Link: Shuumi Land Tax

[sonia]

A cool idea: Shuumi Land Tax in the Bay Area, similar to reparations. If I still lived in the Bay Area, I would do this. I'm still thinking about how to apply it where I live now, whether to pay "back taxes" to this organization, or find a local tribe to contribute to (or both).

What’s the difference between the Shuumi Land Tax and making a donation?

The Shuumi Land Tax is not a donation.* It is a financial contribution that recognizes and respects the sovereignty of Native Nations and acknowledges the historic relationship the Ohlone have with their traditional territories. It is a voluntary annual contribution paid to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust by non-Native people who live on unceded Chochenyo and Karkin Ohlone land. (*However, it is tax-deductible, see below.)

ETA: The Ohlone people's recent struggles to protect burial sites and other sacred spaces. And Land Reparations and Indigenous Solidarity Action Guide (via cynthia1960)

A map where you can find out about the Indigenous land rights where you live.

Comments

[rosefox]

This is so brilliant! Thank you for linking to it! May I reblog?

[sonia]

Yes, please do! I wish I remembered where I saw it originally.

[cynthia1960]

I grew up on unceded Chochenyo Ohlone land, and am now on unceded Tamyen Ohlone land. My wife and I are planning to do this.

[sonia]

Yay!

[cynthia1960]

And the fact that the Ohlone peoples are not federally recognized make it even harder to push for justice. I'd like to see land taxes everywhere in the US.

[sonia]

Yes, I'd love to see land taxes everywhere in the US too. I wish we could divert federal taxes to support causes we believe in. I suppose the charitable donations deduction sort of does that, although it's been weakened now.

I only realized in the last few years that there were so many barriers to federal recognition of tribes. :-( The Chinook people aren't recognized either.