PESCADERO– Indigenous Land Stewardship at Quiroste Valley, Then and Now

PESCADERO–The Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve, located near Año Nuevo, was created to protect cultural resources, to restore native vegetation, and to re-implement “traditional resource and environmental management.” Explore indigenous land stewardship at Quiroste—both historical and contemporary—with the Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Valentine Lopez, and the Program Coordinator for the Amah Mutsun Land Trust, Jay Scherf.   We will take a look over the Quiroste Valley, imagining what the landscape looked like in the past and learning why it looks the way it does now. On this short walk into the valley floor, we will visit what remains of a large Quiroste village (most likely the village of Metenne) and discuss the Quiroste people, how they managed the landscape and natural resources in the area, and what happened to the Quiroste during colonization. A few hundred yards away, at a large stand of coastal tarweed we will discuss how the Amah Mutsun—the descendants of the Quiroste—returned to the valley, and the research and conservation efforts the Tribe and the Amah Mutsun Land Trust is involved in now. The group will meet at a parking lot near the entrance to Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve and carpool into the reserve due to limited parking. This walk will be no more than one mile on established trails. Please wear layers and comfortable shoes for walking on uneven surfaces. Sun protection, water, and snacks recommended. More details will be provided upon registration. Valentin Lopez is the Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, one of three historic tribes that are recognized as Ohlone. The Amah Mutsun are comprised of the indigenous descendants forcibly taken to Missions San Juan Bautista and Santa Cruz. Chairman Lopez is also the President of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust which was established in 2012. He is a Native American Advisor to the University of California, Office of the President on issues related to repatriation. He is also a Native American Advisor to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology. The Amah Mutsun are currently working to restore their traditional indigenous knowledge regarding land stewardship so they can return to the path of their ancestors. Consequently, the Amah Mutsun are very active in conservation and protection efforts within their traditional tribal territory. Chairman Lopez is working to restore the Mutsun Language and is a traditional Mutsun singer and dancer. Jay Scherf is the Program Coordinator of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust and has been with AMLT since 2014. He coordinates the AMLT’s flagship Native Stewardship Corps, a program that hires Amah Mutsun Tribal members to participate in environmental stewardship and cultural relearning in the tribal territory. Originally from Sonoma County, Jay holds a BA in Society and Environment from UC Berkeley. To purchase tickets, go to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History site.  For more information, go to  http://www.santacruzmuseum.org/public-programs/walks-and-workshops/ or contact Felicia Van Stolk, Education Manager, (831) 420-6115 x17, felicia@santacruzmuseum.org This program is supported by California Humanities through an Humanities for All Quick Grant.  Saturday, July 28, 10:30 am @ Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve   Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve 1 New Years Creek Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060 NOTE: We will carpool from the nearby parking lot due to limited parking near the entrance to Quiroste Valley Cultural Preserve. The parking lot is across the street from Whitehouse Creek Road, approx. 25 miles north of Santa Cruz. It is marked by a hand-painted green sign with a white triangle on it. This is the parking lot: https://goo.gl/maps/Y9ztSN16Xcz.   For more information, contact: Felicia Van Stolk, Education Manager, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, (831) 420-6115 x17, felicia@santacruzmuseum.org To purchase tickets, go to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History site.   For more information, go to  http://www.santacruzmuseum.org/public-programs/walks-and-workshops/ or contact Felicia Van Stolk, Education Manager, (831) 420-6115 x17, felicia@santacruzmuseum.org