Many ways to support local tribes
In July 2020, the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County regained a piece of their ancestral homeland in Big Sur, California. Led by the Western Rivers Conservancy , this rare and significant land deal conserved 1,199 acres along the Little Sur River, linking protected lands on the coast to the Santa Lucia mountain range.
"Words cannot begin to describe the importance of these ancestral lands to our people," says Tribal Council Woman Jana Nason.
Big Sur Land Trust's CEO and President Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis adds, "We are honored to have played a small part in this important transfer of land back to its original stewards, the Esselen people. Our staff helped by advocating for project funding and assisting with planning for ecological baseline assessments, grant writing and preparing requests for proposals. It's a powerful example of how all of us, including small organizations and community members, can share our local relationships and specific expertise in helping tribes secure and steward lands."
"This sacred property gives us the chance to tell our story and to demonstrate our resilience," Nason says. "It gives our Tribe and other tribal communities the opportunity to be able to recreate and rebirth, to put forth our efforts in the preservation and continuation of cultural traditions, and to have a place where our cultural identity can be restored. The property offers the opportunity for tribal members and other Native Americans to engage in ceremonies and carry on our cultural practices. We are pleased to share this beautiful video of our first gathering on the land."