501c3 Unincorporated Association with Church Status

About Sawalmem: Our Sacred Purpose

 

Sawalmem is more than an organization—it is a vessel for our sacred mission, a way for the Winnemem Wintu Tribe to continue our ancestral work in today’s world. As a federally unrecognized tribe, we have had to navigate modern legal systems to protect and steward the sacred lands and waters we’ve been entrusted with for generations. Sawalmem, an unincorporated association with 501(c)(3) church status, serves as our spiritual and legal foundation to reclaim, restore, and revitalize our ancestral homelands.

 

Our name, Sawalmem, means “sacred water” or “creation water.” It reflects our deep spiritual relationship with water, land, fire, and all life. This organization embodies our commitment to restore not just the land, but the sacred relationship between humans, the environment, and the spiritual world. Through Sawalmem, we aim to heal the Earth and reconnect communities to the sacred.

 

Why Sawalmem?

 

The Winnemem Wintu are the original caretakers of the land surrounding Mount Shasta and the McCloud River watershed, a region of unparalleled ecological and spiritual significance. Our songs, dances, and ceremonies are woven into the fabric of this land, reflecting its vibrations and honoring its life force. For millennia, we safeguarded these sacred places and the life they sustained, including the winter-run Chinook salmon, a keystone species critical to the health of the entire ecosystem.

 

However, colonization, genocide, and ecological destruction have devastated our lands, waters, and traditions. We were forcibly removed, and many sacred sites were flooded or desecrated. The salmon, once abundant in our rivers, were blocked by dams and driven to near extinction. Yet, we have not given up. Our sacred traditions continue, and through Sawalmem, we are reclaiming our role as stewards of this land and water.

 

A 501(c)(3) With Church Status: A Sacred Framework

 

Operating as a 501(c)(3) unincorporated association with church status allows us to legally and spiritually align our work with our sacred responsibilities. This framework provides us with the means to acquire and protect land, conduct educational programs, and support our cultural and ecological restoration initiatives—all while preserving our traditional governance and spiritual practices.

 

Through Sawalmem, we:

• Acquire Land for Sacred Restoration: We aim to reclaim and protect sacred sites along the McCloud River watershed and beyond, ensuring they remain places of prayer, ceremony, and healing.

• Revitalize Sacred Relationships: By restoring the land, water, plants, and animals, we restore balance and reciprocity between people and the environment. Ceremony is key to this process, as our songs and dances are specific to the vibrations of these places.

• Uplift the Salmon: The winter-run Chinook salmon are not just fish—they are sacred beings and partners in our ecosystem. Their restoration is central to our mission, as they are vital to the health of the land and water.

• Provide Education and Charitable Work: We aim to share our knowledge, educate others about the sacredness of land and water, and inspire action. Whether through workshops, storytelling, or partnerships, Sawalmem is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of Indigenous knowledge and ecological stewardship.

 

Giving Back to the Land and Water

 

In everything we do, we strive to embody a sacred gift economy—one based on giving rather than taking. Sawalmem is a charitable cause not only for people but for the Earth itself. Every initiative we undertake is about giving back:

• Giving back to the land by healing its scars and protecting its sacredness.

• Giving back to the water by ensuring it flows clean and free, nurturing all life.

• Giving back to plants and animals by restoring their habitats and honoring their roles in the ecosystem.

• Giving back to the spiritual world by conducting ceremonies, offering prayers, and listening to the guidance of the unseen.

 

Join Us

 

Through Sawalmem, we are building a future where sacred reciprocity, cultural restoration, and environmental justice are the guiding principles. We invite you to walk with us on this journey. Whether it’s through learning about our work, supporting our initiatives, or spreading the message, you can help us protect the sacred and heal the Earth.

 

Together, we can ensure that the lands, waters, and salmon thrive once more—not just for us, but for future generations.

 

Thank you for supporting Sawalmem and being part of this movement to restore balance to the world. The time to act is now. Let us give back, together.