"If true, it's an outrage.

Arson is suspected in the destruction of a Karuk ceremonial dance house this past weekend. According to reports, fire crews in rural northeast Humboldt County were called to the site near Orleans early Sunday morning, but they couldn't save a ceremonial structure used for the Brush Dance, a healing ceremony for sick children.

Julian Lang, a Karuk tribe spiritual leader, likened the loss to �a church burning.� Lang said the incident highlights the need for more protective measures for sacred sites.

The FBI is investigating the blaze as a possible arson on federal lands and as a possible �hate� crime. A previous ceremonial house was also destroyed about nine years ago, by heavy equipment.

Certainly, the investigation is in its early stages and all the facts aren't in.

But if this was actually hate-motivated arson, it's a grim and chilling incident."

Get the Story:
Send a signal on hate crimes (The Eureka Times-Standard 7/6)

Relevant Links:
Karuk Tribe - http://www.karuk.us

Related Stories:
Suspicious fire destroys sacred Karuk dance house (7/5)