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Dear NASSSC Community Members,

We have traveled far together this year, and as we enter May, we are reminded that the circle continues. We have grown, learned, shared stories, food, and offered our voices, ideas, and perspectives in support of one another and the broader community. This work has been collective, and it will continue that way.

A special thank you to our many facilitators who helped honor Mother Earth this past month through meaningful events, from the Three Sisters Garden in Watsonville, to Earth Week across both campuses, to plant education, and environmental awareness efforts. These spaces remind us that we are all in relationship with the land, living in symbiosis with plants, animals, and one another. As David Ipina (Yurok Tribe) shared, “Mother Earth is not a resource. She is an heirloom.”

As the academic year comes to a close, we reflect on the learning and growth we have experienced, while also looking ahead. We are excited for upcoming collaborations with other entities on campus (UMOJA, CLAC and Rainbow council, etc), continued efforts to expand Native Studies across disciplines, and the important work of rewriting and re-envisioning our Land Acknowledgement.

One area we hope to bring greater awareness to is the idea of “statistical invisibility.” Many Native students, staff, and faculty are underrepresented in institutional data, often appearing as just 1% of the population based on self-identification. At the same time, many individuals with backgrounds in Latinx, African/Caribbean, Caucasian, Asian, and Pacific Islander communities may have Native ancestry that is unknown, unrecognized, or unexplored. By creating space for conversation, curiosity, and learning, we hope to expand understanding of identity and increase visibility for Native communities on our campus. (See Student Multi Ethnicity MIS Coding vs Student Expanded Ethnicity MIS coding used by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office

May brings not only warmer weather, but many opportunities to gather in community—powwows, garden planting, surfing, and community discussions. We encourage everyone to participate in local Native-centered events and to share any opportunities that may not yet be included on our calendar. nativeamericansssc@gmail.com

Thank you all for being part of this ongoing journey. We look forward to continuing this work 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.