Tribal Governance

We share common goals with WCF, especially when it comes to protecting our coastal lands, waters, and cultural lifeways. Wishtoyo furthers its mission with the organization’s restoration and maintenance of the Wishtoyo Chumash Village in Malibu, cultural education programs, environmental justice advocacy, a strong litigation track record, and a watershed monitoring program guided by traditional ecological knowledge. Together, we often find ourselves aligned in efforts to revitalize Chumash traditions, assert Indigenous rights, and care for the environment through ancestral knowledge. Many of us collaborate through shared ceremonies, community gatherings, educational events, and environmental actions that honor our responsibilities to the land and sea. Whether through advocacy, storytelling, or cultural practice, we walk parallel paths in the larger movement to protect and restore Chumash homelands.

Our collaboration with Wishtoyo includes:

Strong opposition to oil development along the Santa Barbara Coast, including the restart of the Santa Ynez Unit and Las Flores Pipeline System.

Protecting sacred lands and cultural keystone species through advocacy campaigns, traditional ecological knowledge, ecological restoration, scientific study, and litigation.

Engaging future generations with cultural and environmental education programs hosted at the Wishtoyo Chumash Village. Education specialists and elders gather with students from diverse communities to share traditional ecological knowledge, stories, songs, and the preservation of natural cultural resources. 

We collaborate with the SYBCI through shared cultural practices and community events. Coastal Band and Santa Ynez tribal members participate together at events like Earth Day, Culture Day, the Intertribal Powwow, Flame of Peace Run, and tomol canoe events. Together, we are also active partners in the stewardship of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, contributing to cultural education, governance, and environmental protection rooted in our shared ancestral coastal territories.

We work with the OAG to uphold and defend the rights of Indigenous peoples in our ancestral territories. Through legal review, advocacy, and enforcement of state laws, the Attorney General’s Office is a critical ally in protecting our sacred sites, ensuring fair consultation, and addressing environmental injustices that affect our communities.

Our interactions include:

Enforcing state laws that protect cultural resources, such as the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and laws requiring tribal consultation

Responding to violations involving desecration of sacred sites or failure to consult with tribes on development projects

Collaborating on climate and environmental justice issues, particularly where state policies intersect with tribal interests

Supporting Indigenous land access and stewardship through state-led legal mechanisms or advocacy

Promoting accountability in state agencies and private developers who may negatively impact tribal lands or rights

As partners, we hold both public and private entities accountable, ensuring that tribal rights, cultural survival, and environmental protection are upheld by law.

We partner with the CSLC to protect and care for our ancestral homelands—both onshore and in the waters. Much of what the State now manages are places where our people have lived, fished, gathered, and prayed for generations. Through this collaboration, we ensure that Chumash voices and values guide decisions about the future of these lands.

Our work together includes:

Tribal consultation on proposed projects that may impact cultural or ecological resources within our territories

Protection of sacred sites, including ancestral remains and ancient village locations

Guidance on land management rooted in Chumash cultural knowledge and stewardship practices

Exploration of co-management and land return for marine and coastal areas of traditional significance

Education and public engagement to uplift the true history of this land and the continued presence of Chumash people

This relationship reflects a broader healing—between people and place—grounded in the belief that restoring Indigenous stewardship restores balance.

Our partnership with the EDC protects our homelands from environmental harm and ensures that Chumash perspectives are included in efforts to safeguard the land, sea, and sacred sites. The EDC has supported our work through legal expertise, advocacy, and collaborative planning in areas where environmental and cultural priorities intersect.

Together we:

Oppose destructive coastal development that threatens sensitive habitats and ancestral lands

Advocate for marine and coastal protections, including in areas proposed for offshore wind energy and other industrial projects

Ensuring tribal consultation and cultural resource protection are part of environmental review processes

Engage in joint participation of public comment periods, hearings, and planning efforts, amplifying Native voices in regional decision-making

Defend sacred Chumash sites, including those on public lands, through legal and policy tools

Together, we stand for a vision of environmental justice that includes Indigenous sovereignty, cultural survival, and long-term stewardship of the lands and waters we’ve cared for since time immemorial.

