The Oroville City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted Resolution 94-32 to support the Concow Valley Band of Maidu Indians’ efforts to obtain federal recognition and a trust relationship with the United States.

Councilor Goodson read the resolution aloud, saying it recognizes the Concow Valley Band as an autonomous, distinct sovereign entity and affirms the city’s support for the tribe’s petition process. The resolution cites the band’s historical ties to the West Branch of the Feather River and its descendants’ continued presence in the region.

Tribal representatives told the council the band has pursued federal acknowledgment for decades. “We are the original inhabitants of the North Fork and West Branch region of the Feather River,” said a tribal representative, summarizing the group’s historical stewardship and cultural ties. The speakers said the tribe first submitted a petition in 1998 and later filed a revised petition in 2016; both were returned to the tribe for formatting or clerical corrections rather than being denied, the speakers said.

Speakers asked the city to renew its 2016 support and to partner on cultural preservation, including guidance on access to traditional basket-weaving materials near Riverbend along the Feather River. Council members praised the tribe’s work to document artifacts and heritage and suggested potential exhibits and local displays to raise public awareness.

Mayor David Pittman and council members thanked the speakers and directed staff to finalize the resolution for the official record. The council also took photographs with tribal representatives after the vote.

The vote was unanimous. The resolution text recorded that the city clerk shall attest to its adoption on January 2026.

What’s next: The resolution is a formal endorsement from the city; it does not itself change federal status. Tribal leaders will continue their petition to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the city said it will look for ways to partner on cultural exhibits and access to traditional gathering areas.