On February 17, the Oakland City Council approved the transfer of funds to purchase 16-acres of undeveloped land which will be held by the Indigenous women-led Sogorea Te’ Land Trust and its ancestral caretakers, the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation.
A shared goal of protecting an important ecosystem in the Oakland hills emerged from a confluence of interests. Among the factors that enabled this historic land return were unused city funds, willing private property owners, and a tribe dedicated to protecting land.
“The return of 16 acres of land at the headwaters of Sausal Creek allows the return of our sacred relationship with our ancestral land. The water is clear and surrounded by Oaks, Bay Laurel, Toyon, Madrone, Soap Root, and many other important native plants. We are honored to regain stewardship of this important area and will protect it for the next seven generations,” shared Corrina Gould, Tribal Chairperson of Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation and CoFounder of the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust (STLT).
Lisjan Nation Tribal members visit the 16 acre land return site.
The land purchase will be enabled by city funds allocated to support conservation and protect open space through Measure DD which was approved in …
