Chumash Indians Celebrate Earth Day, Permaculture

The indigenous people of the part of California in which I reside are the Chumash Indians, who, anthropologists believe, came here about 15,000 years ago in the Bering Strait Migration, across the “Land Bridge” formed when that part of the Earth was frozen over.   In the early 1500s, the Chumash began to notice ships in the channel between the beach and the islands that lie about 20 miles off the coast.  100 years later, concerned that the Russians who had claimed the Pacific Northwest could move south, the King of Spain ordered a preemptive settlement to be formed,which would be called “Santa Barbara,” after the 4th Century Christian saint.

Like all Native Americans, the Chumash have a reverence for the land, and for sustainable practices in managing that land and other resources.  At their Earth Day celebration, which I attended yesterday, I was impressed to learn how committed they are to the many various aspects of permaculture.  More information on the Chumash and permaculture can be found by following the link above.