Wishtoyo - News & Publications

Newsletter ~ Vol IV, Winter 2001

Haku...Message from Executive Director: Mati Waiya
Wishtoyo/Ventura Coastkeeper started out the New Year with some big changes. In the spring, we acquired new office space in the Channel Islands Harbor, bringing VCK closer to our areas of interest. We acquired a new computer and software and Orange County Coastkeeper's Garry Brown donated a patrol boat, to use for our Harbor patrol and water monitoring tasks. Lin Myerson was hired as Wishtoyo's new office and project administrator...welcome Lin.

I would like to thank all of the people who have volunteered their time and support to Wishtoyo/Ventura Coastkeeper this year. We have moved forward to begin building our cultural demonstration village at Nicholas Canyon, we are patrolling coastlines and monitoring waterways for pollutants. With your help, we are getting involved with marine protection and preservation of creeks and watersheds. I look forward to another year of dedication and victories for our environment.

"We are in the time of the Winter when the new sun begins. It's the time of the bear and the eagle. The bear represents the strength of the Mother and the eagle protects the land."

Marine Protected Areas (MPA)
Mati attended several Marine Protected Areas (MPA) hearings to present the case for a Chumash governed sanctuary off the coast of Ventura. These sanctuaries are vital in the effort to preserve and protect our marine habitat and resources for future generations. He also spoke to over 200 people at a hearing in Santa Barbara in August.

Currently, a proposal is being submitted to the Secretary of Commerce. This is a request for stewardship by the Chumash Nation's Inter-Tribal Marine Conservancy, a non-profit organization, to be established under Chumash tribal authority and/or Federal/state law. The Board of Directors of the Chumash Nation's Inter-Tribal Conservancy will be made up of representatives of the Santa Ynez Band and other Chumash organizations.

Knowledge of the ocean and coastline was key to the survival of the Chumash when they arrived and settled in this coastal area many millennia ago.

PROJECTS UPDATES

Chester King, archaeologist, completed a site study for Nicholas Canyon, in Malibu, the site for Wishtoyo's Chumash Demonstration Village project, identifying important Chumash cultural heritage sites in this coastal area.
We acquired a landscaping plan from Growing Solutions, designating the placement of native plants to replace existing non-native species on the site.
Los Angeles County Dept. of Beaches and Harbors became our partner in an application for a major grant from California State Parks for construction of the village, which was completed in November.
Recently, Malibu's Mayor Joan House and the Malibu City Council unanimously endorsed our Chumash Demonstration Village project at their council meeting.
A Right of Use Permit for Wishtoyo's access and use of this Los Angeles County property was received and our lease agreement is effective beginning January 1, 2002.

Mati looks forward to utilizing this hereditary site for future Chumash ceremonies and activities, and enabling the general public to witness firsthand the lifestyle of his native people. This cultural, historical and environmental undertaking encompasses the scope of Wishtoyo's purpose and mission, to unite native Indian teachings and ways with the environmental goals of cleaning up, preserving and protecting our lands, oceans, and watersheds.

CCAT
Ventura Coastkeeper's California Coastal Agritoxin Testing (CCAT) project, will research the environmental effects and health hazards resulting from Ventura County's agricultural pesticide use, and produce a white paper on the subject. Mary Haffner, a Ventura lawyer, will play a key role in advising us with her knowledge and experience regarding pesticide laws. She was involved the passing of a bill which addressed the use of pesticides in the areas of schools. A project manager has been hired and begun research for this important undertaking, which will include monitoring waterways for pesticide and chemical content.

CALLEGUAS CREEK
In the fall, VCK received a $5200 grant from the Norcross Wildlife Fund for the purchase of lab equipment for our Calleguas Creek Watershed Monitoring project.

In addition, we were pleased to receive notice from the Federal EPA that our 319(h) grant application, filed last spring, has passed an initial approval at the Regional Water Board, and we are awaiting further notice. This is a major grant to fund this monitoring project, including hiring a project manager.

In anticipation of our implementation of a monitoring program in the near future, Lin attended a two-day, intensive Citizen Water Monitoring course in Coachella Valley's Water District in November, led by the Regional Water Quality District's Clean Water Team, and learned a great deal about what is involved in a citizen monitoring program.

KIDDIE BEACH
Mati was appointed to Channel Islands Harbor's Task Force for the cleanup of Kiddie Beach, and regularly attends meetings regarding the cleanup and restoration of that Harbor beach. He recently recommended a company for the cleanup project, and the Task Force has now put that company's bid at the top of its list for consideration, in performing the tasks required for establishing contributors and sources of the pollution.

