Costanoan Indian Research, P. O. Box 28, Hollister, CA (2026)

Ann Marie Sayers, Mutsun/Ohlone lives at Indian Canyon (a real canyon) with her daughter Kanyon. It is the only recognized California Indian Country (an Individual Indian Allotment) in the California coastal region between Santa Barbara in the southern part of the state and the Point Reyes/Clear Lake area, in the north. In Spanish Mission times, her family lived in Indian Canyon (once called India

n Gulch) as a secluded refuge within their territory that was generally inaccessible to the roving troopers who rounded up the natives for use at the Missions. In a landmark 8-year struggle, Ann Marie and her family, with the help of friends, was able to reclaim some of her family's original territoryin 1988 as an Individual Indian Allotment. Notable among these friends was Howard Harris, a longtime Hollister rancher whose great-grandfather served as John C. Fremont's scout before California was taken into the US. Imrie interviewed Harris (now deceased) in 1997 and we have some incredible footage of this on YouTube (1 - Howard's first visit to the canyon in 1920) and (2 - Howard with background of the canyon's people). In those heady days of the birth of the world wide web, Allan Lundell and Sun MacNamee were blossoming video gurus who filmed the film and in a later iteration (their site now) burned an old vhs tape copy to DVD enabling me putting this real-life personal history lesson up on youTube - remember there WAS no youTube in 1997!)

Howard's family helped Ann Marie's great grandparents Sebastian and Maria Garcia establish the old original allotment claim in the 1890's and early 1900's. Ann Marie's mission now is to educate about and share the amazing history and life around Indian Canyon. Naturally, our website focuses on issues and events concerning the precious land at Indian Canyon, as well as communicating and archiving information of a more general, [nation-] statewide nature. is a Not-For-Profit foundation founded by Sayers during her monumental battle to reclaim Indigenous land in the 1980's.

12/09/2025

Volunteerism isn’t just a task — it’s how we protect each other.

This week, as fires, smoke, and health challenges weighed heavily on our community, we’ve been coming together to make sure our Elders in Indian Canyon have firewood, freshwater, and comfort. Jesse has been doing so much despite her own health, and I’m grateful to everyone who steps in and shows up.

If you want to help us continue this care, join us Thursday, December 11th at 9am at Indian Canyon. Bring gloves if possible, and the willingness to serve our Elders.

Community care is ceremony.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1271575331665865&id=100064402310858&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f

Community care is needed now more than ever.
As fires, smoke, and seasonal challenges impact our relatives, we are organizing to ensure our Elders in Indian Canyon have firewood, freshwater, and support.

A big thank-you to Jesse, who has been coordinating and showing up for our community even while navigating her own health. Your dedication to our Elders does not go unnoticed. ❤️

If you feel called to help, volunteers are needed Thursday, December 11th at 9am.
📍 1 Indian Canyon Road, Hollister, CA 95023

Please bring gloves if you can.
Bring heart either way.
Showing up for Indigenous Elders is powerful medicine.

10/22/2025

Kanyon Sayers-Roods father
Remember Richard Dickie Roods

09/15/2025

05/28/2025

California State Parks is hosting a public virtual meeting to hear the community’s thoughts on the potential name change of Fremont Peak State Park to tooyohtak.

This meeting will be held on Thursday, May 29th, 2025 from 6:00 pm- 7:30 pm. Please register for the meeting using this link:
https://forms.gle/3zCJpmvwLt2tNrUYA

If anyone registered has issues accessing the meeting link, please email Marcos Vizcaíno at [email protected]

This consideration is part of California’s Department of Parks and Recreation Reexamining Our Past Initiative. The Reexamining Our Past Initiative is part of a larger project within state government to address discriminatory names of features attached to state parks and transportation systems and to address inappropriate honorifics associated with the historical legacy of some of our monuments, statues, and plaques.

The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band is asking the Department to reconsider the name of Fremont Peak State Park due to John C. Fremont’s documented brutality against Native Americans in the mid-19th century, and to restore the traditional place name tooyohtak. The name tooyohtak translates to “bee place/at the bees” in the Mutsun language and has been the place name of the mountain since time immemorial. It is the oldest name that humans have for the peak.

Additionally, please share your input on the renaming of Fremont Peak State Park by completing the public survey below:

https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=JD39BmRlAUiCJrQHxNJraKq5lF_yrbtGsrzzIdXTdklURDJWUVRVWTQ5T1pGT1o5NEZFSjI0SzU5Qy4u&route=shorturl

For more information about the public meeting, contact Marcos Vizcaíno by email at [email protected] or phone (831) 638-3387.

For feedback about the name restoration, email [email protected] 🌿

Address

P. O. Box 28
Hollister, CA
95024

Telephone

+14086730626

Website

http://www.costanoan.org/

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