California Habitat for Indigenous Arts

California Habitat for Indigenous Arts CHIA is a tribally led California group supporting Indigenous arts through residencies, exhibitions, and programs.

Grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, it promotes cultural continuity, stewardship, and Indigenous creative expression. We are the living descendants of the original Chumash people of Santa Barbara and the Gaviota Coast. Our founding member is one of the
direct descendants of Chief Beato Temicucat of both villages Mikiw and Kuyamu (Dos Pueblos Ranch) 1742-1821. We would like to share our t

raditional indigenous world view and earth stewardship practices with our neighbors in Santa Barbara and visitors from around the globe. “All decisions are to be made with a view to the seven generations ahead. Our traditions are evidence of ecologically
sustainable development, in harmony with the earth, and the ability of a people to live within the instructions of natural law. The Ocean has always given life and health to the people of the coast and we have always given her respect by not polluting her and honoring her with song, dance and ritual, this gives us our culture and our way of life. Now we call upon you our neighbors to participate in the emergence of a multicultural alliance that will inform, educate and re-establish relations between man an nature. MISSION:
Provide Native American cultural art, sciences and outbound earth stewardship educational programs for the public schools and local communities. GOALS
• To Introduce the “Chumash Maritime Cultural Preservation and Revitalization Act”

•To Build a Chumash Village on the Gaviota coast to be utilize, maintained and managed by the Coastal Clans of the Santa Barbara and the Gaviota Coast for ceremony, community gatherings. Including Chumash cultural interpretation programs “Outdoor living museum” for the public, schools and organizations.

• To open up a Chumash Interpretation Center /Living Museum In Santa Barbara

• To develop land and sea stewardship programs along with water security resolutions, including adoption of water principles and a water protection policy prepared with the
local community.

• Establish the Gaviota Chumash Land Reserve
Having access to the land as caretakers and earth stewards we would introduce our fundamental elements for fauna reproduction and the re-development of primary natural watersheds that will provide much needed nourishment for fauna and oral reproduction. The land reserve will only be utilized for its natural beauty and inspiration, the value of the land has an intrinsic value, it is valuable in itself simply by existing. As stewards/caretakers we will continue these traditions.

Now Launching: Chumash Marine Stewardship & Science Leadership Program 🛶The California Habitat for Indigenous Arts (CHIA...
04/25/2026

Now Launching: Chumash Marine Stewardship & Science Leadership Program 🛶

The California Habitat for Indigenous Arts (CHIA) invites Chumash community members and the broader community to take part in a tribally led marine science and stewardship program rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and contemporary science.

Join us on the water for eDNA Kayak Sampling Expeditions across the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary—from Morro Bay, Avila Beach to the Gaviota Coast

🧬 **What You’ll Do**
Participants will engage in:
• Classroom learning, fieldwork, and applied research
• eDNA water sampling (site selection, collection, contamination prevention, data documentation)
• Marine ecology + cultural knowledge of coastal environments
Hands-on mentorship with scientific partners
TEK Workshop - Chumash Material Cultural Making

📅 **Sampling Season: May – October (with November closing date) 2nd Saturday of each month
May 16 • June 13 • July 18 • Aug 15 • Sept 19 • Oct 17 • Nov 14

🗓 **Typical Day Schedule**
10:00 AM – Arrival & gear prep
10:30 AM – On-water sampling + storytelling
12:30 PM – Lunch (provided)
1:30 PM – Sample filtering
3:00 PM – TEK Workshop
4:00 PM – Close

3) 🎒 **What to Bring**
• Layers / windbreaker
• Extra clothes & shoes
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Snacks (optional)

4) 🌱 **Why Participate?**
Help build a network of Chumash trained community marine stewards, contribute to real TEK & scientific research, and support Indigenous leadership in ocean conservation and climate resilience.

📣 **How To Get Involved**
For more information and to learn about participating /signing up - email us at [email protected]. Visit our website at www.chiaculturalarts.org
Follow us here on Instagram for outreach event dates and updates.

