Tribe plans to blockade part of Lake Shasta during war dance

The Winnemem Wintu Tribe is planning to hold a war dance that includes blockading a section of Lake Shasta on Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest weekends for tourism on the lake.

The war dance is in response to the U.S. Forest Service's refusal to close down a section of the lake so it can hold a coming-of-age ceremony for teenage girls in the tribe. The forest service has not granted the tribe’s request this year.

“We have been backed into a corner with no other choice,” said Caleen Sisk, the Winnemem’s spiritual leader and chief. “But instead we have to fight simply to protect our young women from drunken harassment.”

(snip)

Sisk said this year’s ceremony is important because Marisa Sisk is expected to go through the ceremony. The 16-year-old niece of Caleen Sisk is expected to become the tribe’s next chief.

http://www.redding.com/news/2012/may/22/tribe-plans-close-part-lake-shasta-during-war-dan/

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(Cross-posted to GD too: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002718088 )

I have a question. The current chief has a daughter, but it's the niece who is next in line. Why would this be, and is it common?