A neighborhood group in Boise, Idaho, is trying to
raise $75,000 to protect Native American burial sites from
residential development. The East End Neighborhood Association
wants to buy land sacred to Shoshone, Bannock and Paiute tribes
near Castle Rock, a mile from downtown Boise. For centuries, the
tribes say, their sick and wounded came to the area to bathe in the
healing waters of a warm springs lake. Those who didn’t survive
were buried on surrounding hillsides. One hundred years ago the
lake was drained to build the first American hot springs resort,
and the burial site, located in a prime residential area, is now
owned by private developers. According to the Idaho Statesman,
52,000 new homes are planned on or near the burial site within the
next 10 years. The city of Boise has already purchased 45
neighboring acres for a park. The East End Association, if it can
raise the money, will donate five acres to the city in hopes the
city will build a cultural center to explain the importance of the
land. For information, write John Goertzen, East End Neighborhood
Association Inc., Box 2145, Boise, ID 83701
(208/345-2444).
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline From sacred to suburb.
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