Vogue Knitting acknowledges the breath of those who came before us. This retreat is taking place on Indigenous land. We are pausing to reflect, honor, and acknowledge that those in Northern California are on the stolen homelands of over 100 tribes. In San Luis Obispo County, the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini, Northern Chumash tribe were the most prevalent (see below map for Tribal territories). Paso Robles was once part of the Salinan tribe, a Native American people who lived in what is now the Central Coast of California, based in the Salinas Valley and stretching south to the Chumash. Indigenous Peoples are still in Northern California, persisting despite ongoing colonialism and oppression.
We acknowledge the critical importance of the land and water to the Indigenous peoples of California today, and that the existence of tribal communities and preservation of traditional Indigenous ways of life depend on secure and permanent land bases and the right of self-determination. We recognize the painful history upon which the state of California was created, and how policies, systems, and structures continue to oppress and erase Indigenous peoples today. In recognizing the traditional custodians of the land, we pay respect to the Indigenous people, the history and culture of the community, and all Native Americans as America’s First Peoples. We pay respect to the Chumash Elders past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, and the culture of this area, which has become a place of learning for people from all over the world.
This acknowledgment does not take the place of authentic relationships with Indigenous communities; it serves as a first step in honoring the land and the people. We have given to the California Tribal Fund; consider giving to one of the below.
