Capitol Journal
After 150 Years, Indians Are Still Facing Long Odds
By GEORGE SKELTON
UPPER LAKE, Calif.
--The Indians of California, Time-Life Books
Bloody Island no longer is an island. It is now an innocuous-looking
hill surrounded by land reclaimed from Clear Lake, 90 miles north of San
Francisco. But a historical marker a quarter-mile away on California 20
sums up its infamy: "On this island in 1850, U.S. soldiers nearly
annihilated all its inhabitants for the murder of two white men. Doubt
exists of these Indians' guilt."
There is no doubt that the two white ranchers were murdered by
Indians, but only by a handful. The Army's retaliation was gross
overkill. The commander wrote back to his general: "The number killed I
confidently report at not less than 60, and doubt little that it extended
to 100 and upwards."
There's also little doubt that the ranchers, Andrew Kelsey and Charles
Stone, had pushed their luck with the local tribe. They had virtually
enslaved and starved the Indians, torturing many for discipline or for
sport. (Hanging them by the thumbs, shooting at them to watch them jump.)
One boy was shot dead while begging for an extra cup of wheat for his
aunt.
There were two final straws: The ranchers were planning to force-march
the surplus Indians--those unfit or unneeded for ranch work--over to
Sutter's Fort in the Sacramento Valley. Also, they seized the young wife
of Chief Augustine, their lead cattle driver, and forced her to live with
them.
One night, Augustine's wife poured water down the barrels of her
captors' guns. The next morning, the chief and some pals poured arrows
and spears into their white tormentors.
Four months later, the U.S. Army arrived and chased the Indians onto
the island. It soon became Bloody Island.
Robinson Rancheria has 258 adult members--and 380 video slot machines,
a dozen card tables and 750 bingo seats. The casino grossed "around $8
million" last year, according to tribal Chairman Curtis Anderson. The
profit, typical of gaming tribes, went into health benefits, housing
subsidies, school tutoring, college scholarships, tribal investments and
cash payments to members--roughly $500 per month.
"Some tribal members wouldn't have jobs without the casino," asserts
Vice Chairman Wilbur Augustine, the great-great grandson of the chief.
Wilbur's grandson, Edward Augustine, is the night casino manager.
The head housekeeper's grandmother was 6 during the massacre and
escaped off Bloody Island in her mother's arms. "My grandmother told us
about how the soldiers would throw babies up in the air and catch them
with their bayonets," recalls Freeda Krukoff, 71.
Afterward, the soldiers marched west to the Russian River and trapped
another tribe on an island. There, they killed at least 75, maybe twice
that. Wrote the commander: "The island soon became a perfect slaughter
pen."
Today nearby, just off U.S. 101, there is a big Indian tent. Inside is
a casino operated by the Coyote Valley band. "Our tribe tried all kinds
of economic development for years, but we never had any money," says
Priscilla Hunter, the chairwoman. "Then gaming came along."
But they've done it the wrong way, argue their political opponents,
who are backed by Nevada casinos. These Indians--like others in 40
tribes--are operating illegally and essentially are unregulated, their
enemies protest.
The real fear, however, is competition for the gambling dollar. That's
why these foes are fighting Proposition 5, the Indians' attempt to
legalize their gaming before they again get knocked down by the
government, egged on by white entrepreneurs.
Opponents counter that Indians don't need Prop. 5, that they can
negotiate gambling compacts with the governor. Indeed, 11 tribes have and
three oppose the ballot measure. But 85 tribes support it, contending the
compacts allow only rinky-dink gambling and infringe on Indian
sovereignty.
How much sovereignty are the Indians entitled to? Unfortunately for
them, history indicates it's whatever suits the purposes of white people.
Prop. 5 is ahead in the polls now. But the smart bet is that it will
lose in the end. Indians usually do.