Oakbrook Chumash Indian Museum

In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Maria Solares. Maria Solares is a beloved ancestor of the Santa Ynez tribal community who l...ived from 1842 to 1923, and her legacy includes well over a hundred narratives in our native Samala language. Thanks to her vision and dedication, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians are able to re-awaken many aspects of our culture that might otherwise have been lost to time.

If the Chumash were using beads as money 2,000 years ago, Gamble said, this changes our thinking of hunter-gatherers and sociopolitical and economic complexity. This may be the first example of the use of money anywhere in the Americas at this time.

Just a friendly reminder to those of you who use our trails at the museum, as the weather starts heating up, be on the lookout for rattlesnakes or xsap as they are called in the local Mitsqanaqan’ / Ventureno Chumash language. While our museum building stays closed due to county COVID19 restrictions, our trail is open from sunrise to sunset every day. Dogs are not allowed on our trails.

mexme'y - juncus Most important basketry material: baskets were used for cooking, storing water, gathering, storing valuables, along with many other uses. Chumash women are renowned for their basketry skills.

Our October talk by Allison Hill is now on our youtube channel! If you tuned into our Facebook Live event, there were technical difficulties with connecting to Zoom in the beginning, so the first few minutes were not viewable. You can now watch the entire talk on Youtube. Keep an eye out for information regarding our November speaker, details coming soon.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb9u1YkkIIE

Our September talk Reawakening the Tongva Language through Poetry: an Online Poetry Reading and Presentation by Megan Dorame is now viewable on our YouTube channel! We will be uploading our October talk by Allison Hill soon. You can find all of our educational videos on our YouTube channel Chumash Indian Museum.

Join us tomorrow night through Facebook Live or RSVP tonight for a Zoom link at https://forms.gle/ihxzywxGiVrPdFQ37

Mask restock! We have 3 new mask options in our online store, plus a restock of previously listed masks. Enjoy these lilac colored Native-themed masks, vintage Disney masks, plus we are now carrying youth/child sizes in the Southwest mask design! ... These masks were handmade by Cathy Guzman (Chumash/Tataviam). Hurry over to our online store to order, limited quantities available. https://www.chumashmuseum.org/store

THIS JUST IN! Netflix announces a new fantasy-adventure preschool series "Spirit Rangers," which follows a Native American modern family, created by Chumash t...ribal member, Karissa Valencia. Spirit Rangers is Native-led with a team of Native writers, Native artists, Native actors and Native composers. As a Native Storyteller, I’ve rarely come across the opportunity to tell my own story," said Valencia. We can't wait to see this! Read More: https://loom.ly/LpRBRK4 #MoreNatives #NativeFilm #SpiritRangers #IndigenousFilm

"My Ancestors sang these glorious baskets to life with their bone awls and abalone soaking dishes. I am not my Ancestors....with my metal tools and Starbucks co...ffee cooling on the table. But like them, I am part dreamer and part mathematician--and like them, I am weaving my stories into an object that can be held in your hands." Tima Lotah Link, Shmuwich Chumash Weaver (@timaoutside) The museum has over 14,000 baskets in its collection representing Indigenous peoples in two hemispheres, here are three Chumash baskets.

We are one week away from our next virtual event! Please RSVP at https://forms.gle/ihxzywxGiVrPdFQ37 to receive Zoom Link. This event will be live-streamed through Facebook as well. Please visit our Facebook page on Oct. 22nd at 6pm to view.

Are you curious to know more about Chumash tomols? Kagen Holland discusses these unique plank canoes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XEcZYwBRRo

tok (dogbane) This is used for cordage and is the most important to our people and used for many purposes: fishing lines, nets, sewing thread, ceremonial regalia, boat thatching and more.

A special #indigenouspeoplesday message in song from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

We spend today celebrating all Indigenous People and commemorating their histories and culture. We remember their struggles and the tragedies they endured while honoring their place on this land and the contributions they bring to the shared history of America.