San Luis Obispo, CA – Northern Chumash Tribal Council applauds California Democrats Carbajal, Feinstein, Padilla and others as they urge the U.S. Department of Commerce to prioritize completing the designation process
In February, Indigenous peoples from throughout the Pacific and around the globe joined voices at a major international ocean conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, that gathered 3,000 participants from 123 countries and hundreds of Native nations.
SAN FRANCISCO, February 17, 2023. On Wednesday, February 8, the California Coastal Commission approved 56 Whale Tail Grant applications totaling more than $2 million to non-profit organizations, community groups, and schools for projects and programs that provide educational experiences
Driving through the coastal city of Morro Bay, it’s hard to miss the 600-foot-tall volcanic rock sticking out of the ocean and towering over the city. The local landmark is commonly known as Morro Rock, a Spanish word with several meanings including “snout” or “round hill.”
The United States can move closer to its dual goals of increasing access to nature for all Americans and protecting 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030 by approving and completing the...
San Luis Obispo, CA – On the anniversary of the late Chief Fred Collins’ birthday, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council announced their inaugural distribution of the Fred Collins Environmental Warrior Student Scholarship. In honor of Chief Collins’ legacy...
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is holding a lease sale for offshore wind projects off the coast of California today. Three of the five areas of ocean are off the coast of Morro Bay, the ancestral land of the indigenous Northern Chumash and Salinan tribes.
It is a great opportunity for our region that the Biden administration announced in October the first-ever offshore wind rights sale off California’s coast. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Dec. 6 sale includes five lease areas.
In 1969, Southern California suffered one of the largest oil spills in history, prompting national outrage and environmental awareness. Today, part of the Pacific coast near Channel Islands National Park remains vulnerable to drilling and other threats.
California’s original ocean stewards are the driving force behind what may be the nation's newest national marine sanctuary. Pending final approval, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would effectively stretch over half of California’s coastline...
The House Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee held a hearing at the Morro Bay Community Center on Thursday to hear testimony on the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area.
MORRO BAY, California – The coastline surrounding Morro Rock was shrouded in fog; however, the sun shined brightly over the small port town Aug. 20
Forming a human line from the mouth of Morro Bay up to Morro Rock, dozens of people passed rocks up from...
“The return of stones taken from Lisamu’ represents a healing of our people and our culture - a healing that is long overdue,” said Violet Sage Walker...
Violet Sage Walker is the chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council. Among her many passions and activities, she is an accomplished horsewoman, SCUBA diver, as well as steward of Chumash natural resources, culture and history.
In 1990, when Monterey Bay was nominated for consideration as a National Marine Sanctuary, some of the more radical supporters proposed...
To the editor: The Times failed to adequately portray the Northern Chumash Tribal Council’s view on offshore wind energy. On matters concerning management of land and waters, Indigenous people must speak for themselves.
On a foggy morning in Morro Bay, sea otters summersault in the harbor while fishermen heave gear onto their boats. Across the water, surfers rip across silver-blue waves. The Chumash can sometimes be seen climbing Morro Rock...
The Environmental Defense Center (EDC) will honor Violet Sage Walker and Fred (Eagle Chief “SLOW”) Collins (Violet’s father, who passed away in 2021) as part of the organization’s annual event: Green & Blue: A Coastal Celebration.
For decades, communities across central California have fought – both for and against – the creation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. In the Morro Bay Harbor, a California sea otter reclines, belly-up, on the sun-soaked waves. She yawns, stretches, and closes her eyes
Northern Chumash Tribal Council Chairwoman and Sanctuary Nominator Violet Sage Walker has the honor of presenting at the international Our Ocean 2022 conference in Palau. Her remarks will be streamed LIVE Wednesday...
The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday declared its support for a national marine sanctuary along the Central California Coast proposed by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary was proposed...
The Chumash people are a beautiful, inspiring culture that most people have never heard of. We have lived along the same stretch of California coastline for the last 15,000 to 20,000 years.
October 23rd marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Violet Sage Walker, Chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, explains what the designation of the first Indigenous-led sanctuary, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, would mean to conservation and the Chumash People.
Los Osos, California – More than 30,000 people expressed their support for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, according to analysis of comments submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the Central Coast has received tens of thousands of comments during its public comment period. The 83-day period held by the...
Yesterday, Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to send a resolution of support for the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS).
Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published a Notice of Intent advancing the public process to designate the...
Conserving the ocean off Point Conception has been a dream for Fred Collins and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council for more than a decade, a hope that took a giant step forward today when the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary officially entered the designation process.
The Biden administration on Tuesday said it was taking steps to designate a national marine sanctuary off the coast of central California. President Joe Biden has set a goal of safeguarding 30% of U.S. land and water over the next decade.
