In August, members of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT) returned to Star Creek Ranch and Rocks Ranch. These properties are among the ancestral lands for the Mutsun people and are integral to their identity and culture. We are honored to be partnering with AMLT in support of programs where the Mutsun people can gather for ceremonies, educate tribal youth, and harvest plants of important cultural significance. We are inspired by the vision of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust and encourage you to learn more about their mission.

Here are some notes from the tribal cultural days provided by Alexii Sigona, Amah Mutsun tribal member and Ph.D. student with UC Berkeley’s Dept. of Environmental Science Policy and Management.

Star Creek Ranch:

The Native Stewardship Corps, Amah Mutsun youth and community members, and AMLT Staff participated in a cultural day involving ethnobotany, storytelling, riparian stewardship, and a talking circle. Chairman Valentin Lopez shared stories with members about the Juristac area, Mutsun culture, and land stewardship. Amah Mutsun youth Michael Carabajal and Moses Pardo led the community in an elderberry harvesting activity. Participants learned about the many cultural uses of elderberry and harvested shoots that will be dried and crafted into clapper sticks (traditional percussion instruments) in the coming months. Next, the community learned about Pescadero Creek and Steelhead natural history and discussed opportunities for riparian stewardship. After a short walk down the road, the group visited an asphaltum seep, where stories from Ascension Solorsano recorded in the 1920’s about the tar seeps of the Juristac area were shared. Finally, the day ended with a reflection circle where participants shared their perspectives about the day. These reflections highlighted the importance of reconnecting with our ancestral lands and with this special place.

Rocks Ranch:

The Native Stewardship Corps and AMLT staff were joined by UCSC staff and faculty Miriam Greenberg, Rick Flores, Tsim Schneider, and Chris Wilmers on a cultural site visit and knowledge exchange. After an opening circle with introductions and a welcome from Chairman Lopez, the group gathered at Pinacate Peak, where Dr. Wilmers shared information about wildlife connectivity and mountain lion natural history, and Dr. Greenberg discussed the wildland urban interface and its relevance to the region. Next, the group visited a cultural site where Dr. Schneider discussed California Native resistance in the colonial era and contemporary native practices. Following a lunch along the creek, the group took an ethnobotany hike up through the oak woodland, where Native Stewards Gabriel Pineida, Nicolas Costillas, and others shared ethnobotanical information for various plants such as Buckeye, Mugwort, and Coast Live Oak. Rick Flores provided ecological information as well to complement the information shared by the stewards. Stewards identified several areas of the property which they were interested in visiting and expressed interest in returning soon.

We are so grateful to Alexii for sharing these experiences and look forward to strengthening our partnership with the Amah Mutsun Land Trust.