This archive report was first published on 27 October 2021.
Published on October 27, 2021, a controversy surrounding the name of Hastings College of the Law in California has raised questions about the legacy of John Sutter, a 19th-century Swiss-born businessman who played a significant role in the state's history.
John Sutter, who was involved in the forced relocation of Native American tribes, including the Yuki people, is the namesake of the college. The Yuki people were decimated in a series of massacres, including one at Round Valley, which is a four-hour drive from Silicon Valley.
Erin Mellon, a spokeswoman for Governor Gavin Newsom, stated that the governor hoped Californians would 'think critically about the harmful legacies of our forebears.' The governor will review any legislative proposals that land on his desk, Ms. Mellon added.
James Russ, the president of the Round Valley Indian Tribal Council, emphasized that the leadership is happy to accept the college's offer of legal assistance for the tribe's activities. However, the controversy over the name is further complicated by the question of which tribal members should receive reparations.
Mona Oandasan, one of the leaders of a group of Yuki tribespeople in Round Valley, said the law school was negotiating with the wrong people. The Yuki were the ones targeted in the Hastings massacres, not the other tribes on the reservation, she said.
