The Coming Home Song: Wiyot People Joyous as Eureka City Council Takes Another Step Towards Returning Indian Island

Wiyot Tribal Council and Eureka City Council after historic vote that returns Island to the native people.

Wiyot Tribal Council and Eureka City Council after historic vote that returns Indian Island to the Wiyot people. [Photo by Bobby Kroeker]

Last night, the Eureka City Council unanimously voted to make the next step in returning 202 acres of Indian Island, located between the city and the Samoa peninsula, to the Wiyot people.

The property was declared “surplus” which allows it to eventually be transferred back to the local tribe which considers the area sacred.

In 2000, the Wiyot’s purchased about 1 and a half acres and after cleanup and restoration performed the World Renewal Ceremony there in March of 2014. The last time previous to that the ceremony had been performed was in February of 1860 when the mostly women and children staying at the ceremony site were massacred at night by a group of local white men.

One speaker said that the City of Eureka will be the first in the entire United States to return Sacred land to an Indigenous people without being forced to do so by a court order.

At the meeting last night, Wiyot’s sang their Coming Home song, before the historic Eureka City Council vote.

Wiyot Tribal Chair Ted Hernandez said that the Island was the “center to their world,” that is “sacred to us,” and is “dear to our hearts.”

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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

Great story Kym,and its getting back to what it should be slowly.

Ice
Guest
Ice
5 years ago

Hopefully one day the others who own houses on the island will sell to the Tribe as well…

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S to the Wiyot People ! ! !

And thank you to the city council. Long overdue, but, good work.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

Good news!

Now the change from Indian Island to Wiyot Island, maybe?

Will long-time broken promises be honored and the white man only go ashore if and when invited?

'Merican
Guest
'Merican
5 years ago
Reply to  Central HumCo

It has a Wiyot name. I imagine they will restore it.
Thank you Eureka, blessings will follow this action

cutommorrow
Guest
cutommorrow
5 years ago

wonderful news for the Wiyots

rob blount
Guest
rob blount
5 years ago

its been a long time comin

Loleta Bull Farmer
Guest
Loleta Bull Farmer
5 years ago

Congrats to the O.A.(original americans)..now work to heal your families…some white eye’s cheer for this..

Disgusting supervisors
Guest
Disgusting supervisors
5 years ago

The real rightful owners!!! The non immigrants !!!!! Put that on European decent fake fox news !!!!!!

Suzanne Blumsky
Guest
Suzanne Blumsky
5 years ago

Strong Wiyot People