Roundup: July 11, 2018
Our Speaker: Patrick Burtt, UCLA Graduate Scholar & Westerners Autry Fellow
His Subject: Challenging the Veracity of Gold Rush Era History in California & Nevada
Our speaker is an enrolled member of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California (Waší•šiw) and a direct descendent of the Tule River Tribe (Yokut). Mr. Burtt will describe a different perspective on history during the Gold Rush in California and the Nevada Comstock Lode (the Silver Rush). In American history, existing research on the Waší•šiw during that period is dominated by non-Waší•šiw perspectives. This has contributed to the erasure and erosion of the status of the Waší•šiw in United States history. His studies focus on including Waší•šiw perspectives and challenging the veracity of existing California and Nevada history, including white-washing of state-sanctioned genocide. In 1851, California’s last Governor as a territory and first Governor as a state, Peter H. Burnett said, “A war of extermination will continue to be waged between the two races until the Indian race becomes extinct.” The consequences of this thinking and the related actions persist to today.
The ancestral territory of the Waší•šiw encompasses the entirety of what is now referred to as Lake Tahoe and stretching north to Honey Lake, south to Sonora Pass, west to the Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills and east to the Pine Nut Mountains. Presently, the Waší•šiw are made up of approximately 1,550 enrolled tribal members, many located in four communities in what is now Nevada and California.
Patrick Burtt is the Westerners, Los Angeles Corral Autry Fellow for 2018. He recently received his Master of Arts in American Indian Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and will continue his studies at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) towards a doctoral degree through the Department of History this fall. Burtt received a Bachelor of Arts in Native American and Indigenous Studies from Fort Lewis College. He was the Oral Histories Coordinator for a program at the Stewart Indian School by UNR. Patrick has done research for the Washoe Tribe Historic Preservation Office in Gardnerville, Nevada. He has presented papers and participated in panel discussions related to his research at various academic conferences such as the American Indian Studies Association’s Annual Conference. Patrick is currently preparing a report on hate crimes against American Indians for the American Indian Studies Center at UCLA.
Roundup Synopsis
Taken From Branding Iron 291 Summer 2018.
Our speaker at the July meeting was Patrick “Deʔileligi” Burtt, the Corral’s 2018 Fellow at the Autry National Center and a member of the Washoe tribe of Northern California and Western Nevada. In his presentation, “Waší∙šiw Genocide,” Burtt argued that the Washoe should be federally recognized as victims of genocide, defined by the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.”¹ While the Washoe were not victims of systematic mass murder like those of the worst crimes the 20th century, Burtt argued that 19thcentury California State policies nevertheless produced similar effects indirectly.
From the beginning of statehood, California law gave whites a “blank check” to victimize and exploit native peoples like the Washoe. One 1850 law disallowed Indians from testifying in court in cases involving white people. Another easily-abused policy fined Indians for “vagrancy” and auctioned off their labor to the highest bidder; once these Indians had worked off their debt, they were usually arrested and fined again, continuing the cycle of debt-servitude.
The majority of Burtt’s talk was devoted to a case study illustrating how such laws had deadly consequences. He recounted a Washoe oral history from Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins’ Life Among the Paiutes about the murders of two white men. The murderers, also white, jammed arrows into the bullet wounds to frame the crime on the local Washoe. News spread of the “Indian attack,” and an angry white mob demanded that the Washoe hand over the murderers. The Washoe men had all been at camp when the murders occurred, but the white men didn’t believe them. Knowing they had no legal recourse and that they could all be killed by the mob if they did not comply, the Washoe produced three volunteers who “confessed” to the deed. They were promptly lynched.
Due to policies and incidents like these, combined with Old World diseases, the Washoe pre-contact population declined from around 1500 at the beginning of the 19th century to less than 300 by 1907. To pursue the recognition of this demographic catastrophe as a genocide, Burtt intends to expand his research to the Autry Museum and the Nevada State Library and Archives. Federal recognition and restitution await more academic debate, and of course, a great deal of politics. The Westerners thank Mr. Burtt for his presentation and wish him luck in his efforts on behalf of the Washoe.