We work with NCAN to give our community new ways to preserve and revitalize our culture by:

Providing opportunities for building practical and traditional knowledge by empowering Coast Band and our allies to work together through trainings and expert consultation. 

Together, we are building a West Coast Native network, strongly grounded in cultural practice, with traditional skills to manage the land, resources, and to provide education. 

Our partnership with AIHS strengthens our community in several key ways:

We hold our Tribal Board meetings at their newly renovated facility, providing a welcoming and professional space for governance.

Through their Community Wellness Department, we offer cultural activities such as beading and regalia making, supporting cultural preservation and community wellness.

Together, we host an Indigenous Market that creates meaningful economic opportunities for our members by showcasing Native artists, makers, and entrepreneurs.

We work with CNPS to preserve cultural sites, restore ecosystems, and uphold Chumash presence and perspectives across public lands, especially in areas like the Northern Channel Islands—ancestral homelands of the Chumash people.​

This partnership includes:

Protecting sacred sites and cultural resources under NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA

Co-stewarding ecosystems to restore native plant communities and monitor habitat health

Ensuring access for ceremonies, teaching, and traditional gathering

Creating educational materials that share Chumash history and ecological knowledge

Engaging youth through programs that connect them to their homelands

Together, we aim to ensure public lands reflect and respect the Chumash connection to place—past, present, and future.

We join forces with the CCC to defend our rights as coastal Indigenous people and to protect the lands and waters our ancestors have stewarded for countless generations. Through consultation and public advocacy, we work to ensure that Chumash perspectives are present in coastal planning, restoration efforts, and the protection of sacred places.

Our collaboration includes:

Consultation on development projects that may impact cultural, spiritual, or environmental resources within our ancestral homelands

Protection of sacred sites through coordinated review and monitoring during coastal permitting processes

Participation in public hearings and coastal policy discussions to ensure Indigenous voices are included in land use decisions

Support for tribal access and stewardship of coastal lands, including traditional gathering areas and marine habitats

Advocacy for Indigenous-led conservation, aligning Chumash values with California’s climate and coastal resilience goals

Working with the Coastal Commission is part of a broader effort to restore balance, visibility, and sovereignty along the coast we have called home for thousands of years.

Holding strong together with the SBC, we protect the waters and ecosystems of the Santa Barbara Channel, an area central to our culture, subsistence, and spirituality. Through this collaboration, we focus on ensuring that our coastal waters remain healthy and safe for future generations.

Our work together includes:

Monitoring water quality and addressing pollution sources that threaten marine life and traditional Chumash gathering areas

Advocating for sustainable practices in land use, coastal development, and agriculture to prevent harm to water systems

Collaborating on habitat restoration projects for vital marine species and coastal ecosystems

Coordinating on community education and outreach to raise awareness about the importance of clean water and environmental stewardship

Ensuring Chumash involvement in policy decisions regarding water management and environmental protection efforts in our ancestral territory

By joining forces with Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, we aim to preserve and restore the health of the Santa Barbara Channel, ensuring that our people can continue their cultural practices and live in harmony with the waters and lands that sustain us.

We maintain a strong relationship with UCSB, supporting both cultural and environmental initiatives. Our involvement includes:

Serving as a liaison between the American Indian & Indigenous Student Association (AIISA) and the local Chumash community

Supporting the annual AIISA Harvest Dinner, a celebration of Native community and tradition

Providing consultation on the North Campus Open Space restoration project to ensure cultural values and ecological stewardship are aligned

Together, we help connect campus efforts with the lived experience and leadership of the local Indigenous community.

We team up with SBCC to uplift Native voices on its campus and foster connections between Native students and community.

Together, we have:

Created signage on the upper campus reflecting Chumash culture

Co-created a land acknowledgment to honor the original stewards of the land

Supported efforts to form a Native American student group and build relationships with AIISA students at UCSB

These efforts strengthen visibility, belonging, and cultural respect across educational spaces.

