School Pays Ohlone Land Tax

On October 3, 2021, the School announced that it recently began paying an annual land tax, known as Shuumi, to Ohlone organization Sogorea Te’ Land Trust. 

The Sogorea Te’ Land trust is a Bay Area organization led by urban indigenous women, committed to “heal[ing] and transform[ing] the legacies of colonization, genocide, and patriarchy.” The land tax funds their work, which includes caring for land, returning land to Indigenous people, cultural revitalization, public education, and emergency response centers focused on the impacts of climate change.

According to the School’s announcement, the tax is “a first step to acknowledging that our campus is on land that was stolen from the Ohlone.” Upper School History Teacher Paul Scott, who suggested the tax two years ago, says the payment represents the School’s commitment to working with Indigenous communities. 

However, the School is paying significantly less than Sogorea Te’ recommends for an institution of its size, according to Scott. Although nonprofits, like the School, limit how much they donate to other nonprofits, Upper School Science Teacher Eugene Vann admits the School’s payment is a nominal amount. 

“It’s a start,” he said. “It’s better than not doing anything, but we shouldn’t be patting ourselves on the back. At the very least it’s a conversation starter.”

Vann, who encouraged the School to pay Shuumi, believes it sparks discussions about learning sustainable practices from Indigenous communities and restorative justice. 

“How do we move forward from the past?” he asks. “How much does the School owe Indigenous people?” Additionally, Vann thinks the School should engage the whole community and urge families to pay Shuumi. 

Scott hopes the School will collaborate with Sogorea Te’ on future projects, but encourages the School to work on itself before asking outside organizations for help. “We should increase the amount of subjects we study, books we read, and practices we employ to bring the native Californian experience to life for our students,” he said.

Head of School Crystal Land agrees with Scott, suggesting the School bring in more speakers and better support Indigenous students.

“I think it’s a really good first step,” she said, “but there’s so much more we could be doing.”