Chumash Group Threatens to Block Roadwork

A Native American organization warned the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that its members would physically block the county from resuming work on a Santa Rosa Road improvement project to protect what they believe to be an ancient Chumash Indian burial site.

Officials of the Thousand Oaks-based California Indian Council/Chumash organization told the board that they are also preparing to file a lawsuit against the county if necessary to stop further work at the site east of Camarillo.

“The council leadership, members and other members of the Native American community are prepared to stand in front of any type of construction equipment that has the intent to destroy this significant Chumash site,” said Reginald S. Pagaling, spokesman for the council. Legal action is also being considered “to protect our ancestors’ rights and remains,” he said.

County crews discovered a tooth and bone fragments Dec. 22 during grading operations on the two-lane road. A county coroner’s deputy examined the site recently and said the remains may be human, halting both the roadwork and archeological excavations.

In accordance with state law, county officials and the California Native American Heritage Commission arranged for the site to be inspected by a woman whom commission officials consider most likely to be related to the dead person. The woman is expected to recommend soon what to do with the remains.

Pagaling said the council approached the board Tuesday after becoming increasingly frustrated with the way the county’s Public Works Department handled the discovery. He said county officials have resisted complying with the recommendations of council archeologists, who say that under state and federal law, the site must be further studied for possible historical and religious significance.

But W. Butch Britt, the county’s deputy director of public works in charge of the project, said a previous archeological study found inconclusive evidence of human remains.

“We have no intention of running anyone over at the construction site,” Britt said. “We are trying to be as sensitive to this as we can be, and we are trying to keep an open mind. Still, we have yet to see any compelling evidence indicating the presence of human remains there.”

Renee C. Fraser, a Simi Valley-based archeologist who works for the council, said a more thorough study is needed before construction resumes. Fraser said she and other archeologists found five separate locations at the site that bore evidence of possible human remains.

She said such a study is mandated by the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Historic Preservation Act because the site could be an ancient Chumash burial ground.

Britt, however, said that with no hard evidence of human remains at the site, such a study could cost more than $1,000 a day and could take as long as a month to complete.

“This is a road that carries about 10,000 cars a day,” Britt said. “I just don’t personally see the need for such a study at this time. If further evidence is found, then I’ll be happy to reassess the situation then.”

During Tuesday’s meeting, Supervisor Vicky Howard asked staff members to compile a status report on the site. After the meeting, Supervisor Maggie Kildee, whose 3rd District encompasses the site, said the council’s message was heard.

“These folks were obviously upset and wanted us to be aware of their concerns. They did that,” Kildee said. “If the site is found to be significant, then we will deal with it. My position is that if we need to do a more detailed study of the area, then we will do that.”

Supervisor John K. Flynn echoed Kildee’s sentiments.

“I think their main goal was to get our attention and they did that,” Flynn said.