Berkeley Returns Sacred Site to Ohlone Tribe After Settlement

The city council's unanimous vote ends a six-year legal battle, marking a historic step in reparations to Indigenous peoples.

Berkeley City Council unanimously voted to return a sacred Ohlone tribal site, currently a parking lot, to the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust after a settlement with the land's developers.
The site, a 2.2-acre parking lot in West Berkeley, sits atop a shell mound dating back 5,700 years and was designated a landmark in 2000.
The Sogorea Te’ Land Trust plans to build a commemorative park and a cultural center on the site to honor the Ohlone people and preserve artifacts.
The settlement was reached after a six-year legal battle, with the developers receiving $27 million, $25.5 million of which was raised by the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust.
The return of the land marks a significant step in addressing historic wrongs and returning stolen land to Indigenous people.