The Chumash Indian Museum and the NASL: Native American Shinny League will be hosting this years summer - “Chumash Shinn...
08/24/2024

The Chumash Indian Museum and the NASL: Native American Shinny League will be hosting this years summer - “Chumash Shinny Clinic “ and you are invited. - One of the most popular of team sports among the California Native tribes was shinny. The game is played much like modern day field hockey, similar skill sets are needed to excel. During large ceremonial gatherings, an entire village might play against another, with as many as 8 to three hundred players on the field. ____________________________________________Classes and workshops offered:
Indigenous California Traditional Games 🏑🥅🟤

- Shinny “ Tikuwich” Clinic 🏑: Chumash Indian Museum Shinny Filed. 🎟 Purchase tickets at eventbrite link ( Located in our bio ) Visit chumashmuseum.org Scholarships available for California Tribal Community Members.

* What to bring: Running shoes work out attire and some water. We will provide the traditional wood sticks and balls.

1) Introduction Presentation: Shinny Captain Aleqwel will speak about the games origins and history.
How we are re-introducing traditional games and sports back into our contemporary culture both on and off the reservation.

2) Shinny Demonstration The Captain and a Chumash Player will demonstrate the basic principals.
How to hit, block, pass and strike the ball.

3) Shinny Clinic Skill Play: After getting familiar with the game play by our instructors. We will ask for volunteers from the class if they would like to start leaning the basic skills to play shinny. Catch, Blocking, pass and strike

4) Scrimmage Shinny Match: Participants will be split up in groups to scrimmage a play a Shinny match.

Auction: Royale QashiWear’s Royal Regalia Line Auction Item: Double Lay Pine nut and abalone beaded strand with a Abalon...
02/07/2024

Auction: Royale
QashiWear’s Royal Regalia Line
Auction Item: Double Lay Pine nut and abalone beaded strand with a Abalone disc and pine needle woven pendant. Wow !

All Source Materials were personally gathered on unseeded Chumash Territory ( Santa Barbara & SLO County)
-California Digger Pine Nuts & Needles - Carpinteria
-Red Abalone Shell - Monterey

Starting bid at $150
Place your bids on the comment thread
Auction Ends: Thursday 6:PM - February 8th 2024
Good Luck & Thank you for supporting Indigenous artists!

Come visit my new online shop this holiday season or come join us at one of or seasonal pop-ups this December. ww...
11/28/2023

Come visit my new online shop this holiday season or come join us at one of or seasonal pop-ups this December.

www.QashiWear.com

Barracuda Clan feather pole. Representing the historical Chumash villages of Qasil ( Refugio) Mikiw & Kuyamu ( Dos Puebl...
10/23/2023

Barracuda Clan feather pole. Representing the historical Chumash villages of Qasil ( Refugio) Mikiw & Kuyamu ( Dos Pueblos ranch)

10/19/2023
Hōkūleʻa Arrival Ceremony at Morro Bay ( Lesaamo ) It was a honor to dance for the Hokule’a crew and for the Moananuiake...
10/19/2023

Hōkūleʻa Arrival Ceremony at Morro Bay ( Lesaamo ) It was a honor to dance for the Hokule’a crew and for the Moananuiakea Voyage. Special thanks to YTT Northern Chumash Tribe and the Salinan bands for hosting this beautiful ceremony.

Looking forward to greeting our relatives.
10/04/2023

Looking forward to greeting our relatives.

Come check out QashiWear this weekend. Sept 30th at the 29th annual Hart of the West Pow Wow Hosted by the Fernandeno Ta...
09/28/2023

Come check out QashiWear this weekend. Sept 30th at the 29th annual Hart of the West Pow Wow Hosted by the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. We will be featuring our new fall line. Personally hand gathered ( not from the internet) pine nut and manzanita berry lay necklaces/ bracelets whale bone carving w/ abalone inlay pendants, abalone earrings plus a verity of red abalone fishhook pendants and sacred geometry designs both traditional and contemporary including some original Aleqwel trademark designs.

Follow us and see what we are all about on INSTAGRAM

Address

Santa Barbara, CA
93101–93103, 93105–93111, 93116–93118, 93120–93121, 93130, 93140, 93150,

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when California Habitat for Indigenous Arts posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to California Habitat for Indigenous Arts:

Shortcuts

Share

Category