The Enduring Voice of Chumash Storytellers

Storytelling is at the core of our Chumash culture, kept alive by the talents and knowledge of our Chumash storytellers. Old stories are shared around fires, at community events, and in family homes, while new stories are being shared on social media, in publications, exhibits, and on youtube. Everyone is a storyteller!—elders, youth, men, women, and ‘aqi (two-spirit).

We honor all of our storytellers, but we’d like to highlight two: Elder Georgiana Sanchez (Coastal Band) is on board of the California Indian Storytelling Association, which provides a storytelling forum for Native Californian storytellers. She recently released a book of poetry entitled A Light to Do Shellwork By. And Elder Johnny Moreno (Chumash), who is a core cultural educator for thousands of school children who visit the Wishtoyo Chumash Village each year and whose deep voice fills the spaces at dozens of California Native gatherings, ceremonies, and events—making us laugh, remember, and connect.

Audio permission for “Three Worlds” provided by the Chumash Maritime Association as part of the Syuxtun Story Circle project—in partnership with the City of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Arts Commission.