Every year, in the village of Tuluwat on Indian Island, the center of the Wiyot world, a seven- to ten-day world renewal dance was held to ask the Creator to bless all people and the land in preparation for the new year. But on Feb. 26, 1860, the Wiyot people experienced a devastating tragedy.

At that time the world renewal ceremonies were being held at Tuluwat. In the early morning hours, while most of the Wiyot men had left the island to replenish supplies and the elders, women and children rested, a group of armed white men came to the island and massacred the sleeping people.

The same act was repeated at two other villages on the Eel and Mad Rivers that evening. The few Wiyot survivors were corralled at Fort Humboldt and herded mostly to Round Valley.

Wiyot ancestral territory encompasses everything from Little River to Bear River to Chalk Mountain and on to Berry Summit. This includes McKinleyville, Blue Lake, Arcata, Eureka, Kneeland, Loleta, Fortuna, Ferndale, Rohnerville as well as the Mad River (Batwat), Elk River, Eel River and the Van Duzen River.

After the massacre, an estimated 200 Wiyot people remained. That number diminished to fewer than 100 full-blood Wiyot people living within Wiyot territory. Currently there are more than 550 enrolled Wiyot members who continue to struggle for the survival of their cultural way of life - and to be able to dance on the island once again. Today the Wiyot Tribe resides on 88 acres of land called Table Bluff, 16 miles south of Eureka.

In June 2004, in an unprecedented step toward making amends, the Eureka City Council honored the Wiyot Tribe's request to transfer 67 acres of Indian Island back to the tribe.

Annually since 1992, a candlelight vigil has been held on the last Saturday in February in memory of the tragedy and with hope for the island's full return to the people.

The Wiyot Tribe invites members of the community to the 15th annual Indian Island Candlelight Vigil which will be held rain or shine from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 25 on the west end of Woodley Island. Please bring a candle.

The tribe has established the Wiyot Sacred Sites Fund, a nonprofit that exists to return sacred sites such as Indian Island to the Wiyot people. The fund is sponsoring an art show and benefit sale of art inspired by Indian Island. Call 826-3711 to donate artwork to the show. Deadline for delivery is Feb. 25, 10-4 p.m.