Changemaker
Rosie Clayburn Katri
TL;DR
Rosie Clayburn Katri is the Yurok Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer, with signatory authority over land disturbing activity across Yurok ancestral territory, and the first Native woman on the board of Parks California.
Rosie Clayburn Katri is the Yurok Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer and director of the Yurok Cultural Resources Department. Giants Rising credits her under her earlier name, Rosie Clayburn. In that role she advises the Yurok Tribal Council on the Tribe’s most significant projects, from land acquisitions to the protection of cultural sites, and she oversees all repatriations. She led the largest recovery of privately owned Yurok ceremonial items in the Tribe’s history, and she oversaw the opening of the Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, the first tribally operated visitor center in the California State Park system. The film’s own site describes her as the first Native woman on the board of Parks California.
Rosie Clayburn Katri is the Yurok Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer and director of the Yurok Cultural Resources Department, credited in Giants Rising under her earlier name, Rosie Clayburn.
Why OGSP Recommends It
We recommend Rosie Clayburn Katri’s story because her work has produced clear results for the Yurok Tribe. As the Tribe’s Heritage Preservation Officer, she helps protect ancestral land from harmful development. She also oversaw California’s first tribally operated state park visitor center and led the largest recovery of privately owned Yurok ceremonial items in the Tribe’s history. Her work has helped return land, cultural objects and public spaces to Yurok care.
Related Resources
Key Takeaways
- As Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer she has signatory authority over all land disturbing activities in Yurok ancestral territory.
- She oversaw the opening of the Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, the first tribally operated visitor center in the California State Park system.
- She led the largest recovery of privately owned Yurok ceremonial items in the Tribe’s history.
- On land returned to the Tribe where a mill once stood she has said that what was a source of conflict is now a point of pride and a place where Yurok people feel welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer do?
In Rosie Clayburn Katri’s case the role carries signatory authority over all land disturbing activities in Yurok ancestral territory, and responsibility for protecting cultural sites and overseeing repatriations.
What is the Chah-pekw O’ Ket’-toh Stone Lagoon Visitor Center?
It is the first tribally operated visitor center in the California State Park system, and Rosie Clayburn Katri oversaw its development and opening.
Is Rosie Clayburn Katri on the board of Parks California?
Yes. The film’s own site describes her as the first Native woman to serve on that board.
Is Rosie Clayburn Katri in Giants Rising?
Yes. The film’s own site lists her as Yurok Tribal Heritage Preservation Officer, under her earlier name Rosie Clayburn.