Verona Band of Alameda County facts for kids
The Verona Band of Alameda County was a name used by the Muwekma Ohlone people. They used this name when the United States government officially recognized them in the early 1900s.
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Who Were the Verona Band?
The people who formed the Verona Band were descendants of various Ohlone groups. These groups originally lived in what is now Contra Costa County and Alameda County in California.
Life at the Missions
Around the 1790s, many of these Ohlone people became part of the San Jose Mission. This mission was located in modern-day Fremont, California. They lived and worked there for many years.
After the Missions Closed
In 1835, the missions in California were closed down. After this, the Ohlone people continued to live in their traditional lands. Many of them settled in areas like Sunol, California and nearby Pleasanton, California.
How They Got Their Name
Some of these families were moved from their homes when a wealthy man named George Hearst built a large house. This house was called the Verona Mansion. Because of this, the group of Ohlone people living nearby became known as the Verona Band.
Seeking Official Recognition
In 1906, the government found out about 18 treaties with Native American groups that were never officially approved. These treaties were about land and rights for Indigenous peoples of California. The government decided to try and officially recognize these groups.
A Promise of Land
The Verona Band of Alameda County was one of these groups. In 1906, the United States Congress passed a law. This law set aside money to buy land for the Verona Band to use.
Recognition Lost
However, the money given was not enough to buy suitable land. Later, in 1928, a government official named Lafayette A. Dorrington made a decision. Instead of asking Congress for more land for the Verona Band and 133 other groups, he simply removed them from the list of federally recognized tribes. This meant they lost their official status.
The Fight for Recognition Today
Even though they lost their official status, the group never stopped being a community. Today, the descendants of the Verona Band are still working hard. They are trying to get official recognition again as the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.