— Aaron Tate
Photos from the Roundup
Fandango 2018 Auctions
Art
To view the items included in this year’s art auction, click here.
Books
To view the items included in this year’s book auction, click here.
Fandango 2018
The WESTERNERS Los Angeles Corral
Fandango: Saturday, June 16, 2018
Location: Casa de Turner
17435 Raymer Street
Sherwood Forest, CA 91325
Activities: Socializing with old friends & new ones. Traditional Mexican Fare. Sale & limited auction of books, paintings, etc. Good music. Early California attire.
Time: 4:00-7:00 PM
Once again, Gary and Vicki Turner are generously opening their home for our enjoyment at the 2018 Fandango! The theme for this year’s Fandango is Early California. This means, when Denny Thompson opens the bar at 4:00pm, the tequila will be well aged – not to mention the venerable Jack Daniels and the Pellegrino sparkling water chilled with genuine ice cubes. But the dinner, served at 5:00pm, will be fresh, nutritious and especially tasty Traditional Mexican Fare. It’s likely you will not go home hungry.
Feel free to invite your family, friends and neighbors. All are welcome – especially if they bring money for the sale! This would be a good opportunity to introduce someone who might value becoming a member – even if they like to wear old hats.
At the Fandango, we will enjoy socializing with old friends and getting acquainted with new ones. And we’ll listen to good music.
Participate in the old book sale and in the, hopefully, fast-moving auction of special history books, paintings and artifacts. Due to donations from collector members, we should have some interesting historical items for sale. Bring plenty of cash or some checks to make sure you can take advantage of the opportunities that may arise! Later, we’ll circulate more info on the notable items for sale.
Travel Assistance to Our Fellow Members:
Please keep in mind that some of our members can no longer drive or are uncomfortable about driving on the freeways day or night. If there are such members living in your area, please get in touch to see if they would come with you to the Fandango. Call Michele Clark, our Sunshine Wrangler at (626) 822-1522 if you need a ride.
For those who have difficulty driving at night, you’ll be able to return home before the sun goes down, since we’re starting at 4:00pm.
Event Reservations:
Event reservations cost $50.00 each. Please make out your check for $50 per person payable to “Westerners, Los Angeles Corral,” or submit your payment onlineas EARLY AS YOU CAN but no later than one week before the Fandango date. Just log onto our website (www.lawesterners.org) and go to the Members Only tab. Click on the Roundup Store option and follow the instructions.
If you are paying by check, mail it to Ms. Therese Melbar, Registrar of Marks and Brands at 549 South Aldenville Avenue, Covina, CA 91723-2909. Late reservations or questions may be addressed to Therese via Email: tmelbar@cpp.eduor by telephone (661) 343-9373.
The Trail Bosses look forward to your joining them for this important fund-raising event to support the Corral’s publications and other activities!
Contact Jim Macklin, Deputy Sheriff, at 1221 Greenfield Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006-4148, at jhmcpa@earthlink.net or (626) 446-6411 with any questions or news items.
Roundup: May 9, 2018
Almansor Court – 700 S. Almansor, Alhambra, CA.
Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
E Clampus Vitus Night at the Corral!
(Clamper attendance, attire and regalia are encouraged.)
Our Speaker: Abe Hoffman, Past Sheriff & Platrix X-Noble Grand Humbug
His Subject: The Secret Behind The Secret History of Southern California and Its Author
In 2011 the Platrix Chapter of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus published The Secret History of Southern California by B.T. Fripps. The book contained thirteen chapters dealing with topics on Southern California history that were previously unknown to historians of the region–or, for that matter, anyone living there. Some people suspect that Fripps is simply an alias for Platrix X-Noble Grand Humbug Abe Hoffman, noting that some booklets carried Abe’s name. Former Sheriff and Clamper Abe Hoffman strongly denies that he and Fripps are the same person, offering as defense the many books and articles he has written, many of them refereed by peer reviewers, whereas almost nothing has been published by Fripps, and those items that have seen the light of day clearly are not written in any style Abe would write. Fripps asked Abe to proofread his writings, and Abe made the mistake of agreeing to do so. Fripps then placed Abe’s name as author or editor on the booklets and writings. Abe reveals how the Secret History came to be published by Platrix Chapter ECV, noting that considerable controversy exists between those who denounce the book as “fake history” and those who strongly defend it as uncovering long-hidden information.
