The Issue
"Formerly known as Talahalusi (Beautiful Land), the Napa Valley is one of California's longest inhabited areas. Archaeological surveys indicate 10,000 years of uninterrupted habitation....It was a paradise - a cultivated paradise where one only had to reach out their hand to eat. A place rich in beauty, water and food."
-Suscol Intertribal Council
Napa is special to us all, but Napa also suffers from a history of violence. Only about 170 years ago, in 1851, military forces abused and marched our first people north in what was the last "bloody run." The reservations where the people were placed (and where their relatives remain, like Napa's farmworker housing of today), are not places where any of you would feel comfortable living.
But that is not all. We have a long and ugly history of police and military abuses and wealth made at the cost of other socially and economically disadvantaged populations, many from Mexico and Guatemala. Until we acknowledge the inequities in our valley, we cannot indulge in an "all is well" narrative. We cannot fast-forward healing.
What We're Doing
We work to understand the impact of white privilege on legislation and rulings that adversely affect our residents. We watch the actions of the local Farm Bureau and vintner associations that use immigrant workers but inadequately care for them, their health and their families in our communities.
We are ready to be uncomfortable and awkward in acknowledging white fragility and privilege in our organization and in the community. We are ready to have honest conversations and advocate for the changes needed.
Our Vision
We envision a diverse community where we value the essential workers, not just with good intentions but with real support, such as the Governor mandate for Workers Compensation to cover ag workers who have contracted Covid-19 on the job as essential workers. We imagine a Napa County with affordable, safe housing and healthcare for those who work here.