Petition Text:

Mr. President and Secretary Burgum,

I support the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe in its request to establish a new reservation on the Presidio in San Francisco, and I ask that you exercise your power to return this sacred land to its original inhabitants. Your recent proposal to dissolve the Presidio Trust presents an unprecedented opportunity for your administration to return land back to Indigenous hands while simultaneously accomplishing your goals of making the federal government smaller, less expensive, more focused, and less prone to waste, fraud, and abuse.

For decades, powerful elected officials in California have staunchly opposed the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s 45-year struggle to affirm its federal status. The Tribe submitted a Right of First Refusal to the federal government during the decommissioning of the military installation of the Presidio in 1992, but it was refused by leading California politicians. Now is a perfect time for you to help the tribe right this wrong.

This opportunity to return the Presidio to the stewardship of the Muwekma is historic — a unique chance for you and your administration to acknowledge injustices faced by Native Americans. Doing so would constitute the boldest act of land rematriation in American history. It would demonstrate both a new and exciting path toward cooperation between the federal government and Native tribes and your administration’s dedication to achieving government efficiency through a solution-oriented approach.

The rightful return of the Presidio of San Francisco to its aboriginal title holders would constitute an extraordinary act of reconciliation. In the distant past, the Spanish empire occupied this sacred land without deed or transfer of title. As part of this conquest, the fortress was used as a prison to house captured Native People before their enslavement at three Bay Area missions: Mission Delores (San Francisco), Mission Santa Clara, and Mission San Jose. The Muwekma Ohlone People have never ceded, surrendered, or in any way abrogated aboriginal title to the Presidio.

The Muwekma People have long maintained a deep cultural and spiritual connection to the Presidio lands, which have been integral to their identity and heritage for countless generations. The return of their ancestral lands is not just a matter of justice; it also embodies substantial fiscal and political implications that can benefit the tribe, local communities, and the federal government.

Transferring the management of the Presidio back to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe would enable a hyper-local approach to the management of a treasured national parkscape in a way that relieves federal, state, and local taxpayers from the burden of its operating costs. The Muwekma possess extensive traditional ecological knowledge and will deliver superior and

more sustainable land management practices at a far lower cost — free of the need for extensive federal oversight — than the current federal agency currently expends.

Returning the Presidio to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe could symbolize a commitment to reconciliation and respect for Indigenous sovereignty. It would make a historic, proud, and perhaps surprising moment for the United States, and would be a trust-builder with widespread support from Indian Country. It could catalyze a golden age for the Muwekma Ohlone People – and would manifest a less elitist reality for San Francisco and coastal California.

To that point, the Muwekma are uniquely positioned to elevate the Presidio as a tourist destination. No other operator can bring visitors an experience as authentic and inclusive of cultural programming to illuminate the anthropological history of the land. The tribe can bolster the local economy by wildly enhancing the experience for visitors and elevating the Presidio as a premier California destination for spiritual practice, personal renewal, and historical understanding.

For these reasons, I support the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s formal request that the administration help write the next chapter of this rich history by exercising its power to return the Presidio to Indigenous care and stewardship. This action would rectify historical wrongs and empower a Native community to thrive while alleviating the federal government of an unwanted burden and contributing positively to the cultural, ecological, fiscal, economic, and spiritual well-being of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Following any repeal of the Presidio Trust Act of 1996, I support using Section 7 of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 [25 U.S.C. 5110], which gives the U.S. Secretary of the Interior the power to “proclaim new reservations.” I hope the executive branch will use its authority for the best possible outcome and work together with the Muwekma Ohlone to realize a just resolution for the federal government, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and the legacy of the land it holds sacred.