Abe Hoffman is a past Sheriff of the Corral (1997) and has been a Corral member for more than forty years. He teaches history at Los Angeles Valley College. His writings have received awards from the Historical Society of Southern California, including the Wheat Award for Best Article and the Don Pflueger Award for his book Vision or Villainy: Origins of the Owens Valley-Los Angeles Water Controversy. His latest book is California’s Deadliest Earthquakes.
To enhance the educational value of his presentation, Abe has arranged for copies of Fripps’ latest booklet, “Spanish Santa Barbara: Mission, Presidio, and Leper Colony,” to be given to all persons attending the May evening so they may compare Fripps’ writing with Abe’s own articles such as those published in The Branding Iron.
Posted by Jim Macklin, Deputy Sheriff.
Future Los Angeles Corral Events
June 16th, 2018 — Fandango at home of Vicki and Gary Turner
July 11th, 2018 — Autry Fellow — Challenging the Veracity of Civil War Era History in California & Nevada
August 8th, 2018 — Jeff Lapides — Passage to Eldorado: The First Photos on the Mojave Road by Rudolph d’Heureuse (1863)
Dinner Fees, Reservations & Meal Choices
The Roundup Dinner Fee is $40 including ample, convenient and free parking. The dinner choices for this Roundup are beef, fish and vegetarian. This month, that includes Grilled Top Sirloin with a Wild Mushroom Sauce, Baked Atlantic Salmon with Toasted Almonds and a Cream Sauce or, finally, Clamper-style Penne Pasta in a Tomato Basil Sauce with Carrots, Peppers, Zucchini, Mushrooms and Green Beans (but no cheese). Dessert will be Chocolate Royale, the baked soufflé-style dessert beloved by all. (Just kidding about the Clamper-style vegetarian dinner. What self-respecting Clamper would order a vegetarian dinner?)
Please choose your entrée and make out your check for $40 to “Westerners, Los Angeles Corral,” or submit your payment online as EARLY AS YOU CAN but no later than one week before the Roundup date. Just log onto our website (www.lawesterners.org) and go to the Members Only tab. Click on the Roundup Store option and follow the instructions. Walk-ins can be served, but entrée choices will be limited to what is on hand. The “late price” is now $45.00.
If you are paying by check, mail it to Ms. Therese Melbar, Registrar of Marks and Brands at 549 South Aldenville Avenue, Covina, CA 91723-2909. Late reservations or questions may be addressed to Therese via Email: tmelbar@cpp.edu or by telephone (661) 343-9373.
Travel Assistance to Our Fellow Members
Please keep in mind that some of our members can no longer drive or are uncomfortable about driving on the freeways at night. If there are such members living in your area, please get in touch to see if they would come with you to the Roundups. Call Michele Clark, our Sunshine Wrangler, at (626) 822-1522 if you need a ride.
Get Involved & Volunteer
We encourage our members to get involved with any of the Corral’s activities. Perhaps you’re a new Corresponding member who wants to be more actively involved but doesn’t know what opportunities are available. Or you may be a more experienced member who wants to help out in a particular area of our events, publications, membership, webpage or archives. Or you may be a senior member who can no longer attend meetings but who can still read a book and write a review. Please call me to discuss your interest or to get a list of the Corral’s current needs I’ve prepared. We all know that, the more you give, the more you’ll get out of the Corral’s activities! I’m continually surprised about the amazing people in our Corral with whom I get to associate and whom I now consider friends!
Contact Jim Macklin, Deputy Sheriff, at 1221 Greenfield Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006-4148, at jhmcpa@earthlink.net or (626) 446-6411 with any questions or news items.
Los Angeles Corral of Westerners
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