A marine sanctuary that runs 140 miles off the Central California coast is hoping to become a federally recognized sanctuary to protect marine life and preserve Indigenous sacred sites. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is the first tribally nominated sanctuary, with the
Chumash people have inhabited California's Central Coast region over 20,000 years, stewarding our ancestral waters. For the last 40 years, Chumash leaders and allies have fought to protect the extraordinary cultural and natural values of our home against new and harmful industrial development.
Although I spent most of my career in Washington, D.C., my home and heart have always been along California’s beautiful Central Coast. Growing up along the shores of Monterey Bay inspired my lifelong commitment to promoting responsible stewardship of our oceans.
Sierra Club has reprinted the recent Real Clear Policy op-ed by Violet Sage Walker, traditional vice-chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribe, in their latest newsletter and it would be great if folks could lift it up! In the op-ed Violet describes the opportunity for the Biden Administration to designate the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary […]
A Northern Chumash descendant of Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo County, California, Violet Sage Walker is campaigning tirelessly for the proposed 140-mile Chumash National Marine Sanctuary in order to regain her community’s fundamental rights.
When and where we dive with Nautilus has been a moving target this past week with equipment failures and bad weather conditions (wind and swell). We’ve be hiding in the lee of Channel Islands and just completed two dives over the past two days. A week sooner than anticipated – we all rallied and Lizzie […]
Congressman Salud Carbajal and Senator Feinstein applauded National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on their recent decision to keep the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary on the nomination list...
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has completed our five-year review of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary nomination and determined that this nomination continues to meet the 11 sanctuary nomination process criteria.
Last Chance: Public Comments Closing June 15th! The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is requesting written comments to facilitate ONMS review of the nomination for Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS). NOAA will also assess the level of community-based support for the nomination from a broad range of […]
During these unprecedented times, the California Natural Resources Agency remains committed to protecting the state’s ocean and marine environment, economy, and historical and cultural artifacts. With this letter, I submit for the record my enthusiastic support to renew the nomination for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS).
It’s time to speak out for the ocean – you can make a difference Being near the ocean is unlike other places—it has a magical quality that allows people and families the opportunity to create unforgettable memories. We celebrate our spiritual blessing ceremonies, community gatherings, holidays, weddings, births and memorials to life here. We want […]
Indigenous Peoples have a unique perspective. When incorporated with science, our perspectives highlight Grandmother Ocean’s life and connectivity in a living matrix of thrivability. The connectivity of life in Grandmother Ocean needs our assistance in understanding ways to support the life force of our Grandmother Ocean, in these times.
I am writing this letter to offer my wholehearted support to renew the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) nomination that may expire this year. I encourage you to promote NOAA's examination and analysis of this appeal and argue for the importance of maintaining the CHNMS in NOAA's inventory.
On May 4, 2020, NOAA published a Federal Register notice to solicit public comments on Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary nomination and its consideration to remain on the inventory of successful nominations for an additional 5 years. NOAA will assess whether conditions that warranted its inclusion in the inventory of nominated sites still apply, including the […]
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and the Indigenous Communities around the world are working to provide solutions to assist Grandmother Oceans in the ever expanding troubling challenges that we face today. NCTC would like to thank you (Mr. Douros,) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on Commerce Secretary Ross to accelerate the designation of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in an effort to combat rising carbon levels in the oceans.
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council is opposing the proposed Roosevelt statue, in Mitchell Park, in San Luis Obispo Response to opinion article by ARTS Obispo, in the TT. 020819 To the “Good People on Both Sides” we have heard you, and you should abandon this racist’s project. To the committee working under the auspices of […]
Hello Dear Supporters, The Northern Chumash Tribal Council, Inc. is engaged with many project, protecting our environment, culture heritage and ancestral Sacred Places, please see article below, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, Inc. is always in need of support from our great friends, thank you for all you do, together we will see the future […]
People protect what they love. In its latest meeting, the Avila Advisory Council (AVAC) heard a proposal from Somera Capital Management, TG Gamble concerning 50 cottage-style rentals and a lodge to be constructed overlooking San Luis Bay Drive on the property adjacent to the Avila Beach Resort Golf Course. The presentation was an effort to […]
From now and into the future our most sacred Lisamu (Morro Rock) will be honored in a good way. The Native American Heritage Commission agrees climbing of the Morro Rock should be prohibited in accordance with Northern Chumash and federal Law.
Supervisors oppose Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary proposal. Following a contentious hearing that lasted most of the day on Feb. 7, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted...
On behalf of our Executive Director (Monterey Bay Aquarium) Julie Packard, please accept the attached letter urging that NOAA begin the designation process for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The nomination was accepted by NOAA in October 2016...
