CONSEJO INTERNACIONAL DE TRATADOS INDIOS

PRESS RELEASE   PRESS RELEASE    PRESS RELEASE

Date: July 3, 2006

Submitted by: Julian Lang. Phone: 707.839.4962. E-mail: irahiv@yahoo.com

Fire crews from Orleans and Somes Bar in rural northeastern Humboldt County were dispatched to a devastating structural fire at 1:20am early Sunday morning to the location of the sacred dance house of the local Karuk tribe. The fire was brought under control by sunrise but the structure was a complete loss. Federal forest service investigators interviewed firefighters and viewed the scene on Sunday as about 25 native individuals, including ceremonial leaders, adults and young children held  an impromtu vigil.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation. The FBI has been contacted to investigate the act as a case of arson on federal lands, and as a possible "hate" crime. Those participating in the vigil were stunned yet defiant. "It's impossible to believe that any one could stoop so low as this," said one elder. "This is a crime against the spiritual," said a young man present at the vigil

A meeting of Karuk tribal council members, ceremonial leaders and concerned citizens will be held on Wednesday at 10:00am at the site of the burned out structure. A reward for the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the arson is expected at Wednesday's emergency council meeting.