Albion Monitor /Features

Round Valley

[Editor's note: For more on the schism between the Americanized and traditionalist members of Round Valley, see also The Indian Wars are not Over.]

How it all Started
by Mark Heimann

Many whites and some Indians see a return to traditions as a threat
On the Round Valley reservation, there are two flavors of justice: one for Christians and another, lesser sort, for those trying to revive the traditional culture and religion of their people.
True or not, that's what many on the reservation believe. The Peters and Lincoln families follow the traditional ways, which has brought them much trouble. Many whites and some Indians see a return to traditions as a threat. It is thought that this is the reason behind much of the harassment of the Lincoln and Peters' families, of which the April events are only the most recent.
The genesis of the shootings that Friday night began as a rivalry between teenage boys of the Britton family and the Peters family. Animosities increased to the point that three Britton boys allegedly jumped Byron Peters and severely beat him about a month before the shootings.
Byron's father, Leonard Peters, insisted his son look for justice in the legal system, urging the boy to file a formal complaint. Three times father and son contacted the Sheriff's Office by phone, asking for a deputy to come out to take their complaint. Three times the Sheriff's Department failed to show up at the agreed time. Byron grew frustrated and continued to be harassed by the other boys.
Unable to get help from County law enforcement, Byron took matters into his own hands in mid-March, firing four shots into the side of the truck of his tormentors at a Covelo gas station, an action for which he was immediately arrested and charged. Since then, he has been in Juvenile Hall.
The gunplay lead to the older men of the families becoming involved. Complaints continued to be lodged against one of the Britton youths and his friends, including at least three incidents where one of the Britton boys has reportedly fired shots in the air and yelled obscenities and threats outside the homes of Peters and Lincoln family members. The Sheriff's Department took no action, other than to tell him to stop.
A few hours before Gene Britton is killed, Leonard and his friend Bear Lincoln were at the Covelo gas station. There was a scuffle with Neil Britton, the youth most often accused of causing trouble, and Leonard's nose was bloodied. Leonard and Bear left.
It is believed that Arylis, drinking heavily with friends that afternoon, heard of the incident and left to even the score with Neil Britton. Instead, they encountered his father, Gene, at the Covelo High School parking lot.

Many whites and some Indians see a return to traditions as a threat	On the Round Valley reservation, there are two flavors of justice: one for Christians and another, lesser sort, for those trying to revive the traditional culture and religion of their people. True or not, that's what many on the reservation believe. The Peters and Lincoln families follow the traditional ways, which has brought them much trouble. Many whites and some Indians see a return to traditions as a threat. It is thought that this is the reason behind much of the harassment of the Lincoln and Peters' families, of which the April events are only the most recent. The genesis of the shootings that Friday night began as a rivalry between teenage boys of the Britton family and the Peters family. Animosities increased to the point that three Britton boys allegedly jumped Byron Peters and severely beat him about a month before the shootings. Byron's father, Leonard Peters, insisted his son look for justice in the legal system, urging the boy to file a formal complaint. Three times father and son contacted the Sheriff's Office by phone, asking for a deputy to come out to take their complaint. Three times the Sheriff's Department failed to show up at the agreed time. Byron grew frustrated and continued to be harassed by the other boys. Unable to get help from County law enforcement, Byron took matters into his own hands in mid-March, firing four shots into the side of the truck of his tormentors at a Covelo gas station, an action for which he was immediately arrested and charged. Since then, he has been in Juvenile Hall. The gunplay lead to the older men of the families becoming involved. Complaints continued to be lodged against one of the Britton youths and his friends, including at least three incidents where one of the Britton boys has reportedly fired shots in the air and yelled obscenities and threats outside the homes of Peters and Lincoln family members. The Sheriff's Department took no action, other than to tell him to stop. A few hours before Gene Britton is killed, Leonard and his friend Bear Lincoln were at the Covelo gas station. There was a scuffle with Neil Britton, the youth most often accused of causing trouble, and Leonard's nose was bloodied. Leonard and Bear left. It is believed that Arylis, drinking heavily with friends that afternoon, heard of the incident and left to even the score with Neil Britton. Instead, they encountered his father, Gene, at the Covelo High School parking lot.

Albion Monitor September 2, 1995 (http://www.monitor.net/monitor)

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Albion Monitor /Features

Round Valley

How it all Started

by Mark Heimann

Many whites and some Indians see a return to traditions as a threat

What Really Happened?