At one time, Chumash territory encompassed 7,000 square miles that spanned from the beaches of Malibu to Paso Robles. The tribe also inhabited inland to the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley. Utilizing resources from both the land and the sea, we called ourselves “the first people,” and pointed to the Pacific Ocean as our first home. We invite you to learn more about the rich history of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians at the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center, now open to

2K views · 54 reactions | Sharing the complexity of our ancestral communities through education is just one of the ways we are honoring the legacy of our people. Learn more about the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians at santaynezchumash.org. | Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians | Facebook

The Chumash have been a maritime culture for thousands of years, with their territory stretching from Malibu to Morro Bay and westward to the sandstone cliffs of the Channel Islands, over 20 miles off the coast of California. To navigate the treacherous currents of the channel for fishing and trading, they built the strong plank canoe tomols for which they are famous. But over centuries of European colonization, which included forced assimilation and enslavement of Chumash people, the craft of t