March 13, 2023
Dear Faculty and Staff,
As the leaders of California State University Channel Islands and the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (BVBMI), we are excited to formally announce the formation of the President’s Chumash Advisory Council (PCAC) at CSUCI. In creating this Council, we acknowledge that the Chumash are the first people of the lands on which the University operates, and that CSUCI’s campus is on the unceded territory of the BVBMI. CSUCI has the responsibility and desire to maintain strong relationships with the BVBMI, and together we share a commitment to working in collaboration to be stewards of the land and of its natural and cultural heritage.
Recognizing the 20-year history of CSUCI and the broader historical context in which it resides, in many ways this Council is well past due and represents only a beginning point. Yet it is also timely with respect to an intersection of recent changes to cultural heritage laws, roles, and processes on campus, regionally, and at the state level. In forming this Council, our intent is to build relationships, allyship, and collaboration intentionally and inclusively in support of Native American communities, interests, and priorities. As such, this Council is the heart of and hub for communication, accountability, and collaboration for and with different campus, CSU-wide, and community partners for priorities and initiatives related to the land, cultural protocols, and regulatory compliance for cultural heritage.
Roles of the PCAC include serving as:
- lead advisor on University policies, processes, and messaging relating to Chumash matters including land acknowledgements and cultural protocols.
- lead advisor on campus-wide Chumash initiatives related to the cultural significance of University land holdings (e.g., restoration of satʰwiwa; interpretive trails and signage).
- the group that centrally tracks information and provides recommendations to ensure University compliance with relevant cultural heritage laws, regulations, and processes as well as to implement best practices in promoting land stewardship and cultural awareness .
- campus liaison between the University and the CSU system with respect to Native American priorities, including participation in the CSU Native American Initiative, CSU NAGPRA, and CalNAGPRA.
- the group responsible for recommending campus policies, protocols, and best practices regarding the conduct of indigenous events and activities, especially those that are ceremonial in nature, that relate to and have an impact on the indigenous identities, practices, material culture, and rights of the Chumash and that of our students, faculty, staff, and other community members with indigenous heritage.
Please feel free to contact the PCAC at pcac@csuci.edu with any questions about its purpose and functions. As we launch the PCAC and work to create new structures, programs, and possibilities at CSUCI, we look forward to building pathways of mutual benefit and positive change through authentic collaboration.
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
President
Dayna Barrios
Chair
Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians