Wishtoyo Foundation's 
Chumash Discovery Village

UPDATE  

                                    - July 2010

After years of planning, Wishtoyo's Chumash Village construction was undertaken, with creation of a sil'i'yik (ceremonial circle), the central gathering place, aps (dwellings) and redwood tomol (canoe). The Village serves as an educational journey to California's heritage, when Chumash inhabited Southern California for thousands of years.  The project is in partnership with Los Angeles County Dept. of Beaches and Harbors, who leases the property to Wishtoyo.

Mati Waiya leads group at World Ocean Day event - June 9, 2010.  Over 1,100 Los Angeles School District students arrived in busloads from 42 schools to learn about marine conservation and the ocean's wildlife species.

Jason Weiner, Wishtoyo's Ventura Coastkeeper Program Associate Director and Staff Attorney, teaches children about marine conservation and water quality at the 2010 World Ocean Day event at Wishtoyo's Chumash Village.

Wishtoyo is offering Chumash Language classes, to revive the Shmuwich (Barbareno) Chumash language. Pictured:  Language teachers Deborah Sanchez and Johnny Moreno

Village with aps, ceremonial circle in foreground, ceremonial fire is lit; Chumash canoe - tomol - in background. 

View of Chumash Village ap with whale bones at entrance. Six aps have been completed. The aps are made from willow and tule (bulrush) and require many hours of labor to complete. 

Photo of Wishtoyo Chumash Discovery Vilage "ap" in progress. Willow branches provide  structure. 

The ocean worthy Chumash Tomol at Wishtoyo's Chumash Discovery Village, called Isha Kowoch, built by Matt Ward, is made in the native fashion from redwood. Pictured: Matt Ward, Kote Lotah

Click here for Directions to the Village

Click here for Education Program information