Frank Baumgardner

According to a brief article in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on 4/26/12, "Tribe to get $8.5M from feds," with a subhead, "Payment will settle lawsuit alleging century-ol mismanagement of assets, Round Valley Tribes-the modern confederation of the Yuki, Concow Maidu, Little Lake, Pomo, Nomlaki, Wailaki and Pit River tribes should shortly receive the funds resulting from a lawsuit filed by the tribe in 2006.

Finally, a modicum of justice for the wrongs of the past! The tribe, like too many US tribes today, suffers an 89% unemployment rate. The Round Valley Tribes VP Joe Dukepoo stated in a written statement, according to the writer Glenda Anderson, "Our people have historically endured irreparable trauma from the theft of our lands, the atrocious abuse of our ancestors, and the desecration of our traditions."

Dukepoo added, "It is our tribal goal to build and preserve our homelands in a manner that would make our ancestors proud, while ensuring sustainability for our future generations." The settlement is part of a suit made by forty-one tribes and a $1 billion judgment.

Personally, as I spent about eight years researching my book, I can attest that the writer, Ms. Anderson, is correct by repeating, "There is no timber harvesting or mining on the Round Valley tribe's land." The words are of council member Eugene Jamison, who added, "We're happy." Also, article author Ms. Anderson added that "according to the lawsuit, "The extent of the mismanagement is unknown because the Bureau of Indian Affairs [formerly, The Office of Indian Affairs under the War Department] failed to keep adequate records." When I started my research for my book I found that neither the State of California nor the OIA kept "adequate records."
Congratulations! I hope your tribe prospers and thrives at last!

I say, good luck and Godspeed you to your goal and your rightful place in California and the nation. I'm sure I am not alone in saying this.  Read More 

One of the best reasons to study the past is to see if we can find reasons why we have problems today. In researching for both my books I found that it was very wrong to assume anything for sure about the reasons for violence and for why big lumber companies emerged on top. These are just two examples of how initial assumptions can be very wrong.
In the first case, I thought there had been violence because people like S.P. Storms, founder of Nome Cult Farm, DELIBERATELY forced his way. After I'd studied his letters and reports I came to a very different conclusion. In fact,rather than his own bull headedness or deliberate actions against the Yuki, for example, the tragedy occurred more because he was lied to by the Office of Indian Affairs, especially Superintendent Thomas J. Henley. He thought he had created an Indian reservation in ALL of Round Valley when in reality it was only a "farm" and a much smaller enterprise. My first title was "Vulture's View..." based on Chief Tome-ya-nem's account to Lt. Tassin that was published in 1874. The chief told how after the terrible long Nome Cult March when the Indians lost about a third of their party, the streams ran red with their blood and ravens circled and fed on the dead.
The point is historians often start with one idea in mind but their research can bring them to a different conclusion.  Read More 

Praise the Lord! I just received word from Andrea S. , Editor at Algora Publishing that my book is now printed again. This time it includes maps of the coastal areas of Northern California as well as some photographs of important figures or persons in the book. I think these will help students and readers to conceptualize and understand much more deeply the contents of the work.
Oh, what a relief! If you get a copy and read it please send me your comments via this blog. Thanks in advance!
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Today there was a story about the occurrence of the aurora borealis or the Northern Lights. The phenomenon caused by the sun's deflection of electrons and other particles in the highest parts of the atmosphere has become more rare lately. According to the story and to scientists in Helsinki, Finland there is an eleven year cycle. The world is near the end of a cycle. Probably the aurora may be starting to become somewhat more common now as we are about to enter a new cycle.

What does this have to do with history?

Since we're alive for such a minute period of time, one wants to be sure he or she is spending their time on earth in the most productive way. I'm feeling good that this book, "Yanks in the Redwoods...", has been published. The feeling is a bit like I felt as I paced around the waiting room at Bakersfield Hospital in June, 1968 waiting to hear about the success of the birth of my first offspring (Joel B, was the result) and how my wife, Jeannette, was doing! It was a moment I'll never forget.

Waiting, waiting, waiting....and hoping. These are the things that make life worth living.  Read More