Shelly Covert is the Spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. She sits on the Tribal Council and is community outreach liaison. She is also the Executive Director of the newly founded non-profit, the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project or C.H.I.R.P. C.H.I.R.P.’s ...
Read moreShelly Covert is the Spokesperson for the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe. She sits on the Tribal Council and is community outreach liaison. She is also the Executive Director of the newly founded non-profit, the California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project or C.H.I.R.P. C.H.I.R.P.’s mission is to preserve, protect and perpetuate the Nisenan Culture. The Tribe’s major focus has been the restoration of its Federal Recognition with the United States Government. The Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Indians were Federally Recognized until 1964 when they were illegally “terminated”. Shelly spends most of her time building the capacity of C.H.I.R.P. and engaging the public in educational speaking events about her Tribe and their rich history on the Yuba and Bear river watersheds. Recent endeavors include new works with social and environmental justice movements, as-well-as environmental, educational and cultural revitalization projects to preserve Nisenan culture within its ancient landscape. With the expanse of the social justice movement comes the great need to have a voice in California Tribal Indian affairs and a need to become a functioning voice within the local community.
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