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Opinion
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- Written by: Maile Field
I looked through the Pomo dictionary written by local historian Henry Mauldin and learned that the big valley surrounding present-day Kelseyville where our family orchards were planted had been called “Yoxagoi.”
I filed all the forms to create “Yoxagoi Orchards.”
It was difficult for English and Spanish-speakers alike. After about a decade, I abandoned it for “Crail Field Farms,” which included the names of my children and my ancestors alike — and required less paperwork.
But I learned about the naming of things.
Nobody knew. Not one person ever told me they recognized the word “Yoxagoi.” Not only that but when I went to the store and told the cashier to put my purchase on my account, a difficult and unnecessary exchange always ensued.
Nobody could spell it. Nobody ever said they liked it. And certainly no one could pronounce it. I don't know if anyone alive today knows how to pronounce it.
Now, everyone knows “Kelseyville” as Kelseyville. If we were to change the name back to the native name of the place, it would become “Yoxagoi.”
I have first hand experience with this. It is not a good idea.
Why would we change the name? A few people have expressed they are hurt by the perceived respect it offers a man named Andrew Kelsey who has absolutely no respect in the community.
Not one person has stated that we should retain the name of Kelseyville out of respect for the rapist and murderer who preceded the current population. Not one.
But changing a name would be a victory for those groups, mainly the somewhat ironically named “Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians,” who have for eight to 10 generations coexisted with descendants of immigrant Europeans and others.
My question is why not, as the past Lake County museum curator suggested, simply change the narrative?
In that option honor is given to another Kelsey — C.E. Kelsey, who in the early 1900s served as secretary of the Northern California Indian Association and, in that capacity, crusaded for the rights of California tribes. He successfully lobbied Congress to create rancherias for non-reservation tribes. He also served as a special agent to the region’s Indian Office, advocating for tribes including those in Lake County.
No one would have to change the name of their business, no one would be honoring a horrible person, no one would lose decades of branding invested by community leaders. And nobody would have reason to feel hurt.
We could furthermore rectify things by creating art in public places that honors the history. I personally would like a statue of the little girl who survived the Bloody Island massacre by submerging herself in the lake and breathing through a reed.
The divisiveness created by arguing about a name makes us all look bad.
Maile Field lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Martha Mincer
Having managed a national consulting company that worked with supporting large organizations in times of change, I know that the critical element to ensuring future success is “leadership.”
I’m sure Daniel “Boone” Bridges is a good man, but having worked closely with many senior leaders of big companies over the last 50 years and having had a chance to talk to Jessica Pyska about the county, I am truly impressed with her leadership skills, intelligence, values, vision and ability to find solutions for the issues we face here in Lake County.
I believe we need leaders like Jessica. Though she doesn’t “brag,” I see the effort and accomplishments she has given Lake County so far and I believe retaining her as one of our leaders will make an important difference as we move into the future.
Martha Mincer lives in Kelseyville, California.
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- Written by: Cathy McCarthy
There, in the midst of it all, was District 5 Supervisor Jessica Pyska. She surveyed the damaged area while riding along in a Cal Fire truck. She stopped to check in on neighbors who sustained damage.
She coordinated with PG&E and the Mountain Lions to assist in the setup of a Warming Center and helped get the temporary cell site up. She was there to do whatever she could. She posted and shared information and resources on social media in the following days. She made it her business to meet our needs as best as possible.
Almost two weeks later, Supervisor Pyska was in attendance at our monthly Cobb Area Council (“CAC”), a municipal advisory council of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, where she was able to give a summary report of the event, comment on the current declaration of the local disaster, supply next steps for those who sustained damages, and be available for questions and concerns.
Supervisor Pyska regularly attends these meetings to give updates from the Board of Supervisors and important projects the County is working on, and most importantly, takes our feedback back to Lakeport. She makes herself available to answer questions and seeks to solve problems. She can also be found chatting after the meeting with friends and neighbors, also known as her constituents.
Typically, during election season, candidates come and introduce themselves and learn about the community by sitting in on our meetings. I am discouraged that the other candidate for District 5, Boone Bridges, has not made the effort to attend even one of our meetings to understand the unique needs of the Cobb Area, especially after most folks suffered through almost a week of power outages and extensive damages to their properties.
This hits especially hard when I think of how the previous supervisor stopped attending meetings for the last two years of his term. Sure, we are made of stern and hardy stuff here in Cobb. Still, with no acknowledgment whatsoever from a person who wants to represent me at the county level, I am assuredly dissuaded from ever recommending him.
I have always appreciated Supervisor Pyska’s dedication to being at our monthly meetings. She is also encouraging a similar municipal advisory commission in the Kelseyville area. She has made herself available time after time to her constituents in need, be it great or small. I have even watched her leave a family picnic on a Saturday afternoon to offer whatever assistance was needed at a house fire in her district. She takes her job seriously. She takes the people seriously. She is ready to give each one of YOU a chance to speak while she LISTENS.
I want someone representing District 5 who has our interests at heart and not someone who tries to “squeeze us in” during his part-time approach to the call of public service, or even worse, someone who does not even think of us at all.
Jessica Pyska is already hard at work for the people who live in District 5 and you can count on her to continue to do so. Show up for Jessica Pyska the way she continues to show up and follow through for you.
Cathy McCarthy lives in Cobb, California.
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- Written by: William Warmagen
Mr. Raymond Buenaventura is employed by the city of Daly City as an elected official who represents the people of Daly City. He has no connection with Lake County or our residents.
This is Lake County not Daly City!
If he is to be our public defender, he should reside in our county where he is personally and readily accessIble to the needs of the residents he will be serving.
If not, I feel this is a gross misuse of county resources and a disservice to our residents.
William Warmagen lives in Kelseyville, California.