PART SIX

I have attempted to show an impartial and objective view of the evidence at hand regarding the Palms of the Moapa Valleys of Southern Nevada. There are surely more arguments which have only scarcely been touched upon. Every corner I made in this research endeavor only seemed to turn up more questions as well as possible answers and more possibilities.

Clearly the last word spoken by those who formerly had declared this Palm a non-native is both, problematic and unsubstantiated. Whatever may have been the true causes for all the continuing misunderstandings and mis-classifications in the past, it is now apparent that those responsible for this wrongful classification had not given these plants a truly unbiased or objective look.

In light of the incredible amount of history we have already lost regarding the Moapa and their culture, it is inconceivable that any responsible or reasonable agencies with the power to reverse this trend would do anything but immediately begin the process of restoration and a campaign to enlighten and educate the general and visiting public from this time forward.

I believe that no one could possibly objectively examine this material and still conclude that Washingtonia filifera is either adventive or exotic in Southern Nevada. The least which should be done, is to revise current policies which regard the plant exotic and halt further destruction by giving the plant and it's history a long deserved and overdue benefit of the doubt.

One cannot always replace something that is old with something that is new.

In closing, my firm conclusions are that the Washingtonia filifera has been shown to be a native plant in Southern Nevada and an incredibly important and as yet unknown part of the ancient Moapa's history in the area.

Removal of this palm from natural areas is therefore unwise, premature and unfair to the history and legacy of the Moapa Paiute. For these reasons such policies and resulting removals should be discontinued immediately. My recommendation to agencies which have thus far engaged in active removal of this plant (which shall be explained to the governor of the state of Nevada) is to immediately replace all those plants which were removed with new plants strictly from seedlings produced by old local plants.

Furthermore, All Riparian communities along the Colorado drainage as such within the bounds of the Moapa's ancient homelands should be first assumed to have had palms rather than the cottonwoods which Agencies would like to replace them with and which have been heavily documented to have been brought in by early Mormon settlers.

I hope that this report has helped some to realize what an important legacy has been systematically and repeatedly overlooked for almost 100 years. Hopefully this report will put an end to this long and persistent tradition of misinformation and ignorance. May this part of the Moapa's long and much forgotten legacy become once more a part of the area's historic references and botanicals.

I also hope that I have quoted everyone who helped make this possible, properly.

My sincere Thanks goes to all who helped make this report possible!

and last of all...Thanks Peg Leg Joe
...for the wonderful idea for a vision quest. It was worth it.
-(See my dedication for the story about Peg leg Joe, Moapa Paiute.)

-Spencer, Winton 

End of Main Report.

Moapa Palm - Photos and Notes Page ONE -

- Bibliography -