Land return
Adler Ranch (Little Sur River) returned to Esselen Tribe
Not yet reviewed by this nation. What follows comes from public records and research. It does not speak for the nation.
The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County bought the 1,199-acre Adler Ranch in Big Sur in July 2020 using a $4.5 million state grant.
- Nation
- Esselen
- Where
- Big Sur, Monterey County, California
- Acres
- 1,199
- Began
- 2020
- Status
- Returned
Where the land is
This land was returned inside Land of the Ko-ya-te, New-chow-we and others in California, ceded 1851 (area 279), which the United States treated as ceded under California Treaty B: Camp Keyes, Cah-wai River, 1851 (unratified), a treaty the Senate never ratified.
Location from ceqanet.lci.ca.gov.
What happened
The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County regained its first ancestral homelands since it was displaced by the Spanish four centuries ago, according to a Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) press release dated July 27, 2020. The release says the Tribe, WRC and the California Natural Resources Agency completed a conservation project on the preceding Friday that placed the 1,199-acre Adler Ranch, in Big Sur about 20 miles south of Monterey, into Esselen ownership.
The release explains the mechanism. When the ranch went up for sale, WRC set out to purchase it to protect a stretch of the Little Sur River, a steelhead stream, and old-growth redwoods. WRC and the Tribe then raised money to transfer the ranch to the Tribe. In 2019 the partners applied to the California Natural Resources Agency, which later awarded the Tribe $4.5 million so it could purchase the land from WRC.
The Esselen Tribe says what it intends. Tribal Chairman Tom Little Bear Nason said the land will allow the Tribe to protect its traditions and preserve the cultural heritage of the historic tribes of the region. The release says the Esselen plan to build a traditional village and to allow other tribes in the area, including the Rumsen, Ohlone and Amah Mutsun, to use the property. It describes the property as a fraction of the Tribe's former territory but enough to reinvigorate tribal culture, hold ceremonies, and teach tribal members and the public.
Good to know. The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County operates as a nonprofit; this account comes from the partner conservancy's press release.
Summarized with AI assistance from 4 sources and checked against their words; not yet reviewed by historians or by the nations. Report an error
What the sources say, and how this was checked
Well supported by the sources below.
completed a landmark conservation project that places the 1,199-acre Adler Ranch, located roughly 20 miles south of Monterey, into Esselen ownership
In Big Sur, the first lands ever returned to the Esselen Tribe (Western Rivers Conservancy, July 27, 2020)awarded the tribe $4.5 million so it could purchase the land from Western Rivers Conservancy
In Big Sur, the first lands ever returned to the Esselen Tribe (Western Rivers Conservancy, July 27, 2020)The Esselen plan to build a traditional village on the property for tribal use
In Big Sur, the first lands ever returned to the Esselen Tribe (Western Rivers Conservancy, July 27, 2020)This land will allow us to protect our traditions and preserve the cultural heritage of the historic tribes of this region.
In Big Sur, the first lands ever returned to the Esselen Tribe (Western Rivers Conservancy, July 27, 2020)
Research notes. The release says the conveyance was finalized "on Friday" before its July 27, 2020 date (a Monday), which points to about July 24, 2020; the exact day is inferred. The release is from the conservancy (a partner), with quotes from the Tribe's chairman; the Tribe's own page was not opened. The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County is described in the release as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; its federal recognition status is not addressed here.
Who is doing the work
Working with these nations
- Esselen Tribe of Monterey County Native-led Land reclamation: Adler Ranch (1,199 acres, 2020), Tularcitos Creek Parcels of historic Rana Creek Ranch Give on their site Website
- Western Rivers Conservancy Allied land trust Buys river land and transfers to tribes (Blue Creek 47,097 acres to Yurok; Adler Ranch 1,199 acres to Esselen) Give on their site Website
Land return and Native-led work nearby
- InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council Nation government Land conservation and return of coastal Sinkyone lands to tribal stewardship (nearly 5,000 acres protected) Give on their site Website
- Koy'o Land Conservancy (Colfax-Todds Valley Consolidated Tribe) Nation government Restoring traditional homelands to tribal members Website
- Kumeyaay Diegueno Land Conservancy (KDLC) Nation government Acquiring and preserving sacred and culturally sensitive lands in Kumeyaay aboriginal territory Give on their site Website
- Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria Nation government 450 acres (2026), first ancestral land return in the Big Chico Creek watershed
Native legal and land defense, nationally
- Native American Rights Fund (NARF) Native-led Litigation and legal advocacy for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, land and resources Give on their site Website
- NDN Collective (LANDBACK Campaign) Native-led LANDBACK campaign (launched 2020; Mount Rushmore closure and return of Black Hills public lands), Indigenous… Give on their site Website
- Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) Native-led Land recovery and control by tribes and individual Indian landowners Website
- Decolonizing Wealth Project (Indigenous Earth Fund; California Tribal Land Return) Native-led Reparative philanthropy Give on their site Website
Gifts go straight to each organization; this atlas takes nothing. Listing is not endorsement: how organizations are listed.
Connections
Links marked “suggested” were matched automatically by name or date and have not yet been reviewed by a person.
Nations named 1
- Esselen Tribe of Monterey Countysuggested
Located in 1
- Californiasuggested
Policy era 1
Supported by 1
Sources
- Kind
- Land return
- Confidence
- High
- Nation review
- Not yet reviewed by this nation