<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style=""><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Karuk Tribe of California</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">PRESS RELEASE</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Happy Camp, CA – In response to a structural fire, which destroyed a ceremonial dance house at the Karuk ceremonial area of Katimin near Somes Bar on July 2, 2006 an emergency session of the Karuk Tribal Council was convened last Friday by Vice Chairman, Leaf Hillman.</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Following Friday’s emergency session, the Tribal Council announced it had approved a plan to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the destruction.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">“We are working closely with several law enforcement agencies including the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department, the Klamath National Forest, and the FBI to assist in the investigation” said Vice Chairman, Leaf Hillman.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Hillman also stated that he expected a $10,000 reward would be announced by the end of the week.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">In addition, the Tribal Council has established a special fund to accept donations that will be used to increase the reward amount and to assist with the rebuilding efforts.</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">The physical investigation of the site has been completed and law enforcement will now focus on conducting interviews with individuals to develop additional information and leads.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Over the next few weeks investigators will be in the area conducting interviews and gathering information, and the Tribal Council is calling on the local community to cooperate with the investigation.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">If individuals have information concerning this matter we are asking that you step forward.</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Until the motive for this egregious act becomes known to us, the Tribal Council is insisting that this matter be pursued as a crime of hate committed against the Indian community.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Hate crimes being committed against Tribal communities is certainly not new.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">What is new however, is a broader acceptance within our society that the hate crime label applies to religions other then Christianity.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">If you burn a Baptist Church in the South everyone knows it will be pursued and prosecuted at the highest level as a hate crime.</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">In speaking with ceremonial and traditional leaders they feel that this site is sacred to them as a site where Karuk customs are practiced in the traditional ways.</FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT></SPAN><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">This is consistent in their opinion and held in the same regard as a Church is to other widely accepted religions.</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Any individuals wishing to contribute toward the rebuilding of the Karuk Spiritual Dance House may forward donations to; Please do not send cash.</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Karuk Tribe of California</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Katimin Dance House</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">PO Box 1016</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Happy Camp, CA. 96039</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"> </FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">Donations may be made in person at the Administration Office located at 64236 Second Avenue, Happy Camp, California</FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times"><O:P></O:P></FONT></SPAN></DIV><DIV class="MsoNormal"><SPAN style="font-family:Times"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Times">For more information contact Leaf Hillman or Florence Conrad at (530) 493-1600</FONT><O:P></O:P></SPAN></DIV></BODY></HTML>