Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians condemns use of composted human remains along San Joaquin River
A California tribe is speaking out after reports surfaced that soil created from composted human remains was spread on land along the San Joaquin River—an action tribal leaders say is deeply disrespectful to Native cultures and ancestral lands. The Tribal Council of the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians issued a public statement on Thursday condemning the activity and calling for an immediate halt to the practice. The tribe said the land in question lies within the ancestral homeland of the Yokuts people and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Native communities in the region. The controversy centers on the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, which manages a 76-acre property known as Sumner Peck Ranch in Fresno County.
Related articles:
- Bay Area News Group: California park’s use of human compost draws outcry
- The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.): Outcry halts human remains composting on San Joaquin River in California
- ABC30 (Fresno, Calif.): San Joaquin River Parkway Trust complies with Fresno County’s cease and desist over human composting
- Active NorCal (Redding, Calif.): Debate erupts after ‘human compost’ used on land near San Joaquin River
