NASSSC May 2026 Meeting
May 5th, 2026 @ 6pm on zoom https://cabrillo-edu.zoom.us/j/8314796207
Schedule for the evening
We are also seeking examples of land acknowledgements to review and learn from. If you have one you’d like to share, please feel free to post it here.
Native American Studies and Student Support Committee
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To view upcoming events and more info about our group www.nasssc.org
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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.
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