The Chumash marine sanctuary would extend 140 miles from Cambria to Santa Barbara. Proponents say it would protect a diverse Pacific ecosystem. Local fishermen say the sanctuary could lead to over-regulation. A controversial underwater national park proposed
NOAA has determined the Chumash Heritage (California, Central Coast) National Marine Sanctuary nomination has successfully met the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process. This does not guarantee that...
Last summer, we were contracted by the Sierra Club to prepare a short report on the potential economic impacts of a proposed Central Coast National Marine Sanctuary. We were careful to point out the assumptions...
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council asked the Native American Heritage Commission to review the Salinan and Chumash boundary, NCTC and the entire archaeological world knows that the boarder is north of Paso Robles and Ragged Point, and soon there should be a written decision stating the facts.
Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and informed themselves about protecting sacred water against uranium mining. Living in Pine Ridge, we have been downstream from the Cameco, Inc. Crow Butte uranium mine for more than 30 years.
California Edition Host Brad Pomerance interviews Northern Chumash Tribal Administrator Fred Collins about the tribe and their efforts to create the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Please feel free to share this link on your social media (i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Websites, etc.).
Designating the waters of the central coast as a national marine sanctuary “offers integrated management, a means of resolving issues, and promotion of education and research,” and “results in specific protection for habitat and resources.” So said San Luis Obispo...
This is an excerpt from the Jan. 2015 National Conference on Shutting Down Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant. Fred Collins, Tribal Spokesperson for the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, talks about the history and culture of his people...
The waters of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) lie between the Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The unique coastline and ocean waters are the most beautiful...
Uranium mining on the Great Plains is explained by Charmaine White Face, a member of the Oglala band of the Great Sioux Nation. We must get the word out post anywhere you can, this is very serious. “Defenders of the Black Hills is a group of volunteers without racial or tribal boundaries whose mission is to […]
The authors want to thank William Douros, Western Regional Director of National Marine Sanctuaries, for providing important financial information about sanctuary budgets; student assistant Maren Gardiner Farnum, for her research and analytical...
In an explosive document kept secret for a year, a former federal inspector charges that the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California is more vulnerable to earthquakes than initially known and should be shut down until Pacific Gas & Electric Co. can prove its safety.
Spisumu is the Obispeño Chumash invitation to ‘gather together’ and Haku is the Inseño Chumash word for welcome. In that spirit, you are invited to a day of learning at Cal Poly for American Indian students, elders and Families on Saturday, April 5th
Captain Dave Anderson of Capt. Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Safari in Dana Point, California, at great personal risk, has recently filmed and edited a 5-minute video that contains some of the most beautiful, jaw-dropping, footage ever taken with a drone from the air of a huge mega-pod of thousands of
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) would like to invite your organization to support our Indigenous proposed California Central Coast Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. NCTC has started grassroots collaboration between the Marine Sanctuary Alliance (MSA)...
Please read below the National Indigenous Congress Declaration. We hope you find this interesting and share it where you think it will be read. Mexico: National Indigenous Congress – Declaration From The Seminar “Tata Juan Chávez Alonso” To the people and governments of the world:
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is located in San Luis Obispo California, and was formed under the guidelines of California Senate Bill 18 April 26, 2006 as a California State Recognized Tribal...
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council has a relationship with all things, it is our honor to care for the land and waters, and our ancestors have been caring for this land for all time. Time, Space, One Continuum. When the Elders and Chumash Community gathered in Avila last year, on August 17, during our struggle with […]
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is a sovereign California Native American Tribal Government, located at 67 South Street, San Luis Obispo California. NCTC is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Chumash Sacred Heritage in San Luis Obispo County.
Climate Change is here…maybe we can dispute why but it is a fact. The REDD + initiative aimed at halting the destruction of forests has the potential to ruin or enhance the lives of millions of indigenous peoples around the world living in forests…
post from SLO Clean Water Action Community Rights based Action Securing Our Right to Clean Water in perpetuity with the Rights of Nature Well, the long and short of it is YES. How do we know we are getting fracked? San Luis Obispo sits on the 4th largest gas and oil reserve in the United States, […]
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) has just recently learned that a baseball team has moved into our north county community of Templeton. NCTC is not opposed to baseball, baseball builds team work...
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) has forwarded a permit issued by your office for sonic testing around the Sacred Chumash Nations Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands, which is to start February 9th 2013. This permit was issued January 21, 2013. On December 3, 2012 NCTC sent you a letter expressing the California Native
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is located in San Luis Obispo California, and was formed under the guidelines of California Senate Bill 18 April 26, 2006 as a California State Recognized Tribal Government by the California Native American Heritage Commission, local Chumash community and local government.
