Nakia Zavalla: Chumash Tribe shares a deep connection with sea

Thursday, January 20, 2011  

"Although the Santa Ynez Reservation is some 30 miles away from the Pacific Ocean, our Chumash ancestors had a deep connection to the ocean and traveled the distance from their villages for trading purposes as well as for gathering food and materials.

We have often discussed our ancestors’ role using the tomol, a traditional form of water transportation, and their connection to the ocean while aboard a tomol. They used the tomol in the Santa Barbara Channel, trading goods with native people from other villages in the surrounding area.

But perhaps not as well known is our ancestors’ relationship with the ocean outside of the tomol. In our research of the meticulous notes of linguist and ethnologist J.P. Harrington, who studied California Indians extensively, we learned about the many excursions our ancestors took to the ocean. In particular, our beloved ancestor Maria Solares shared many stories with Harrington about her trips to the beaches of the region.

For example, the following text is from Reel 9 of Harrington’s recorded notes:

Maria said, “I know where Lisamu’ [is located]. I have gone near Lisamu’ when I went to San Luis Obispo many years ago. We went to gather mussels; we went to eat mussels at the port, where the boats come in, so they pointed out Lisamu’ to me. The women I was with told me that that was Lisamu’ sticking up at the edge of the sea; the rock standing at the edge of the ocean was named Lisamu’, they said.”

She also talked to Harrington about her trip to kumqaq’ (Point Conception) to gather mussels with her daughter, Clara Miranda. One can imagine the joyous day-long journey she and her daughter spent traveling to Point Conception via horse and buggy, selecting mussels from the ocean, then heading home to prepare a nice meal."

Get the Story:
Nakia Zavalla: Tribe has special connection with the sea (The Solvang Valley News 1/20)