Elem Pomo Tribe supports lawsuit to protect ancestral village

Tuesday, November 22, 2011  

The Elem Pomo Tribe of California is supporting a lawsuit that seeks to protect Rattlesnake Island, the ancestral Pomo village, from development.

Supervisors in Lake County gave permission for the owner of the 57-acre island to build houses at the site. The lawsuit says the development was approved without a full environmental impact report.

"I am honored to be a part of this legal case to help preserve and protect the most ancient, sacred tribal homeland island village of Elem-Modun, also known as Rattlesnake Island,” tribal leader Jim Brown said in a statement, The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported.

Marvin Brown, another tribal leader, and the Friends of Rattlesnake Island filed the lawsuit in state court.

Get the Story:
Pomo leaders seek halt to construction on Clear Lake island (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 11/22)
Friends of Rattlesnake Island sue county; suit seeks environmental study for building project (The Lake County News 11/20)

Related Stories:
Landowner hopes to start development on sacred Pomo site (9/9)
Elem Pomo Tribe promises litigation to protect ancestral island (9/7)
Column: Elem Pomo Nation battles developer over sacred site (8/29)
County delays decision on building plans at ancestral Pomo site (8/17)
Elem Pomo Tribe steps up efforts to reacquire ancestral land (6/24)
Elem Pomo Tribe seeks study of housing at ancestral site (5/12)
Elem Pomo Tribe battles plan for housing at ancestral site (5/4)