SAVE AHMANSON RANCH
In August, Mati spoke to over 500 attendees at a hearing in Woodland Hills, explaining the effort to contest Washington Mutual's planned residential development at Ahmanson Ranch, and to preserve its cultural and historical sites as well as its natural resources and endangered species. He also recently joined in a press conference Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, with Martin Sheen and Rob Reiner, which was covered on major radio stations, and viewed on various TV stations. Mati was invited by the editorial staff of the Ventura County Star newspaper to attend an Editorial meeting on December 13th, conducted by the Star, in Thousand Oaks. He attended that meeting, alongside Rob Reiner and Susan Lacey, advocates for the preservation of the Ranch.

California Legacy Project
Wishtoyo has been invited to serve as a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for the California Legacy Project. The California Legacy Project, formerly CCRISP, is an initiative by the California Resources Agency to develop decision support tools and maps that will assist in setting natural resource conservation priorities throughout the state. The mission of the Legacy Project is to enable the state and its partners in conservation to develop and implement an strategic and inclusive approach to conserving and restoring California's lands and natural resources.

This committee is comprised of a diverse group including environmental justice groups, ranching, farming and timber representatives, local and regional government representatives, developers and business organizations. The first meeting Wishtoyo attended was held in Sacramento in January. The Legacy Project website is http://legacy.ca.gov . Workshops in the area soon to be announced.

Naval Base - Multi-Cultural Day
Once again, Mati attracted lots of attention at the National Multi-Cultural Day festivities on Port Hueneme's Naval Base in August. His was a popular show; the next day his picture was featured in the Oxnard Star, as he showed the Base Naval Commander how to use his Chumash drums.

Earth Day Event
An Earth Day celebration is scheduled for April 7, 2002 at Chatsworth Nature Preserve. This event will include the Gabrielino, Tongva, and Chumash Native American dancers. There will be environmental information booths along with storytelling crafts. Point of contact for this event is Rosemarie White at (818) 769-1521 or Jarron Lucas at (818) 995-1761.

Sunrise Ceremony
There will be a Chumash blessing at the sunrise ceremony scheduled for March 2, 2002 at the Rincon Point in Ventura. This ceremony will be followed by a children's workshop. This event is sponsored by The Groundswell Society as part of their sixth annual surf contest. For more information, contact Glenn Hening at (805) 382-0657.

FUNDRAISER EVENT
On the evening of November 10th, Wishtoyo and Ventura Coastkeeper held their first annual Rainbow Bridge Dinner. It was a very successful event, attracting a full house, an impressive attendance by Chumash Elders from various territories in the state, and Beau Bridges acting as MC. The Pierpont Inn and Racquet Club in Ventura was the chosen spot for this party, and dinner featured Chumash-inspired cuisine, a big hit among the attendees, many of whom were seeking out recipes afterwards. Honorees at the event were Charlie Cooke, Hereditary Chief of the Chumash Tribe, for his tireless work in preserving Chumash culture, and Sara Wan, Chair of the Coastal Commission, for her commitment to our coastal environment. A silent auction attracted lots of attention, and the famous Terry Tamminen of Environment Now conducted a very spirited live auction for two special items, generating a bidding war from our supporters who competed for a hand-made Chumash Indian Necklace (hand-crafted by Mati) and a Goodyear Blimp ride. We were treated to Mati's performance of a beautiful song he wrote in honor of his mother, as well as Charlie Cooke's inspiring words about Chumash culture and values for the preservation of our environment. Wishtoyo thanks all of our supporters for helping to make our first annual Rainbow Bridge Dinner such a great success!

Environmental Grantmakers Assoc. (EGA) Conference
Mati was invited to be a guest speaker at the Environmental Grantmakers Association Conference in Brainerd, Minnesota, on Oct. 16th, 2001. He spoke to over 700 attendees on the topic of "The Shaman and the An-Tap: Indigenous Spiritual Leaders and Conservation". His presentation was widely appreciated by the many attendees, including leaders from South America's Ingano tribe from the Columbian Amazon. Mati has been invited to visit their home in Bogota and participate in establishing a network and guidelines for future collaborations and contact between these important Native cultures and their environmental initiatives.

Chumash Words of the Day:
The Morning Star: Alnahyit' 'i 'akiwi
The Evening Star: Sma'aiyi 'l 'akiwi

Wedding Rites
At the beautiful, pristine setting of Nicholas Canyon, the future site of our Chumash Demonstration Village and Creek Restoration, Mati conducted a marriage ceremony in June.

As a small crowd of friends and family looked on, the happy bride and groom, Felipe and Julie Bascope, were taken to the ocean shore and married, sharing the three bodies of life...water, land and air.

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