LEAVE IT ON THE ROAD
As a powersports recreation representative and co-founder
of FireScape Mendocino (FSM), I had the privilege to help support and
participate in the 29th annual 100-mile Nome Cult “Trail of Tears”
Walk a forced march on roads and trails between Chico and the Round Valley
Reservation in the Covelo area during the Fall of 1863. This year’s walk occurred during the 2nd
week of September, 2024.
Other FSM representatives and Forest Service staff also joined the Walk to support descendants from the Concow Maidu, the Round Valley Indian Tribes, Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, Berry Creek Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California, Redding Rancheria, Grindstone Nomlaki, the Mechoopda Tribe, Pit River, Wintu, Nisenan and Greenville Maidu.
Of the 461 Concow Maidu who started the march, 32 tribal
members died, and 150 were too malnourished and sick to complete the arduous
journey.
VIDEO OF 2024 NOME CULT WALK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bGhEwxmNJY&t=690s
Over the last 11 years, FSM has worked to increase more
tribal participation in the collaborative since tribal/local knowledge is vital to planning efforts
that seek to restore/protect cultural resources, support forest health, address
pre and post wildfire mitigation/recovery, and enhance outdoor recreation
opportunities.
WALKER LUNCH STATION near Log Springs
Don Amador, states, “It was an honor to work with the
Resource Conservation District of Tehama County in serving lunch to the walkers
on September 11 and also walking with them on a short segment of the trail.”
“The next time I ride my ADV bike in this part of the
Mendocino National Forest, I will remember and reflect with a different
perspective. I appreciated the tone of this walk was to ‘Leave it on the Road’ (watch
for this theme in the video) by forgiving, welcoming everyone, and moving into
the future with a positive spirit,” Amador concludes.
The Nome Cult Walk highlights that building and enhancing
relationships with the Tribes - and other partners for that matter - is
important and, in fact, can and does make a difference.
FIRESCAPE MENDOCINO
https://www.firescapemendocino.org/
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Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation
management profession for over 33 years.
Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western
States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past
President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery
Alliance. Don served as a contractor to the BlueRibbon Coalition from 1996
until June, 2018. Don served on the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
Recreation Commission from 1994-2000. He has won numerous awards including
being a 2016 Inductee into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame and the 2018
Friend of the AMA Award. Don served as the government affairs lead for AMA
District 36 in Northern California from 2019 – 2023. Don is a Core-Team member
on FireScape Mendocino. Don is a
contributor to Dealernews Magazine. Don writes from his home in Cottonwood,
CA.
