News

At 16:00 of September 11, St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations hosts a meeting with a delegation from the State of California that remains in charge of the Fort Ross – a former Russian settlement and a wooden fortress on the Pacific coast, founded in 1812.

The delegation includes the leadership of California and the management of a park complex in Fort Ross, as well as honorary members – prominent representatives of the Indian people of Kashaya living on the territory of the fort, headed by the tribal chief Emilio Valencia.

Kashaya Indians were the owners of the lands, where it was decided to establish a Russian fort 200 years ago, and “allowed” this territory to Russian colonists. There were no armed clashes between Indians and Russians, in contrast as with other Californian colonists. In 1828, the population of the colony was 60 Russians, 80 Aleuts and 80 local Indians. By 1836, the population increased slightly, up to 260 people, most of whom lived on the banks of the river Slavyanka.

The Kashaya tribe still preserves the memories on Fort Ross, and remembers the kind attitude of Russian settlers to the Indians.

The American delegation puts great importance on the visit to Russia and considers it as a symbolic gesture of renewed friendship with Russia, established 200 years ago.

In St.Petersburg, a visit to the Kunstkammer is planned to see the collection of ethnographer I.G.Voznesenskiy, which features the items of culture and life of Kashaya Indians.

Besides St.Petersburg, the U.S. delegation is going to visit Moscow and Vologda.

Reference:

In July 2012, the Russian side organized large-scale commemorative events in the museum complex of Fort Ross, attended by creative teams from different regions of our country.

Information: St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations, tel. 576-7107