Honoring the First Stewards

StandUpToTrash
6 days ago
2 min read

By Vicki Patterson

In Partnership with the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation

When we step outside, hike a trail or visit a local site, there is a deeper history beneath our feet, one that is often invisible to most of us. That history belongs to Indigenous peoples, the original stewards of the land whose cultures, stories and connections remain deeply relevant today.

We were honored to collaborate with the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation during our community events. Through our Scavenger Hunt, participants learned about the Acjachemen people and their Kiitcha huts, gaining a deeper appreciation for local Indigenous culture. In a separate effort, we helped restore the Village of Putuidem, a sacred Acjachemen site that had been affected by encampments and debris.

These activities foster awareness, respect and education, helping our community reconnect with the land’s original caretakers.

Reconnecting with the Land’s True Stewards

The Acjachemen (also known as the Juaneño) have lived along the southern California coast for over ten thousand years. By visiting the Village of Putuidem, we begin to see our environment as a living record of Indigenous knowledge and resilience.

Education systems have often simplified or distorted Native histories. Learning directly from Indigenous communities, however, restores voice and accuracy.

When we learn from the Acjachemen people, by witnessing their traditions and understanding their stewardship practices, we begin to see that Indigenous culture is deeply rooted in living with nature and the land, not apart from it.

Keep Learning and Unlearning

Understanding Native cultures is not a one-time lesson, it’s a lifelong process of learning and unlearning.

To unlearn is to challenge habits of thinking that overlook Indigenous presence and wisdom.

It’s asking:

Whose land am I standing on?
What was here before roads, buildings and borders?
How can I listen to Indigenous voices with humility and respect?

For us at Stand Up To Trash, unlearning means recognizing that true environmental stewardship began long before our organization and learning means inviting Indigenous partners like the Acjachemen Nation to lead the way forward.

The Acjachemen teach us that it’s about cultivating awareness, awareness that guides how we show up, teach and protect the Earth we share.

Closing Thought

Our partnership with the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation reminds us that learning about Native cultures and lands is an act of respect and a pathway to reconnection.

By honoring the first stewards of this land, we not only protect the ocean and environment we love, but also listen to their stories and build meaningful relationships with the Acjachemen people.

Be Sure To Join Us To Celebrate Native Heritage Month

Led by:

Georgia “Chena” Edmundson

Frank Barraza

Members at Large on Tribal Council

🗓 Sunday, November 9, 2025

🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Village of Putuidem, San Juan Capistrano