The Mendocino Woodlands

A little bit about this land we love

This park might be older than your great, great grandparents

Located within traditional Pomo territory near the village site Bu’ldam, Mendocino Woodlands National Historic Landmark State Park was built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal Projects. The Woodlands is the only New Deal-era Recreation Demonstration Area that has continuously served its original purpose (group camping and outdoor education) uninterrupted and virtually unaltered since opening in 1938. And Reclaiming camps have been happening here since 2003. Yay! Learn more about the Mendocino Woodlands

We acknowledge the land on which we gather
As Witchlets, we call this place Camp 2 in the Mendocino Woodlands. We also call it the traditional territory of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo.

A sweet way we start the day with our little Witchlets

Here is the land

and here is the sky.

Here are my friends

and here am I.

We stand together, hand in hand,

And thank the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo,

The traditional caretakers of this land.

This land on which we love to play,

We promise to look after it every day.

Adapted from the SFPL Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgement for Children

Gratitude for the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo

We recognize and respect the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo as the stewards of their sacred lands, since time immemorial. As guests, we come with blessings, gratitude, and appreciation that we extend in friendship. We assess our place within a complex and harmful history of Colonialism. We accept our responsibility to work to repair harm caused to Indigenous people and the land. We commit to engage with the community about what it means to occupy space on indigenous lands, to undo the intentional harm done to indigenous peoples, and to continue engaging in efforts at decolonizing land relations.

Our support of the Pomo Land Back movement

The Jackson Demonstration State Forest (JDSF) surrounds the site of our beloved Mendocino Woodlands. JDSF is located in unceded Northern Pomo and Coast Yuki ancestral territory of the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians. Since 1947, the State has primarily managed this forest to cut it for profit, not preserve it. The Tribe has joined with the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) to Save Jackson Forest. WITW has made monetary donations to EPIC and stands with the Pomo Land Back movement.