Honoring the Land & Its First People
The land we work to protect has a story that began long before us. We are honored to partner with the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, the Indigenous people of this region, to support their ongoing cultural, ecological, and educational initiatives.
Together, we work to restore and respect the land, deepen public awareness and celebrate the living history of the Acjachemen people.
Our Work
Cleanup and Cultural Day at the Village of Putuidem
Coming together to care for sacred spaces that hold cultural and ecological significance.
Blessing, Native Games and Face Painting!
Native Plant Trail Walk
Inspired by Indigenous botany, we explored traditional plant uses and acknowledged the stories rooted in the landscape
We acknowledge that the lands where we gather and work are the ancestral homelands of the Acjachemen people, who have stewarded these coastal ecosystems for thousands of years. We honor their ongoing presence and contributions.
We began the day with a traditional blessing, then journeyed into the rich tapestry of native plant life. Along the way, we uncovered the medicinal uses of local flora, discussed the impact of invasive species and explored a wealth of ecological knowledge.
Walking the historic Pahne Trail, we immersed ourselves in the ancestral wisdom of the Acjachemen people—who once thrived along the San Mateo River, drawing sustenance, healing, and shelter from the land's natural abundance.
