Butte County marks 175 years with tribal blessing, former-supervisor reflections

Butte County's Board of Supervisors opened its March 11 meeting with a ceremony marking the county's 175th anniversary, a formal resolution and a blessing from a tribal leader.

The board adopted a resolution recognizing Butte County's establishment on Feb. 18, 1850 and the region's Native American heritage. Supervisor Connolly read the resolution, which notes the Maidu and other tribes and highlights communities including Oroville, Paradise and Gridley.

Matthew (Matt) Wilford, identified in the meeting as tribal chairman of the Concow Valley Band of Maidu Indians, offered a blessing and asked the room to observe a moment of silence as he named local bands and leaders. "85% of our population was lost after the gold rush and just 1 easy word, genocide," he said, urging recognition of the county's Indigenous history.

Staff also presented a commemorative video recounting local history from native American roots through the gold rush and modern recovery. Five former supervisors — Bob Bealer, Maureen Kirk, Ed McLaughlin, Kurt Josiasen and Steve Lambert — spoke about memories from their years in office, thanking staff and praising the current board for its work.

Terry DeBose, a district representative for Congressman Doug LaMalfa, presented a congressional certificate of recognition congratulating the county on the milestone.

The board recessed briefly after the ceremony for photos and refreshments and then returned to its regular agenda.

The resolution honoring the anniversary was adopted unanimously by the board and will be entered into the meeting record.