Remains of 17 Native Americans and 300 objects laid to rest in Monterey

The remains of 17 Native Americans and over 300 funerary objects were laid to rest over the weekend in Monterey.

In what officials called a, “solemn ceremony without precedent,” the Presidio of Monterey hosted sovereign Native American tribal nations in the repatriation and reburial of Native American remains in the Presidio of Monterey cemetery on October 22nd.

The reburial ceremony represents the culmination of 2 years of coordination between the U.S. Army, five federally-recognized tribal governments and one state-recognized tribe working toward the final repatriation and reburial of the remains of 17 Native Americans and over 300 funerary objects discovered between 1910-1985.

“This cooperative effort has resulted in appropriate respect being rendered to these long-departed American Natives and is now the model for other U.S. Army installations across the country,” said Col. Lawrence Brown, garrison commander for the Presidio of Monterey.

This historic coordination effort, conducted in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, involved representatives from five tribal nations identified in one of the 18 unratified treaties (drafted between 1851-1852) as holding aboriginal title to vast acreage across central California.

Among those tribes were the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians of California, Santa Rosa Indian Community of the Santa Rosa Rancheria, Table Mountain Rancheria of California, Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River Reservation, and the Tuolomne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the Tuolomne Rancheria of California. These tribal nations agreed to work with the state recognized Ohlone/Costanoan Esselen Nation in the repatriation and reburial effort.

Following a repatriation of the remains to Native American tribal leaders on October 19, the remains and funerary objects were reburied with honors in the installation cemetery in a private ceremony closed to the public at the request of tribal leaders.

“This is my family. This is where I come from. Without them I could not be here,” said Louise Miranda Ramirez, Chairwoman of the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation, who presided at the repatriation ceremony last week at the request of the tribal nations.

Miranda Ramirez officiated this somber reburial ceremony as well, lowering the remains on a redwood plank under a flag raised to half-mast. Taps was played at a respectful distance. But the plaintive notes of the flute set the tone for the ceremonial rites.

Among those present at the reburial to show their respect were Ms Karen Durham-Aguilera,

“These remains have found their final resting place in hallowed ground and now take their rightful place among the honored to be protected throughout history,” said Brown.