Introduction
The Potawot Health Village is a branch of the United Indian Health Services whose services combine western medicine and traditional Native American methods of promoting wellness.[1] The designers who worked on the grounds knew that nature is valued and considered sacred within the Native American community and sought to create a space which honored tradition and would help their community to stay healthy, both physically and emotionally. One aspect of this idea was recreating the original habitats and biomes that once dominated the area, before people of European decent settled on the land.
History
The Northern California coast and the area around Humboldt Bay has been the home of the Wiyot people for thousands of years.[2][3] The land around them, traditionally a place of great forests, seasonal wetlands, and heavy salmon runs, profoundly influenced their lives.
However, as white men came to settle the land, they were pushed off their native grounds, which were reshaped to be more suitable for the more “modern” farming and development methods. On the Potawot land specifically, forests were cut down, native grasses were replaced by more aggressive ones, and the seasonal wetlands were destroyed to make the land more conducive towards farming.
In 1996, the United Indian Health Services began working with the City of Arcata and the Planning Commission to get their newly purchased land, which was zoned as “Agricultural Exclusive” to be approved for a Planned Development Permit and a General Plan & Zoning Map Amendment. A year later, after keeping their positive message and working hard, their plans for the Health Village at Potawot were finally approved.[4]
As they researched the land, they found that within the vicinity of the site were four historical Wiyot village locations as well as a burial ground for the victims of the 1850 Indian Island Massacre. However, the land has been changed so much over the years that it is now impossible to find the original locations.
Forest Restoration Efforts
The Potawot grounds are known as the Ku’wah-dah-wilth Restoration Area[5], which means “comes back to life” in the Wiyot language. It is meant to reinforce the idea of the lands revitalization and the renewal of the natural resources that once existed there. The work has included planting native species of trees and shrubs, as well as creating a space that is comfortable for the clients of the United Indian Health Services and which also helps the healing of the body and spirit.
Support
The reaction of the community has been very positive in regards to the forest restoration project at the Health Village. Financing was found in grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture, as well as through a California Resource Conservation District. These grants helped greatly to offset the initial cost of the project.
The local tribes, notably the Yurok, as well as crews of community members have also helped by collecting trees from their properties that would otherwise have been destroyed and replanting them at Potawot. Six Rivers National Park also donates plants that are in the path of new development or road decommissioning. Since their machines are going to be tearing up the area anyways, Potawot is given permission to collect and replant the trees.
Planting Methods
The original soil, already very heavy in clay (which prevents proper drainage) had been badly damaged by years of monoculture. The native plants brought in by community members helped to bring endomycorrhizae, fungi which encourage root development, as well as other native microorganisms which enrich the soil. Packets of endomycorrhizae, bought in the store, helped supplement the ones carried in by native plants. They also added redwood conditioner which makes for a loamier soil and better drainage. In addition, small amounts of fertilizer gave the trees an extra boost after first planting.
All of the trees and shrubs on the Potawot property were gathered from community donors, local nurseries, Six Rivers National Forest, and through [[Potawot | Potawot’s] own propagation in their native species nursery.
The trees and shrubs were planted in clusters around the property and in combinations in which they are thought to grow in nature. The clusters make them easier for the maintenance staff to care for and are separated by meadows. Trees were also specifically planted around the edges of the Potawot property. On the south side redwoods were planted to block noise pollution from the nearby freeway. Although it is unlikely that they are native to the Potawot/Arcata Bottoms area they are considered culturally significant to the local tribes and so were included within the design. On the north side, more wind tolerant species of trees were planted, including spruce and shore pine, to help block the North winds and protect the garden. Near the storm water treatment ponds, trees were specifically not planted in order to discourage raptors in the wetland areas and therefore ensure the presence of wetland birds.
Challenges
Successes
Continued Work
Currently the forest restoration efforts at Potawot are in a waiting period as they let the trees mature and grow into their surroundings. There is some continued maintenance, such as the replacing of dead trees, but for the most part they are left alone. They are also to begin work planting more trees along the North end in order to provide more wind and noise protection.
In addition, Potawot has been making outreach efforts regarding Sudden Oak Death, which is a problem in much of California. Although, Potawot and Humboldt County has been spared this danger so far, they have been working hard to educate others and prevent the spread of the disease into their local areas.