As the President’s Chumash Advisory Council (PCAC), we welcome you to Chumash lands and to this guide to promoting relationships and respect for the land and all of its living beings. Our campus is located on the traditional homelands of the (BVBMI), with whom the University maintains a strong partnership through the PCAC. As a form of land acknowledgement and call to action, we encourage you and your group to reflect upon the points of consideration below and allow them to guide your actions when planning and holding an event or activity on campus (main campus, Channel Islands Boating Center, Santa Rosa Island Research Station) or hosting an event off campus while representing CSUCI. To ask questions, request a meeting, or otherwise, please contact the PCAC at pcac@csuci.edu.
There are three levels of engagement with this land and attending considerations that the PCAC encourages you to reflect and act upon when you are planning your activity. These levels and considerations are important for the following reasons:
- Rather than encouraging “rule-following,†protocols help guide intentional development of relationships with the land and with the Chumash people. This can be considered an active form of land acknowledgement.
- We are honoring the land, and by honoring the land we are honoring the Chumash people, their ancestors, and all communities past and present who have lived and worked on these lands.
- Doing so will help ensure that your event/activity/class is created with intentional respect and thoughtfulness.
Level 1: Any activity taking place anywhere outside on campus property or held off campus as representatives of CSUCI; or any indoor activity that is spiritual, ceremonial, or related to Chumash cultural knowledge and practices. Considerations for Level 1 activities:
- Please adhere to all federal, state, County, and University regulations and policies, including principles. If you are unsure about other regulations that may apply, please contact the PCAC.
- As Dr. Raudel Bañuelos says, “We come in a good way, and we leave in a good way.†How will you and your participants ensure that you begin and end your activity with mindfulness to this sentiment?
- Reflect upon the following questions and allow them to guide all participants’ actions during your activity:
- When planning an event/activity/class on campus property, could the activity have a tangible impact on:
- the land?
- cultural resources?
- natural resources?
- plant, animal, and insect communities?
- the sensory experience of the land (sounds, scents, etc.)?
- the of and from satÊ°wiwa?
- public perceptions of Chumash culture, land, and people?
- How are you ensuring that you are leaving the place better than you found it?
- If your activity includes a teaching or practice relating to the land, how are you ensuring that it promotes accurate, positive, and healthy relationships?
- Might the intended outcomes of your activity be enhanced by learning about Chumash values and/or practices? If so, refer to Level 3.
Level 2: Activity that involves satÊ°wiwa (previously known as Round Mountain). This is an elevated level of engagement because satÊ°wiwa is considered a sacred place by the Chumash people. Considerations for Level 2 activities:
- All of Level 1 considerations.
- There is a level of respect and professionalism expected of any visitor to satʰwiwa, similar to what would be expected within any sacred place in any culture. Please ensure that all participants’ speech and behavior is appropriate to the activity and respectful.
- Please honor satÊ°wiwa and the land . This short video is a:
- Chumash Blessing performed by Raudel Bañuelos, Chumash Cultural Advisor, Retired CSUCI Director of Facility Support
- Accompanied on Vocals and Instruments by Matthew Vestuto, Chair of the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians
- Chumash Lyrics (Translation):
- ‘ihi’hiyuhu (we move)
- ‘ihi’hiyuhu (we move)
- ‘ihi’hiyuhu hatšnuwananałna’ał (swaying to the rhythm of the song)
Level 3: Activity for which you are requesting participation from a Chumash tribal leader. If so, the PCAC asks that you do the following:
- All of Level 1 considerations.
- Request participation of a BVBMI tribal leader by contacting Dr. Raudel Bañuelos, CSUCI’s Chumash Cultural Advisor and BVBMI tribal elder, via pcac@csuci.edu well in advance of the activity.
- Please use correct titles and be as formal as possible.
- Be prepared to discuss appropriate compensation for time, travel, and cultural expertise.
- Be prepared to describe the intentions and plans for the activity or event, and any questions you may have.
- Ask for any details that will help you and your participants to “come in the right way,†in the words of Dr. Raudel Bañuelos.
- Be prepared for your event to begin with Chumash blessings and invocation of the ancestors.
- Express gratitude to the land and its peoples.