Honoring Ginger

"Imaginal Portrait of Ginger Covert" by Maile Claire, Part of “The Story of Land, Water, and People” Exhibit at ‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts and Culture, 2024

Virginia “Ginger” Covert was the first female Tribal Chairperson of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe

A message from Shelly Covert...

February 28, 1945 - a day of immense importance for me - I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my momma.

Today we celebrate the birth of Virginia "Ginger" Covert. Although she has passed from the earthly realm,.,.,. and we cannot see her,.,., we certainly can feel her presence all around us and in everything we do.

My mom gave me love, protection, and the ability to care deeply for my family and friends. I continue to be amazed at the huge network of friends and colleagues that she made during her life. She truly cared about people ,., Mom had a very firm way of protecting us against "bad people" and "bad situations". This remains to be a challenge for me ,., I can't always "see" it. But I have been given opportunities recently to learn and explore ways I can protect myself, and my family, from those who wish to only do harm. I wish Mom were physically here to help me navigate that aspect of social interaction.,. ,., but I can only take the lessons I have in my memory of her and do my very best.

Lucky for me, I have a wise husband who is stitched together with the same thread as my mom ,.,., therefore I can rely on his brain and heart to help.

I'm honored and lucky to have been in the company and love of such a great Woman. She who navigated things with such grace, even when it was SO hard for her,., and for the Tribe.

But here we are today trying to always move with the same grace,.., to do better,., to live better,., to honor our Ancestors, this land ,., and this planet ,., the only place we humans have to call home.

I LOVE AND MISS YOU MOTHER, you small short little fireball of stubborn and tenacious power and love. You are missed more than you EVER could have imagined - even in your most wild visions of marking our lives. WITH LOVE AND TEARS AND SMILES,.,.,.,.,.,.,.., ~Shelly and family.

We have not yet set a date to celebrate Mom's life,., but when we do I will let you all know.

February 28, 2025

Ginger Covert and Shelly Covert

Ginger, with daughter Shelly, stand in front of the Solim Ni Mural in downtown Grass Valley. Photo by Nikila Badua

Remembering Acorn

Tribal Elder Ginger Covert created a project and presentation around the Native acorn resource.

“Our Culture and Traditional lifeways require an understanding of - and access to - natural resources, such as the acorn, when those traditions become disrupted, so too does our Culture.”

From “The Story of Land, Water, and People” , ‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Art & Culture 2024 exhibit

We Are the Land, by Mira Clark

“This piece is about Shelly and Ginger's deep connection with the landscape of their Ancestral Homelands. Their reverence for this land is tangible. Their care and love for the flora and fauna of the Sierra Foothills is a part of their Cultural traditions and something Settlers on these lands can learn from.”

Watercolor on Paper. www.existinspired.com

Tribal Members at the Nisenan Cultural Reclamation Corridor

Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribal Members ceremonially opening the Nisenan Tribute Bridge at Angkula Seo (Deer Creek)

"Alone" by Ginger Covert

Alone by Ginger Covert

“He is missing his freedom. Often wolves were part of the Nisenan family unit, and close companions, helping with hunting and securing food. Many of my relatives included wolves as part of their family.”

Part of the 2022 Visibility Through Art Exhibit, “Perspectives on Erasure”

Tribal Council

Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council Members, 2023

Left to right: Saxon Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Lorena Davis , Ginger Covert Vice-Chairwoman, Richard Johnson Chariman, Shelly Covert Secretary and Spokesperson,

Photograph Courtesy of Sean Leydon

Painting With Oak Gall Ink

Instructor Artist: Jennifer Rain Crosby

Artworks by Tribal Members: Ginger Covert, Shelly Covert, Lorena Davis, Sarah Thomas, Cindy Buero, Debra McBrien, Saxon Thomas

Artist Jennifer Rain Crosby led a group of Tribal Members in a class on how to create Oak Gall Ink and paint with it. Oak Galls are made of plant tissue and form when an insect (typically a wasp) secretes a chemical that causes interference with normal plant cell growth. This was an enriching way for the Tribe to paint with their native environment.

Part of “The Story of Land, Water, and People” exhibit at ‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Art & Culture, 2024

Virginia Covert at humukum: Whispers Through Time

Virginia “Ginger” Covert at the opening night of hamukum: Whispers Through Time, the 2023 Visibility Through Art exhibit at ‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts & Culture

She stands near "Return" by artist Jennifer Rain Crosby

I Still Live Here

“I Still Live Here” by artist Jenny Hale, in collaboration with NCR Tribal Vice-Chairperson Ginger Rose Covert

Tribal Members at the Nisenan Cultural Reclamation Corridor

Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribal Members ceremonially opening the Nisenan Tribute Bridge at Angkula Seo (Deer Creek)

Ginger and Shelly Covert

The Earth Abides

“The Earth Abides” by artist Jenny Hale, in collaboration with NCR Tribal Vice-Chairperson Ginger Rose Covert

Virginia "Ginger" Covert

Ginger Covert walking at the Nisenan Cultural Reclamation Corridor at Angkula Seo (Deer Creek)

Virginia came from a long line of leadership and her ancestry stretches back countless generations before the gold rush.

Born in 1945, Ginger’s generation was devastatingly affected by the boarding school experiences of her parents’ generation: a generation that was terrified to pass on Cultural knowledge to their children for fear of persecution, racism and bigotry. Regardless of these fears instilled at the hands of Indian boarding schools, Native people of this generation became pivotal activists in the resurgence of pride in Native Culture and advocacy for the environment, animals and people.

After serving as Chairwoman, Ginger served as Vice Chairperson on the Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council and held a position on CHIRP’s Board of Directors, solely to be occupied by a Tribal Council member of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe.

February 28, 1945 - December 3, 2024

Mother Earth by Mira Clark, inspired by Ginger Covert’s poem of the same name

Mother Earth

Our great gift is the Spirit Father and our Mother Earth

Poem by Virginia “Ginger” Covert, 1996

You provided us with shelter and fed us from your seeds

You nurtured us from infants, filling every need

You wanted us to grow and thrive, was it the overall plan

For us to be the gardeners, the keepers of your lands?

You knew we’d need sound bodies, good reasoning and health

But in those years of nurturing, did you forget about yourself

In those years of trial did you stray from the original plan

Or did you start to love us, as only a mother can?

You gave of yourself so freely, then we demanded even more

When you tried to wane the flow, we found ways to make it pour

We thought ourselves above all other living things

And in a world that no one owned, we crowned ourselves the Kings.

We continue to plunder your resources but no longer for our needs

Now the plundering that is done is for our insatiable greed

One ages quickly under stress and you’re old before your time

But like so many spoiled kids, we refuse to see the signs.

My prayer is to restore your clean rivers, forests and lakes

And reestablish our brotherhood with the Raven. The Wolf. And the Snake

Mother, we finally know now that our future is in your hands

A lesson hard learned, we are not the Kings, but the keepers of your land.