National

City issues formal apology to Wiyot Tribe over 1860 massacre

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The city of Eureka, California, issued a formal apology to the Wiyot Tribe for the 1860 massacre at Indian Island.

On February 26, 1860, between 80 to 250 children, women and elderly men were killed in the middle of the night as the tribe was holding its World Renewal Ceremony. The tribe never finished the ceremony but will revive it this year.

"Nothing we say or do can make up for what occurred on that night of infamy," Mayor Frank J. Jäger said in a letter to the tribe. "It will forever be a scar on our history. We can, however, with our present and future actions of support for the Wiyot, work to remove the prejudice and bigotry that still exists in our society today."

The city previously return 60 acres on Indian Island to the tribe.

The full apology follows:

Dear Members of the Wiyot Tribe:
In February 1860, 154 years ago, citizens from Eureka participated in what has been described as a massacre of unfathomable proportions. On that winter night long ago, the Wiyot people of Humboldt Bay were attacked. That incident resulted in the death of scores of mostly women and children on the tribal island in Humboldt Bay. Worse yet, this attack occurred during the Wiyot Renewal Ceremony to bring healing to the Earth. The ceremony was never finished.
Today the people of Eureka are pleased to see the World Renewal Ceremony, that was cut short in 1860, will at last be finished. The ceremony will take place on island land deeded to the Wiyot people in 2004.
As Mayor of Eureka, on behalf of the City Council and the people of Eureka, we would like to offer a formal apology to the Wiyot people for the actions of our people in 1860. Nothing we say or do can make up for what occurred on that night of infamy. It will forever be a scar on our history. We can, however, with our present and future actions of support for the Wiyot, work to remove the prejudice and bigotry that still exists in our society today."
Sincerely,
Frank J. Jäger
Mayor

Get the Story:
City releases letter formally apologizing for Indian Island massacre (The Eureka Times-Standard 3/18)
Wiyot to hold last vigil for massacre victims; members say they're happy to move forward (The Eureka Times-Standard 2/17)