Cultural Heritage Office

The Cultural Heritage Office at Cal State Monterey Bay is dedicated to returning Native American Ancestors and cultural items within the University’s possession back to the Native American Tribes.

Our Mission

Established to cultivate an environment that honors and uplifts the voices of Cal State Monterey Bay's Tribal communities, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage and the fundamental rights of Indigenous peoples through compliance with and commitment to the principles of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and CalNAGPRA.

CSUMB Land Acknowledgement

Cal State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) resides on the indigenous homeland of the Amah Mutsun, Esselen, Ohlone, Rumsen, Salinan people and territories. It is on these rich homelands, where CSUMB not only thrives as an institution of higher education, but also provides an education abundant with service and experience to a diverse community of learners.

As our students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members explore the university’s campus, remember to respect the land and take note of the natural beauty. Remember that Ancestors rest below pathways and in other less traveled areas on campus. We Are Here - Let Ka Lai

This Land Acknowledgement was originally developed by Dr. Browning Neddeau, Dr. Shantel Martinez, and Chairwoman Louise J. Miranda Ramirez (Tribal Chairwoman of the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation). This statement was revised to include all of our campus sites, including CSUMB Ryan Ranch, the Marine Science collaboration with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and the Teacher Pathway Program, a dual program between Hartnell and CSUMB in King City. As the boundaries of our university may shift and along with it new information about the people and territories in our region, we will continue to review the Land Acknowledgement at our biennial Tribal-University Convening in collaboration with tribal leaders.

The revised statement was updated in consultation with Monterey County Tribal leaders and CSUMB’s Native American Council. The statement was confirmed at the February 2024 University-Tribal Convening, and signed by CSUMB President Quinones on March 11, 2024.

References

California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center and CSUSM American Indian Studies (n.d.). Land Acknowledgement: You’re on California Indian Land, Now What?. Retrieved January 8, 2024, from https://www.csusm.edu/cicsc/land.pdf
Monterey County Historical Society
State of California - Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) Website
Native Land Digital 

If you would like to learn more about Native American Tribes in Monterey County, please visit:

• Amah Mutsun Tribal Band
• Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe
• Esselen Tribe of Monterey County
• Indian Canyon Mutsun Band of Costanoan
• KaKoon Ta Ruk Band of Ohlone-Costanoan Indians of the Big Sur Rancheria
• Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation
• Rumsen Ama Turataj Ohlone 
• Salinan Tribe of Monterey, San Luis Obispo Counties
• Wuksachi Indian Tribe/Eshom Valley Band
• Xolon-Salinan Tribe