The Merging of history with local high school pride.

Lake County Record-Bee September 9, 1999

thanks to Clayton Duncan, member of Robinson Rancheria, Upper Lake, California

I am Clayton Duncan, Pomo, genetically connected to this land and the people who have lived here for thousands of years.

Real Indians cringe every time we hear the name Kelsey(ville) and Indians used together. It is a disgrace. Everyone should know that our people were not naturally violent. Kelsey and Stone held absolute power by threat of violence. They say absolute power corrupts absolutely. These two were evil, even if judged by the Christian standards of their day (when we were heathen and less than human).

Aside from forced labor and brutality, Kelsey and Stone often demanded that our very young girls be brought to their house at night. If the parents did not obey they would be whipped or hung by their hands.. Even though these "orders" were frequent, the people resisted so often that such punishments commonly occurred two or three times a week. ** Wampum Gatherers Narrative, Bancroft Library, University of California.

To put the name Kelsey and Indian together is like having a Richard Allen Davis Girls School or a John Wayne Gacy Boys Camp! Both these men were similar in character to Kelsey and Stone. I can hear it now…Why such a fuss about something that happened long ago? It's a fundamental difference between us. Our minds are different.

Americans have a short sense of history. Dig up ancients they don't care. Go back 200 years, out of sight=out of mind.

We feel a connection between past and present, between our generations gone and those still living. 100 years ago is yesterday. Events still fresh in our minds have long since passed from yours or never been known. To us, responsibility and connection to the past is part of our heritage. Your ancestors' spirits may be departed, ours are here with us every day. The spirits of those abused still cry near Kelseyville.

Clayton Duncan

Nice, California