Native American Studies and Student Support Committee

Mitotiliztli dancers, seen from behind, perform on a paved area scattered with flower petals. They wear elaborate feathered headdresses and traditional attire. Behind them is a tall building adorned with a vibrant, colorful mural, flanked by trees.

The Amah-ka-tura cultural dance group backstage in the Crocker Theater. Several individuals are dressed in traditional Indigenous regalia, featuring feathered headpieces, shell necklaces, and fringed garments made of what appears to be hide or woven materials.

Native American Studies & Student Support Committee

Four Areas of Focus

●Promoting Native American Studies throughout the curriculum and support of a faculty position.
●Student support and engagement.
●Strengthening relationships with the Native community.
●Providing educational opportunities for the college and community.

Local Tribal History

Original Inhabitants: The Awaswas

Tribe/Group: Awaswas
Linguistic Family: Ohlone (also known as Costanoan)
Territory: Coastal Santa Cruz Mountains, including present-day Santa Cruz County.
Villages: Many small villages throughout the region, often located near creeks and coastal areas. Some notable ones were around the San Lorenzo River and Soquel Creek.
Lifeways: The Awaswas people lived in seasonal villages and relied on fishing, shellfish gathering, acorn harvesting, and trading with neighboring groups.

Pronunciations of the tribes are: Amah (Aaa-Ma), Mutsun (Moot-sun), Uypi (You-P), Awaswas (Aaa-Was-Was).

Today:

The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band includes descendants of the Awaswas and other Mutsun-speaking Ohlone peoples. They are actively working to revitalize culture, language, and reclaim stewardship of ancestral lands. Although not federally recognized, they are deeply engaged in environmental and cultural restoration efforts in the Santa Cruz region.