The Rainbow "Tribe" is required to obtain special use permits for their
gatherings, just as with any other users. The Rainbow "Tribe", feels they
are above special use permits, saying that "national forests are free for
everyone".
They often elect a "diplomat" to enter into "talks" with the National
Forest, trying to avoid obtaining an actual use permit. From what I
understand the talks are not much more than a person complaining to the
person at the front desk.
The permits, depending on the location and description of the event, often
require environmental reviews. I've seen some years where the Rainbow folks
actually went through the permit process and pulled off large gathering
complete with porta-potties and proposed mitigations.
Most years it seems, because of their stubbornness to obtain permits, they
are fragmented into small groups and are confined to camp grounds--in which
case they usually move on in fairly short order. Also, during the
non-permit gatherings, Law Enforcement spends a lot of energy chasing them
around the forest because of their non-compliance.
A couple years ago, a permitted gathering was allowed on Six Rivers National
Forest. Last summer they attempted an unofficial gathering at a sacred
spring/meadow on Mt Shasta (Also Six Rivers NF). That one fizzled out,
instead the bulk of the group moved on to Montana, I understand.
Patrick Brunmeier, MA
Lead Forest Planning Archaeologist
Alpine Land Information Services, Inc.
>From: Ron May <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Preservation
>Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2002 10:58:15 -0500
>
>Although I do not know the nature of the archaeology present, Six Rivers
>National Forest attempted to bar the Rainbow Children (a confederation of
>hippy communal groups, vagabonds, and alternative lifestyle people who
>gather
>once a year at forests and parks in the U.S.) because of anticipated damage
>to the ecosystem and archaeology at Six Rivers National Forest. It is my
>understanding the Forest Supervisor capitulated and permitted the Rainbow
>folks to do their happening, but assigned park rangers and their
>archaeologist to monitor the activities. The grounds were still severely
>impacted when the event terminated.
>
>Ron May
>Legacy 106, Inc
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