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is located in San Luis Obispo California, and was formed under the guidelines of California Senate Bill 18 April 26, 2006 as a California State Recognized Tribal Government by the California Native American Heritage Commission, organized and dedicated to preservation...
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is providing the following comments for the draft EIR that the San Luis Obispo County Planning & Building Department has begun pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed Dana Adobe Land Use Ordinance Amendment and Conditional Use Permit.
After fasting near the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment in LA, our friends from Nipponzan Myohoji end twelve days of action for a nuclear-free Mother Earth with a 12-mile walk from the gates of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant into the city of San Luis Obispo. The walk will […]
What a busy year. We have missed our emails for almost an entire year. We meant to send a newsletter but time has been flying by. We hope that this finds all our friends well. We wanted to let you know what we have been up to. First, we are still here, doing well, recovering […]
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is located in San Luis Obispo California, and was formed under the guidelines of California Senate Bill 18 April 26, 2006 as a State Recognized Tribal Government by the Native American Heritage Commission, organized and dedicated to preservation of the...
Message from Marcus Lopez Co-Chair Barbareno Chumash Council of Santa Barbara: Congratulation to all who participated to defend our relatives! The Calif. Coastal Commission voted unanimously to deny PG&E its permit. You can be proud of the governing
Dear COAST Alliance members and friends of the oceans, I’m so proud of our activists’ collective dedication, determination and subsequent victory in convincing the California Coastal Commission to flatly deny PG&E’s permit to move ahead on murderous ocean blasting off the California Central Coast.
A deep heart felt thank you to everyone who “liked” or “shared” information about Stopping the Diablo Canyon Seismic Testing. Though the battle against PG&E’s high-energy seismic test appears winnable this fall, the war for the future of seismic testing in Estero Bay may be far from over, requiring constant vigilance, and that was the […]
There is a fair amount of research available concerning offshore Native American Sacred Sites and NCTC wants to make sure that our voice pointing out these very important pre-historical Californian Native American Sacred Sites is heard loud and clear...
Save Our Seas Music FestivalSunday 11/11 at 11am. Festival goes til sundown! @ Tideland’s Park Morro Bay This is a music festival to stand up and say “Save our Seas!” Come to Morro Bay’s Tideland Park (at the South end of the Embarcadero) Lineup:Introduction and Chumash Blessing by FRED COLLINS of the Northern Chumash Tribal […]
Big turnout against seismic testing at Commission meeting. One thing was very clear from the Fish and Game Commission meeting held in Sacramento on Monday, September 24 – the vast majority of people, including Commission members, environmentalists...
The territorial, cultural, and religious rights of the Chumash Nation are being challenged and undermined in insidious ways by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant establishment.
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is a tribal governing body whose members are from San Luis Obispo County and they have been the living continuum of Chumash Peoples for over 18,000 years. Living along this sacred coastline...
Tomol Crossing to Limuw 2012 Ventura Harbor to Limuw September 8, 9 and 10, 2012 Here are a few more images from our Tomol Village Hop 2012 at Avila Beach. It was a Beautiful day. You’ll no doubt recognize someone special in these photos… See you next week for the Tomol Crossing to Limuw 2012? […]
We hosted our Annual Chumash Nation Tomol Village Hop at Chicqawt’ (Morro Bay) and Tsipxatu (Avila Beach) August 18-19 2012 was filled with Sunrise and Launch Ceremonies, Blessings, and Stories. The tomols paddled the Chumash villages of Chicqawt’...
Due to ongoing budgetary constraints, the Commission in 2012 has had to forego its past practices of scheduling half of its annual meetings outside of Sacramento and conducting certain meetings at locations where great public interest exists regarding an item on the agenda. In response to the significant interest expressed by a large number of […]
NorthWest Indian News Episode #50 stories: “Paddle to Swinomish” “Chumash Canoe Story” (go to 07:44) “Preparing for Tribal Journey” “Lushootseed: A Living Language” What a beautiful interview and a long time coming…I feel a great deal of pride for our People!!! Thanks to all of the those of past, present and future who have participated […]
On Friday, June 22, 2012, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), in violation of numerous state and federal laws, including those protecting nesting birds, (Migratory Bird Act) will allow the Salinan Tribe of Monterey & San Luis Obispo Counties (Salinan Tribe) to climb to the top of Morro Rock. Morro Rock is a […]
Dozens of Indigenous Peoples showed up at a presentation by the World Intellectual Property Organization at the 11th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues...
The National Park Service this week designated the Carrizo Plain Archeological District in California as a National Historic Landmark. The remote eastern edge of San Luis Obispo County represents a unique concentration of ancient sites, art, and artifacts. Anthropologists, archeologists, artists...
NCTC Chief Fred Collins discussing the Declaration of Rights for Indigenous Peoples on American Indian Movement Santa Barbara
