The President's Chumash Advisory Council (PCAC) was established in March 2023 by the Office of the President and the Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians (BVBMI) with the intent 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 campuses, 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.