Ap'anis
( Village )
Environmental Preservation • Cultural Revitalization • Public Education
The word "Apanish" spelled ('ap anis ) means "Village" in the Chumash Smuwic language
Re-establish and facilitate Chumash traditional villages , land preserves and introduce indigenous land stewardship programs along the Gaviota Coast.
We are documented direct lineal descendants of several Chumash villages along the Gaviota coast and Santa Ynez Valley.
Our Mission
To Protect and Preserve Sacred Sites(TCL's), Steward the Land, Revitalize Chumash Culture and to Educate/Share Knowledge with the Public.
We would like to share our knowledge of our ancestral lands and the cultural significants of restoring our traditional indigenous stewardship of the land and sea, where our ancestors lived and thrived for thousands of years.
Our mission is to protect and preserves our coastal traditional village sites along the Gaviota coast and reduce the human footprint for a period of time to allow the land to regenerate the indigenous flora and fauna needed to support a healthy Eco-system. This vision supports our cultures revitalization and continued stewardship of our land. We would like to involve the community in this restorative effort on California’s most historic coastal land. This is an unprecedented event and can help to heal our coastal wetlands, traditional village sites and the people who descend from them.
Join us and secure your place in history by contributing to this historical endeavor towards reconciliation and the restoration of our ancestral lands.
“All decisions are to be made with a view to the seven generations ahead. Our traditions are evidence of ecologically sustainable development in harmony with the earth and the ability of a people to live within the instructions of natural law."
'Ap anis
Traditional Gathering, Fishing, Hunting and Ceremonial Seasonal Cycle
Village
Upcoming Seasonal
Cycle and Program Events
Providing Native American Cultural sciences and outbound earth stewardship educational programs for the public schools and indigenous communities.
"As the original caretakers of this land we understand the connection between all living things.
Our practice of culture is not something rooted in the past. It is a living, breathing, interactive part of modern society. As we look towards the future we fill now is important time to share our traditional indigenous world view and earth stewardship practices with our neighbors in Santa Barbara and visitors from around the globe."
-Aleqwel
Spring Events
SPRING ( Equinox )
Blossoming moon, Rainy Moon, Planting Moon
Pick Basketry materials such as willow.
Collect the unfolding new leaves of alum root for greens.
Pick Mushrooms after rains.
Hunt geese as they are returning north.
Spear salmon and hook eels as they are making their spring run.
Dig edible bulbs before flowering.
Build stone surrounds in the desert and hunt antelope and big horn sheep.
The Apanish will be hosting the following programs and outdoor events through out the Spring Season 0f 2023
• Spring Equinox Ceremony Gathering
• Tradition Sports Programs
• Native Plant & Gathering Workshops
• Indigenous Earth Stewardship Program
• Building Traditional Structures Project
Summer Events
SUMMER ( Solstice )
Long Sun Moon, Red Berries Moon, Harvest Moon
Net Geese as they are molting.
Prune tobacco tp promote larger leaves.
Gather juniper berries and process them into sweat cake.
Collect immature gray pine cones for roasting.
Collect savory berries as they are ripening.
Beat edible seeds and grains from the inflorescences of flowers and grasses into wide-mouthed baskets.
The Apanish will be hosting the following outbound programs and events through out the Summer Season of 2023.
• Summer Solstice Ceremony
• Summer Solstice Shinny Tournament
• Chumash Artist Guide (Pop-Up Events)
• Indigenous Earths Stewardship
• Chumash Cultural Interpretation Shows
• Maritime Activities: Tomol, Fish, Dive and prepare traditional foods for community gathering.
• Youth Eco Warrior Camp:
Fall Events
FALL ( Equinox)
Migration Moon, Hungry Moon, Long Night Moon
Gather ripe acorns from oaks and cones from many kinds of pine for their seeds.
Hunt rabbits for their fur because their pelts are thick.
Obtain deer in prime condition as there is a tendency for deer to group, especially when inclement weather forces their migration.
Trap quail as they from the mountains to the foothills.
The Apanish will be hosting the following programs and events through out the Fall Season 0f 2023
• Hutash Harvest Equinox
• Speaker Support Chumash Timeline Presentations for Organizations & Public
• K12 Chumash Cultural Interpretations
- Public School Presentations
• K6 Material Culture Programs/Workshops
Winter Events
WINTER ( Solstice )
Red Earth Moon, Renewal Moon, Strong Winds moon
Pick basketry materials from shrubs and trees because the bark adheres and the sap is down.
Gather milkweed and dogbane stalks for their bast fibers for making cordage.
Obtain shellfish easily at low tides.
Gather wood for arrows before the shoots take up much moisture and sprout new leaves.
Hunt bear, wildcats, and otters.
The Apanish will be hosting the following programs and events through out the Spring Season 0f 2023
• Winter Solstice Ceremony
• Chumash Artist Guide -Shows & Events
• Chumash Cultural Interpretation Shows
• Chumash Material Culture Workshops
- Native plant fibers and natural textiles
• Chumash Language Classes
-Smuwic & Samala dialects.
K6
CHUMASH CULTURAL INTERPRETATION
Apanish Foundation is proud to introduce a series of
Cultural Interpretation presentations on pre-colonial and post-colonial Chumash Traditions.
Our goal is to improve and enrich the California experience by helping others understand the significance of our place of origin, we call " Sy’uktun" (Located in what is called Santa Barbara today) and connecting those meanings to ones own personal life. By weaving compelling, thematic stories about our Chumash people, land and historical events. You will learn about the ancient and contemporary Chumash by our own local Santa Barbara Chumash descendants who still live and practice their cultural traditions.
Our K6 presentations are design to be entertaining but more educational we utilize oral tradition, song and dance to share ancient and current geographical knowledge while integrating science and social skills through compelling stories and characters.
COASTAL & LAND INDIGENOUS STEWARDSHIP
Indigenous Earth stewardship is a concept based in holistic understanding of balance between humans and the rest of creation. Prehistoric times indigenous populations lived in accordance to the balance of resources within given geographical regions. This accord was the result of natural cosmological law and human intervention. When population densities increased natural resources increased or populations were scaled back by natural law. Thousands of years of this personal relationship created a deep understanding of harmony with all creation. In Resent times un-natural population densities and synthetic pollution’s have created devastating imbalances between humans and the rest of creation. In order to re-establish and maintain the proper balance, institutionalized methods of education ritual practice and practical methods of land regeneration needs assertion.
The Apanish Foundation is currently discussing sponsorship and partnerships to secure coastal land grants, TCL village sites and parcels acquisitions for cultural revitalization, preservation and indigenous stewardship.
CULTURAL REVITALIZATION
The Apanish Foundation has been and continues to be an active facilitator and supporter in the revitalization of the Chumash cultural arts and traditional ceremonial dance practices.