Dear Community Members, 

As we reflect on this time of year, we are humbled by the connections, efforts, and thoughtful discussions we have shared within this committee, and we look forward to the work we will continue to do together. 

While this is a time of mourning, it is also a time of reflection, of honoring our ancestors, gathering with family and friends, and thinking more circularly about how everything is interconnected. Like the seasons, the harvest, and the rhythm of day and night, all things move in cycles. In that understanding, there is no true ending, only the continual step forward, each day, in how we show up for one another with resilience, education, creativity, open-mindedness, reflection, and collaboration.

We are grateful that you are part of our membership. Your presence and input are vital to the work we are doing to continue advocating, educating, and uplifting our communities.

We will be restarting our monthly sessions soon, as gathering in person, hearing each other’s laughter, sharing a meal, acknowledging frustrations, and creating space for ideas beyond the digital realm is essential to staying engaged and in community. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, January 22 at 5:15pm, when we will meet at our Aptos campus.

We are thankful for your gift of presence, knowledge, and camaraderie. Let us continue forward together.

Land Acknowledgement & Local Tribal History

PLEASE NOTE: Our current Land Acknowledgement is being thoughtfully reworked to ensure we properly honor the ancestors and stewards of these lands. In the meantime, we pause to reflect on the land itself: its peoples, animals, waters, and native plants that have been here since time immemorial. We consider the knowledge and care carried by the first peoples, passed down through generations, and we commit ourselves to learning, evolving, and changing our ways to honor those who came before us and continue to guide us today. 

Pronunciations of the local tribes are: Amah (Aaa-Ma), Mutsun (Moot-sun), Uypi (You-P), Awaswas (Aaa-Was-Was).  

Local Tribal History

Original Inhabitants: The Awaswas

• Tribe/Group: Awaswas

• Linguistic Family: Ohlone (also known as Costanoan)

• Territory: Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains, including present-day Santa Cruz County.

• Villages: Many small villages throughout the region, often located near creeks and coastal areas. Some notable ones were around the San Lorenzo River and Soquel Creek.

• Lifeways: The Awaswas people lived in seasonal villages and relied on fishing, shellfish gathering, acorn harvesting, and trading with neighboring groups.

Today:

The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band includes descendants of the Awaswas and other Mutsun-speaking Ohlone peoples. They are actively working to revitalize culture, language, and reclaim stewardship of ancestral lands. Although not federally recognized, they are deeply engaged in environmental and cultural restoration efforts in the Santa Cruz region.