OVIWC completes land purchase

Commission notes several potential beneficial uses for the land

The non-profit Owens Valley Indian Water Commission has succeeded in its ambitious effort to raise $900,000 and buy a five-acre parcel of land south of Big Pine.

The commission began fundraising for the land purchase earlier this year with a target date of Feb. 21 to raise the $900,000 purchase price for the Three Creeks parcel. Staff with the OVIWC and supporters watched the GoFundMe page as the deadline approached and cheered when more that 1,100 donors finally pushed past the goal on the deadline date. As of Feb. 22, the total raised had reached $925,740.

“It is with great joy that we announce that we have officially met our first goal! Thanks to over 1,000 donors, we have raised $900,000 to purchase Three Creeks today February 21st!” the commission noted on the GoFundMe page. “The papers have been signed and Three Creeks has successfully been transferred to the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission.”

There were several substantial donations of more than $100,000 from private foundations, and numerous large donations of more than $10,000. However, the vast majority of donations were under $100, with some coming in at less than $10.

Teri Red Owl, chair of the OVIWC, emailed the following statement to the Register: “The Owens Valley Indian Water Commission is beyond overjoyed to have met its first fundraising goal of $900,000 to purchase Three Creeks and return this land to Indigenous care. We are forever grateful to all those who supported us with prayers, good thoughts, and financial contributions. The positive words of encouragement fueled our spirits and showed us a community of care. We look forward to stewarding the land at Three Creeks and believe this is the first of many more ‘land back/ land forward’ acquisitions in our homelands.”

The next goal is to raise an additional $2.1 million that will be used for improvements, upkeep, taxes and maintenance on the land and its buildings over the next three years.

The unique, five-acre parcel of land includes several homes and outbuildings, open areas, a flowing stream feeding two tree-lined ponds surrounded by grass, and extensive gardens. The land is located on Birch Creek Road in the Warm Springs area and is one of the few larger pieces of private land in the Owens Valley that is not owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. More importantly to the commission and its plans for future uses, the

land also has ample water.

The previous owners, including Gigi Coyle and several partners, purchased the land in 1980, and have been working to restore and improve the property, Coyle said at a recent public meeting. The owners “felt deeply it was right” to take the offer by the OVIWC and worked with the commission and the Three Creeks Collective to move the transaction forward.

Information on the project provided at a recent public meeting and in a video and brochure on the Three Creeks Collective noted there were many potential positive uses of the land. The land could host indigenous ceremonies; increase food sovereignty by producing local foods and promoting Farmer to Farmer exchanges; host leadership summits and retreats for the indigenous community; build collaboration between non-indigenous and indigenous peoples to help protect land and water; and be a natural place to create traditional and new art forms.

Red Owl added that the commission will be mindful about the impact of any uses on the neighborhood and will take care to be “thoughtful” about how the land is used and cared for.

The move to buy private land and put it back in the hands of the descendants of its first, indigenous caretakers, is part of the commission’s mission, said Red Owl.

The commission was formed in 1991 to represent three local Paiute/ Shoshone tribes, Bishop, Big Pine and Lone Pine, and work to secure additional water rights and obtain land for the tribes in the Owens Valley. Creating educational, cultural and agricultural resources is also part of the commission’s mission.

The commission has formed the Three Creeks Collective to carry out the purchase and then manage the land. Joining the OVIWC in the effort is Radicle Wellness, LLC, headed by Jen Schlaich, who for a number of years headed the Bishop Paiute Tribe’s Food Sovereignty Program, and Teena Pugliesi, a youth mentor and digital artist who uses storytelling as a pathway toward healing and connection.

For more information and to donate to the

Three Creeks project, see www.oviwc.org or call the commission at its Bishop office at 760-863-3320.