Berkeley Returns Sacred Shellmound Site to Ohlone Tribe

The city of Berkeley has voted to return a 2.2-acre parking lot, the only undeveloped portion of a shellmound in West Berkeley, to the Ohlone people through the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, marking a historic restoration of sacred native land dating back thousands of years. The site will be used for education, prayer, preservation, and as a place for native medicines and foods, wildlife, and youth to learn about their heritage. The agreement follows a six-year legal battle and involves the trust contributing $25.5 million and Berkeley paying $1.5 million to create a commemorative park with a new shellmound and cultural center.