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.
Honoring Our Ancestors
The Original Stewards of the Land
Our Chumash ancestors have been the caretakers
of this treasured land for over 8,000 years. Living in perfect harmony with all that exits. This way of life was sacred to them, they called the land their Mother. They were her children and they loved her and took care of her, in return she gave them all they needed to enjoy life.
Our primary board and staff are documented direct lineal descendants of several Chumash villages along the Gaviota coast and Santa Ynez Valley.
Our founding members and primary board and staff members come with a rich California cultural heritage of Chumash, Indigenous Baja and New Spain ( Mexico) ancestry.
Our Chumash ancestry begins from four Channel Island communities on Limuw ( Santa Cruz) Swaxil, Nanawani and Wima (Santa Rosa Island) Qshiwqshiw, Hichimi including the mainland villages of Qasil ( Rancho Refugio ) Kuyamu and Mikiw villages ( Royal Rancho Dos Pueblos) Tuqan (Arroyo Hondo) Syuk'tun (Santa Barbara), 'Alaxulapu-( Santa Ynez) and - Kasaqunpeq'en (Zonja Cota).
the Ortega's of Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio, represent the kinship between various Chumash lineages associated with the Southern California coast and the northern Channel Islands. José Francisco Ortega was the progenitor of our family name, a man of mixed Indigenous and Spanish heritage, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, born in 1734.
Marissa Senuie Velez
Apanish Organization: Co Founder/Cultural Resource Director
Mikiw and Kuyamu Villages “Dos Pueblos Ranch is where my 6 great grandfather, Chief Beato Temicucat was born along with his clan and generations of my tribal ancestors are buried. This land is sacred, holy ground to me my family and my Chumash relatives.
Aleqwel Mendoza
Apanish Organization : Co Founder/Executive Director
Rancho Refugio and Arroyo Hondo are historically one, inseparable, and imbued with profound spiritual significance to the Chumash people and my families heritage.”
One of Aleqwel Mendoza's Chumash ancestors is his 5th great grandmother a full blooded Chumash woman born at the village of Qasil ( Rancho Refugio), she died giving birth to her daughter Maria Soledad Del Carmen Ortega in 1812. Maria's Soledad father was Joself Antonio Maria Ortega who was granted the Rancho Nuestra Senora del Refugio land grant.
the Ortega's of Rancho Nuestra Señora del Refugio, represent the kinship between various Chumash lineages associated with the Southern California coast and the northern Channel Islands. José Francisco Ortega was a man of mixed Indigenous and Spanish heritage, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, born in 1734.
By the late 1700’s our Chumash matrilineal bloodlines began to marry into the Ortega family. By the early nineteenth century The Nuestra Senora del Refugio Ortega family had established a Monarchy through their continuity of selected intermarriages and regional ceremonial participation.
José Francisco Ortega, an Indigenous man from Guanajuato, had come to California in the late 18th century as the lead scout of the Portola Expedition, Jose Francisco Ortega was awarded the Rancho de Nuestra Señora de Refugio land grant in 1794, for his moral virtue, as an award of war. The Rancho was established for the self determination of the indigenous people of this coastal area. Rancho de Nuestra Señora de Refugio land grant can be considered one of the first Indian settlements in central California.
We are asking for your support in our ancestral land back campaign.
The Founders
Marissa Velez and her Husband Aleqwel Mendoza a Chumash Traditional dancer our both the founding chief architects and will being caring the torch for this foundation into the next generation.
Marissa Senuie & Aleqwel Mendoza
Marissa "Senuie" Velez Co- Founder & Cultural Education Director
As Apanish Foundation's Cultural Activities Director Marissa will be applying who vast knowledge of Chumash Material culture and expertise in childhood early development towards Cultural Education, health and nutrition. Marissa will also assist in our Education public outreach programs where the Apanish foundation will be traveling to public and private schools. The outreach program will be introducing our eco guardianship program and to share our Chumash maritime history and traditional practices of earth stewardship.
apanishvillage@gmail.com
As the Executive Director of the Apanish Foundation, Aleqwel Mendoza will apply his specialty skills in business organizational development, strategic planning, impact investment , branding, marketing advertising design, information technology, film production, sustainable development, environmental restoration, curriculum development, material culture artistry, cultural trade economics and "Heritage Industries".
aleqwel@gmail.com
Hector Perez-Pacheco - Government Relations and Advocacy
Mr Perez- Pacheco the Apanish Foundation tribal ambassador to government officials and agencies, locally and nationally, He will be offering his 2o years of experience and expertise in pubic policy, public relations marketing,
public speaking and community resource development.
Dr. Layan Said - Soil Physicist, Integrator Scientist, Executive Director Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources
Click picture to see professional biography
Board, Staff & Committee Members
Click picture to see professional biography
"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
Click picture to see professional biography
We will be updating this section on the 28th of March 2024 with our newly appointed board and committee directors. Currently we are in the process of expanding our board, staff, advisory board and committees.
Building our dream team: The Apanish Foundation employs the best of breed talent within our community with specialized expertise in indigenous earth stewardship, earth sciences, cultural resource management and community leadership building.
If you would like to find out more information about becoming a team member or would like to volunteer please email us at: apanishvillage@gmail.com
