Long ago. in the days when there was more magic than
doubt. when there was a belief in the need for greater
powers. the ancestors of today's Pit River tribe in
northern California were in great turmoil. Quarreling
with family members, and fighting with neighbors. the
people were agitated and out of balance; sorrow and
pain swept throughout the land.

It is said that Caliiornia's central valley was once a
huge fresh water lake. Perhaps reacting to the turmoil
above, a great shaking of an angry spirit within the
earth caused part of the coastal range to crumble into
the ocean.When the huge lake finally drained, the San
Francisco Bay appeared, and there, in isolation was an
island.The island was called "Alisti Ti-Tanin-Miji", which
means rock wich a rainbow living inside.Thousands of
years before the Spaniards called this island Alcatraz, it
was known to some indigenous people of northern
California as "Diamond island.`

This was a time of great supernatural forces, both good
and deceitful. One such great force was Night Flying
Butterfly who helped create the universe.Witnessing
the turmoil of the Pit Rver people. Night Flying
Butterfly summoned the tribal council and told them of
the special diamond or healing rock that would be
found on Alist Ti-Tanin-Miji, Diamond island.The heal-
ng rock shined and sparkled, but it was not jewelry. it
was much more The diamond was a thought, an
essence of peace and well being.  Night Flying Butterfly
instructed the tribal council to send the two mouse
brothers, who were good at burrowing and digging, to
find the diamond and retrieve it for the healing of the
people. So the mouse brothers were entrusted to
search the island for the diamond, a shining truth, a
healing treasure for the troubled indigenous people
long ago. It is said that the diamond was to bring a
goodness to all our people, everywhere.

The mouse brothers traveled down the Pit River, and
down the Sacramento River until they came to the
mouth of the river flowing into the bay.  They built a
canoe on what today is called Angle Island and made
rheir way across the water to Diamond Island where
they soon found the healing diamond. Upon their re-
turn to Pit River country, they presented the diamond
to the tribal council and people. There was then a great
healing of the people throughout the land. Once again
Night Flying Butterfly appeared before the tribal council
and told them there would be balance and peace as
long as the diamond was not abused.

For a time the Pit River people lived in harmony once
again. Soon, however, Coyote would change all that. For,
Coyote discovered that the shining light and brilliant
colors of the diamond had a powerful hypnotic effect
on those who gazed upon it. Deceitful, selfish. and lazy
Coyote stole the diamond from the people and used it
to lure his prey, striking them down while entranced
with the diamond's beauty. As it was the deer people
who Coyote preyed upon the most, the head of the
deer people took the diamond away from Coyote and
returned it to Night Flying Butterfly who hid it from
Coyote and the people

It is said that today we still do not know where the
diamond was hidden, and that we are not supposed to
know.There will come another time when the people
are in turmoil, when there is hatred, fighting, exclusion,
treachery, rumors, and deceit once again destroying the
balance of life for the people.When that time comes, it
is said that the people will once again find the diamond
and we will have peace and inclusion, wellness and healing,
and that the circle of peace will grow to encompass
all mankind, and there will be a rejoicing throughout
the land.
(Note:Transcribed from a videotaped interview
with Daryl "Babe" Wilson)
pg.6, Welcome pamphlet
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