Land Acknowledgment
Cal Poly sits on the traditional lands of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region. The yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini have a documented presence in this area for over 10,000 years. The tiłhini peoples have stewarded their ancestral and unceded homelands which include all of the cities, communities, federal and state open spaces within the San Luis Obispo County region. These homelands extend East into the Carrizo Plains toward Kern County, South to the Santa Maria River, North to Ragged Point, and West beyond the ocean’s shoreline in an unbroken chain of lineage, kinship, and culture.
Action Items:
- Follow Cal Poly's Native American & Indigenous Cultural Center on Instagram (@calpolynaicc) to remain up-to-date about NAICC events and workshops
- Educate yourself and learn about the Indigenous people surrounding the area you live in
- Remove harmful stereotypes and Indigenous erasure language from your speech
- Support Native/Indigenous-owned businesses
- Donate to causes supporting Indigenous communities
- Diversify your educational resources
- Educate yourself on how to talk about Native Nations
- Amplify all Native and Indigenous voices, but especially the voices of Native and Indigenous women who are likely to experience multiple forms of violence
- Become knowledgeable and educate others about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Day
- Send financial donations to the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) of San Luis Obispo via mail or through their website
- Follow Indigenous-led pipeline resistance organizations on social media to stay informed on related news
- Participate in public demonstrations of support for the Indigenous People of San Luis Obispo County
- Avoid purchasing jewelry, clothing, accessories, or other goods from culturally appropriated brands and instead support Native-owned businesses
- Acknowledge in day-to-day interactions that we reside on stolen land from the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash nation
To learn more about the original inhabitants of San Luis Obispo County, please go here.