We engage with NOAA to protect our coastal waters and marine ecosystems, which are central to our cultural practices and survival. Through a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, we address marine conservation, climate resilience, and the protection of sacred sites.

Our collaboration includes:

Joint participation in marine resource management, such as fisheries restoration and habitat protection

Collaborating on climate change adaptation strategies, ensuring the long-term health of ocean ecosystems and the Chumash way of life

Consultation on marine protected areas (MPAs) and other coastal management initiatives to respect cultural practices and safeguard resources

Monitoring of marine environments to track changes in ocean health, including water quality and biodiversity

Sharing traditional ecological knowledge to support NOAA’s scientific research and decision-making, especially in areas of cultural and ecological importance to the Chumash

Through our partnership, we seek to ensure that Indigenous stewardship is integral to NOAA's ocean and coastal management strategies, enhancing both the health of marine environments and the well-being of the Chumash community.

We work jointly with California State Parks to protect sacred sites, preserve cultural resources, and care for our ancestral homelands within the state park system. Our relationship is rooted in mutual respect and shared stewardship.

Together, we:

Establish formal agreements (MOUs) that guide consultation and cultural resource management

Protect ancestral sites and cultural artifacts under NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA

Maintain access to traditional gathering areas for ceremonies, plant harvesting, and cultural practices

Develop educational programs and interpretive materials that share Chumash history and ecological knowledge

This partnership supports the preservation of both the land and our living culture for future generations.

We come together with the USFWS to protect and restore the ecosystems that are vital to our cultural and environmental well-being. Through joint efforts, we work to ensure the survival of native species and the health of the habitats upon which they depend.

Our partnership focuses on:

Collaborating on habitat restoration for endangered or culturally significant species, such as steelhead trout and condors, that are part of Chumash cultural practices

Ensuring the protection of sacred lands that contain vital ecosystems and cultural sites

Supporting species recovery efforts, including monitoring and protecting habitats in areas of traditional fishing and gathering

Consulting on conservation planning to integrate Chumash cultural values into the management of wildlife and natural resources

Participating in joint education and outreach efforts to promote conservation practices and raise awareness about the significance of native species

This collaboration is key to preserving not only the natural environment but also the cultural practices that have sustained the Chumash people for thousands of years.

We join efforts with the City of Santa Barbara to uplift Chumash culture and support ecological restoration.

This relationship includes:

Co-creating the Syuxtun Story Circle, a public art space honoring Chumash history

Advising on local plant restoration, offering cultural insight into native species and landscapes

Contributing to interpretive signage in public areas that educates visitors about the Chumash presence and legacy

These efforts help center Indigenous voices in the city’s cultural and environmental landscape.

We work with the City of Goleta on several initiatives aimed at preserving Chumash cultural heritage while promoting environmental stewardship. A key aspect of our collaboration is gathering cultural plants in areas managed by the city, such as the Goleta Slough and the Stowe House, which are rich in native flora important to our Chumash traditions.

Our partnership also includes:

Co-managing cultural sites and ensuring the preservation of plants used in Chumash cultural practices, including gathering and medicinal plants

Developing the Goleta Tours app, which highlights Chumash cultural history and natural resources, with key points like Haskell's Beach, the Chumash Nature Trail at He'lapunitse, and the Ellwood Bluffs

Supporting restoration efforts for native habitats in the Goleta area, including habitats significant for both cultural and ecological reasons

This partnership exemplifies our shared commitment to environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and the enhancement of community engagement in Goleta.

We have collaborated with CMA since its creation in 1997, providing community gathering activities centered around the tomol and opportunities to share our maritime culture with other tribes and the broader community. Together, we work to preserve and pass on traditional Chumash canoe building, navigation, and paddling skills, ensuring these lifeways remain strong for future generations. Our partnership have included hosting crossings to Limuw (Santa Cruz Island), participating in cultural demonstrations, and offering hands-on educational programs for youth and families. Through this shared work, we strengthen our connections to the ocean, to one another, and to the living traditions that have defined our people for thousands of years.