 acres** of ancestral land to the **Tule River Indian Tribe**, marking a significant milestone in efforts to rectify historical injustices faced by Native American tribes in the region. This announcement was made during a gathering on Wednesday in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, where state leaders and tribal elders convened to celebrate this landmark event.
California Governor **Gavin Newsom** described the land return as “the largest ancestral land return in the history of the region and a major step in addressing historical wrongs against California Native American tribes.” The land, previously known as the **Hershey Ranch** and **Carothers Ranch**, encompasses a diverse landscape of grasslands, oak woodlands, and evergreen forests. It is located just south of the **55,000-acre Tule River reservation** and adjacent to the **Giant Sequoia National Monument**.
Funding and Support for Land Acquisition
The acquisition of these lands was facilitated through private funding and state support. In total, the land was purchased with contributions from the **Conservation Fund** and the **California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program**, which utilizes state bond funds aimed at returning ancestral lands to tribes. To date, the program has allocated more than **$107 million** to assist in the return of tens of thousands of acres to various California tribes, including **10,000 acres** for the **Hoopa Valley Tribe**.
Governor Newsom’s office emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader state plan to conserve **30%** of California’s lands and coastal waters by **2030**. It also represents a pioneering effort to address historic grievances against Native American tribes.
Restoration and Future Plans
The return of these lands holds deep significance for the Tule River Tribe, as it restores part of their sacred homeland. The tribe plans to initiate several conservation projects, including efforts to protect the **Deer Creek watershed**, safeguard habitats for the endangered **California condor**, and reintroduce **tule elk** into their natural environment. Last year, the tribe collaborated with state officials to reintroduce beavers to the south fork of the Tule River, further enhancing the ecological restoration efforts in the area.
In a statement, **Lester R. Nieto Jr.**, Chairman of the Tule River Tribal Council, remarked, “This land return demonstrates the very essence of tribal land restoration, which expands access to essential food and medicinal resources.” He expressed the tribe’s vision for the land located in the **Yowlumne Hills** as a space for community gatherings, healing, and reaffirmation of sovereignty.
Governor Newsom echoed these sentiments, stating that “the historical wrongs committed by the state against the Native people of this land echo through the natural worlds of California ecosystems that lost their first and best stewards.” He characterized the land return as a critical step towards strengthening the relationship between the state and the Tule River Indian Tribe.
State officials disclosed that the funding for the land purchase included **$7.75 million** from the Tribal Nature-Based Solutions program and **$2.4 million** from the **Wildlife Conservation Board**, along with substantial contributions from private philanthropic sources. The total purchase price remains undisclosed, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity surrounding land restitution initiatives.
The return of these ancestral lands is not just a legal victory; it represents a meaningful step towards healing and restoring cultural and environmental integrity for the Tule River Indian Tribe and California as a whole.
