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Suscol Intertribal Council

Suscol Intertribal Council was re-organized in 1993, after a ten-year hiatus of the Suscol Indian Council. The initial Suscol Indian Council’s purpose, in 1972, was to organize work at state levels with then Governor Jerry Brown and Senator Alan Cranston to create protocols for the state as how to manage the uncovering of human Native American remains and artifacts. This was a successful endeavor that resulted in formation of the California Native American Heritage Commission. This was later replicated nationally as NAGPRA “Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.” Both Commissions are still in active use.
Creating a Land Base
The initial intention of Suscol Intertribal Council, after years of discussions with marginalized tribes around California, was to address the greatest need for a safe land base for ceremony and preservation of Native American History and culture. So, under the guidance of first chairperson Lanny James and Director Charlie Toledo, it was determined the most secure decision was to purchase a land base. This was decades before the current Land Back movement. In 1998 a twenty-three acre parcel was located and successfully purchased.
The Suskol House Land Project
This land base has been developed into a Suskol House land project the Main house is for resident land steward and short-term interns to manage the land. It is a protype for forest, water and soils management and remediation. It is used for work force training and education for skill development of traditional indigenous forest water and land management. Also, as a safe place for ceremony and Native American cultural preservation, and oral traditions for youth and families. Learn more about Suskol House


The base of the work is education and understanding of Native American traditions for all who come in a good way. Suscol Intertribal Council uses Social media and public presentations to share this good work and prototype model for others to replicate in their own communities.

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Suscol Indian Council Founders

Jim Big Bear King
1931-2007
Jim Big Bear King was the founder and charismatic leader of the original Suscol Indian Council in 1972. He was a nuclear power and aerospace engineer who later became an activist in the American Indian Movement
  • 1972 (after the Wounded Knee incident) Jim’s spirit of justice was ignited from within his own Native American roots.
  • His first act of awareness was to pull a cross from Napa to Sacramento with Kapler’s Indian Laws and Rights and all the 375 broken treaties bound to it.
  • An active Sun Dancer and educator of the true history of Native Americans, the sacred rituals, and a fighter for religious freedoms.
Norma Rose Fulwilder Knight
1928 -2017
Norma and her daughter Denise Feather were avid supporters of the initial Suscol Indian Council 1972
  • She was one of founding members of “Suscol Indian Council” in 1972.
  • Granny was a lifetime Native Indian Activist, fighting for the rights of education, health, and social equality for all Natives.
  • She was from Round Valley Indian Reservation but spent her adult life in Napa, California.
  • Helped created protocols for California State archaeological finds.
  • She supported Alcatraz take over. Her family was part of take over and creation of DQ University near Davis, the first tribally-run university in U.S.
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Suscol Intertribal Council P.O. Box 5386 Napa, CA 94558
Site Photography: Charlie Toledo
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