The Yurok Tribe
'O Rew
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“We created a new model of conservation that centers Indigenous land stewardship. It's a blueprint for returning Tribal lands and restoring fractured ecosystems worldwide.”
-Joseph L. James, Yurok Tribe Chairman
Located in Orick, Humboldt County, this 125-acre property lies within Yurok Ancestral Homelands in Northern California. A place long nurtured and stewarded by Yurok people as both a cultural and ecological resource site. Over the past century, the land was altered by ranching, logging, and sawmill operations. Following extensive restoration, the landscape has been revitalized and its natural ecological functions restored. With this foundation in place, donor support will play a key role in bringing the site to life by expanding programs, supporting ongoing stewardship, and creating meaningful opportunities for community engagement.
The Story of 'O Rew
The Yurok Tribe's homelands are deeply rooted in the lands and waters of Heyhl-keek ‘We-Roy (the Klamath River) and Peesh-kaahl (the Pacific Ocean), where the community thrives on the region’s abundance for generations. 'O Rew is a central part of this landscape, where old-growth forests and the flowing waters of Sey-po-lah ‘Ue-Pkwery (Prairie Creek) shape the land as it moves into ‘O Rekw ‘We Roy (Redwood Creek) and out to Peesh-kaahl (the Pacific Ocean). The site also serves as a hub, connecting trail networks and pathways throughout the surrounding lands. For generations, these ecosystems supported the Yurok Tribe’s seasonal lifeways, providing food, materials, and spiritual connection, while sustaining the health of the broader watershed.
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That balance shifted in the mid-1800s with the arrival of Euro-American colonizers. The violence, displacement, and cultural fragmentation imposed on Yurok people unfolded alongside the ecological devastation of the old-growth redwood forest. Logging crews clear-cut the surrounding hillsides, and hundreds of sawmills rapidly processed trees that had stood for more than 2,000 years. Over time, 'O Rew was transformed into the Orick Mill Site. The land was paved with asphalt, and the once-riffling waters of Prairie Creek were buried in sediment and severed from their floodplain.
Stand with 'O Rew
Today, the Yurok Tribe leads efforts to restore the site’s ecological and cultural integrity. Working closely with partners, the Tribe has shaped the vision from the start, incorporating Yurok Ecological Knowledge and cultural priorities into the planning of restoration and visitor access. By the summer of 2026, the Yurok Tribe will welcome the public to this restored gateway, offering opportunities for cultural interpretation, education, and community connection, bridging the legacy of the past with a vision for the future.
Donate to 'O Rew
Wok-hlew'
Restoration Success:
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•Restored natural hydrology by removing 21 acres of asphalt
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•Created refuge and feeding areas for young salmon and steelhead
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•Planted over 400,000 native plants to rebuild biodiversity and support wildlife including elk, salmon, frogs, and diverse bird species
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•Revitalized 18 acres of riparian and wetland habitat.
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•Realigned a mile of Prairie Creek, and reconnected the creek to its floodplain