Alex Darocy Photography

On September 13, community members and members of the Save the Knoll Coalition returned to the Santa Cruz City Hall for a second time since the August 2 news that 6000 year old human remains (Ohlone) were found at the KB Home construction site at the Branciforte Creek Knoll. Again, protesters used open forum time to demand that the council put the issue of the Knoll on the official council meeting agenda. Council Member Don Lane stated, however, that since there was nothing for the council to vote on, the issue of the Knoll wouldn't make it to the official agenda. Lane and a city planner spoke positively about the progress they had made with discussions between city officials, KB Home, and Anne Marie Sayers, who was named most likely descendant of the first remains recovered, but they claimed they could not comment about anything specific. Former Assembly Member Fred Keeley (right) listens in Council Chambers The Santa Cruz ...

On Friday, September 2 in the alleyway next to Tampico Kitchen in downtown Santa Cruz, I photographed officers from the SCPD searching the bass guitar case of local musician Joe Munda. When I first arrived at the scene, people on Pacific Avenue told me that "two ladies" had called the police on Munda, warning them that he was carrying a machine gun downtown. Closer to where Munda was being searched, a man I had seen playing music a few blocks down on Pacific earlier in the day was yelling at the police, saying, "It's only a bass! What are you guys doing!!!!" or words to that effect. Two Downtown Hospitality Hosts looked on from Pacific Avenue, sharing in the excitement, and I wondered if they were the "two ladies" that phoned this in, but I never found out. As I photographed the scene, the interviewing officer waved at me, and at that time I heard him politely apologizing to Munda, hoping he understood that they had to respond to the call. I ca...

Pacific Avenue On Thursday, August 25, the Save the Knoll Coalition held its second protest and march through downtown Santa Cruz. Community members started at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street, and then made their way to City Hall where a closed session meeting of the city council was being held. Protesters gained access to the meeting, and people (including me) spoke in front of the Santa Cruz City Council, demanding protection for the Ohlone burial site at the Branciforte Creek Knoll. In addition to comments made by community members, Charlene Sul, the head of the Confederation of Ohlone Peoples spoke. Ann Marie Sayers, who was designated the most likely descendant of the first human remains unearthed at the Knoll, was present at the meeting but did not speak. Turning onto Locust Street Circling up at City Hall Charlene Sul, Ann Marie Sayers, and attorney Daniel Sheehan City Chambers Charlene Sul speaks before the council An...

Ann Marie Sayers "We are from here. There are some elders that we have that are from the direct village site that we are discussing today." --Ann Marie Sayers 　 Ann Marie Sayers, who was named the most likely descendant of the 6000 year old remains of the Ohlone child unearthed at the Knoll near Branciforte Creek on August 2, appeared Sunday at an Ohlone speaking event organized by the Save the Knoll Coalition held at Pacific Cultural Center in Santa Cruz. 200 people attended the event, which offered food, arts and crafts for sale, singing and music performances, and featured speakers Tony Cerda, Corrina Gould, Wounded Knee DeOcampo, Henry Dominguez, and Sayers. This was Ann Marie Sayers' most lengthy public discussion of the issues surrounding the burial site that is currently being disturbed by the construction by KB Home, and her comments cleared up some points that many have been curious about. She stated that there are indeed direct descend...

Patrick Orozco The 26 th annual Ohlone Day was held at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton yesterday. The event that both celebrates and educates drew another large crowd this year, and featured all of the usual fun: atlatls, Indian tacos, and amazing dancing and Ohlone performances. The main message that Ohlone Day communicates could not be any more important: that the Ohlone people are alive; the day is not a tribute to a lost people, it is a vital celebration of a living culture that flourishes in so many ways in Santa Cruz County, the Monterey Bay, and the greater Bay Area. It was Patrick Orozco who summed it up succinctly. The founder of the Ohlone dance group Amah-ka-tura , spoke during their performance about how the federal government does not recognize the Ohlone because they are not, in the government’s words, “active.” His reply, “What are we?” (Pointing to Amah-ka-tura) Amah-ka-tura Members of the Save the Knoll Coalition ...

On Sunday, August 28, 2011, while walking on Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz, taking photos, I noticed a small group of musicians playing in front of the Rit (the E. C. Rittenhouse Building , which is located at the corner of Pacific Ave. and Church St.). They played in different configurations for 20 minutes or so. Almost all of them had dreadlocks and it was a mixed ethnicity group of colorfully dressed people. I walked further downtown and then back near that spot again and noticed the group was down to two of the people, and standing in front of them was an officer with the Santa Cruz Police Department, writing a citation. I started taking photos about 10 feet away from the officer, and after about four shots, the officer took photos of me. I asked them if they were being ticketed for the dog not wearing the proper leash, but the guitar player wasn't sure exactly what the dog citation was about. It had been less than a week since the Pacific Avenue dog ban had been ...

On August 21, 2011 the Save the Knoll Coalition hosted a bbq and meeting at Grant Park in Santa Cruz. Speaking at the event were Charlene Sul, A CSU Monterey Professor and head of the Confederation of Ohlone People, and Ann Marie Sayers, who was named "Most Likely Descendant" of the Native American remains found August 2 at the construction site on the Knoll near Market Street Field in Santa Cruz. This was Sayers' first time speaking to community members about the issues, and she continued to urge that all earth moving be supended at the construction site operated by KB Home. Charlene Sul (left), Ann Marie Sayers (center) Grant Park Also see: http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/2011/09/save-knoll-march-august-14-2011.html http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/2011/09/protests-continue-at-ohlone-burial-site.html For more info: http://savetheknoll.org

Local resident Autumn Sun, next to the Knoll On August 19, 2011, with the archaeologoical work ongoing, protests continued for a sixth straight day at the Ohlone village and burial site near Branciforte Creek in Santa Cruz. Protestors are now asking that community members sign a petition which seeks to permanently protect the site. The petition is available at the KB Home construction site on Market Street/5 Isbel Dr, or by signing it online: Save the Knoll Petition  That previous Tuesday, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that plans remained unclear for the site, and Ann Marie Sayers, who has been named the most likely descendent, was quoted as saying, "I would love to see (the land) purchased by people who understand what sacredness is...KB Homes should donate it to the city or the county so it would remain open and no more burials be disturbed." Friday, August 19, 2:30pm - Local resident Autumn Sun had started protesting at the construction sit...

At 12:30 pm on August 14, 2011, approximately 100 community members gathered at the corner of Pacific Avenue and Laurel Street in Santa Cruz to express outrage about the new KB Home development on Market Street. On August 2, the remains of a Native American child were unearthed at the Market Street site by construction crews hired by KB Home. The remains are now in the posession of the California Native American Heritage Commission, which believes that Ann Marie Sayers, an Ohlone woman living at Indian Canyon in Hollister, is the "Most Likely Descendant." Sayers has been present at the burial site observing further archaeological work, but she has called for all earth moving to be halted. During the march, community members made their way down Pacific Avenue to the Town Clock for a stop, and then marched down Water Street and Ocean Street to Grant Street Park where a short demonstration and prayer ceremony was held. Speeches were made by Corrina Gould, a Chochenyo Oh...