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By Jaron Browne, POWER -- 

San Francisco – In 2006, San Francisco Board of Supervisors amended the General Plan to allow for development of the Hunters Point Shipyard. According to California Senate Bill 18, passed in 2005, local Ohlone tribal members whose names are listed with the Native American Heritage Commission are to be included in the planning process of any such development. It now appears that none of the Ohlone representatives were contacted so that they could be involved in the planning process.

“We are wondering why no contact was made with Ohlone people,” said Neil MacLean of the Ohlone Profiles Project. “We want the San Francisco Planning Department to follow Senate Bill 18, which requires them to include Ohlone people in the planning process.”

Tuesday, Jan. 12, is the deadline for public comment on the draft EIR for Phase II of the Candlestick Point-Hunters Point Shipyard. The Ohlone and their supporters will be turning in their comments and asking for an extension to allow them to meet with the Planning Department and provide input into the planning for the development of the 700 acres, the largest undeveloped area remaining in San Francisco.

“This is an important opportunity to work together to protect these ancient historical sites, honor our ancestors and insure that development pressures do not further damage critical Ohlone Indigenous sites,” said Ohlone representative Corrina Gould.

“The sites affected by the development are extremely significant and are believed to be burial or ceremonial sites,” said Ohlone Chairperson Ann Marie Sayers. “In addition to protecting these sites, we also want to work with the local community to protect their health, the land and the fragile Bay marine environment.”

The draft EIR states that there are at least four and probably five Ohlone village sites within the development boundaries and another 16 that are within a quarter mile of the project. According to Ohlone representatives, this is an important opportunity to work with the city to create an Ohlone Cultural Center and protect their historic sites, which may be 6,000 years old.

Ohlone organizers of the press conference would also like to work with the Bayview Hunters Point community to protect the unique characteristics of the neighborhood and allow for the protection and restoration of the important environmental resources. The economic vitality of the neighborhood also depends on the health of the people in the neighborhood.

“The area, including the Shipyard, must be cleaned up so that it can support healthy living and working conditions,” said Mishwa Lee, a Bayview resident and Ohlone supporter. “We want this land to be a healthy place for the future generations, just as the Ohlone ancestors lived to protect their lands and waters for our generations.”

Jaron Browne of POWER can be reached at (415) 864-8372 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .