Stewardship Program Manager
November is National Native American Heritage Month, an ideal time to deepen your understanding of Indigenous communities close to home. There are endless opportunities to learn more, and any action that fosters a greater sense of respect, gratitude, and solidarity is worthwhile in our book. If indoorsy learning is your thing, you might delve into a reading list, webinar, or other educational content that illuminates Native cultures, experiences, and perspectives. But what if you’re interested in outdoor, experiential learning? For those seeking a more immersive option, respectfully exploring local natural spaces can be incredibly rewarding.
Many local parks and preserves offer visitors educational materials about the local tribes who have lived here for centuries. Spending time in these spaces can help you connect physically and spiritually with the environment, gaining a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the land we all share.
The land in POST’s working area has been home to many distinct communities of Native people since time immemorial. We work to conserve and care for these lands — the ancestral territory of at least four contemporary Indigenous communities: the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, Muwekma Ohlone, Ramaytush Ohlone, and Tamien Nation. These groups have survived centuries of oppression and displacement, and are the past, present and future caretakers of this land. Learn more here.
Fremont
Coyote Hills, known as Máyyan Šaatošikma, is the ancestral homeland of the Tuibun Ohlone peoples. Throughout the park, trail markers include place names in the original Chochenyo language. At the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s request, the East Bay Park District updated these 35 trail markers in November 2022. The park grounds also preserve 2,000-year-old shellmound sites, which are near the trails but closed to the public. Take time to reflect on their significance while exploring the hillside paths or walking along the boardwalk through the marshland.
If you enjoy educational exhibits, peruse the Coyote Hills Visitor Center before or after your hike. The center features displays about the Ohlone way of life, the park’s natural history, and its wildlife. One highlight is a tule reed boat, which park staff and volunteers constructed using Native methods.
Los Gatos
Did you know that Umunhum means Place of the Hummingbird in the Mutsun language? The hummingbird is a central figure in the creation story in some Native belief systems. Mount Umunhum, one of the highest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a sacred site where local Tribes have long held ceremonial circles. Before opening the summit to the public in 2017, our friends at Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District partnered with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to develop a ceremonial space and interpretive displays there.
There are multiple ways to experience the splendor of Mount Umunhum. There’s an audio tour you can follow at your own pace on site or in the comfort of home. You can drive to the summit and enjoy ADA-accessible pathways and 360-degree views. You can also hike to (or from) the peak on the multi-use Mount Umunhum Trail, which winds along mixed chaparral scrub, knobcone pine forests, and rocky cliffs.
Gilroy
Long before Spanish colonization, this stretch of valley was home to a Mutsun village. The abundant nearby foothills, creeks, grasslands, and marshes made it an ideal place to live. Ascension Solarsano, one of the last native speakers of the Mutsun language, identified the site as Chitactac, which translates to the big dance place.
At this park, you can explore a short, scenic trail with signs in English and Spanish. You’ll read about village life, bedrock mortars, colonization’s impact, and the nearby Uvas Creek. At an interpretive shelter, learn about village social structures, trade networks, language, and traditional Indigenous uses for local plants. An authentic petroglyph dating back thousands of years is on display. Guided tours are available for schools and community groups by reservation.
Los Gatos
Archeological evidence shows that Ohlone people spent ample time in Bear Creek Redwoods. With its redwood forest, oak woodland, and grassy foothills, this site may have been optimal for seasonal camps and hunting or gathering trips. In addition to bedrock mortars used for food processing, stone flakes remain from creating chiseled tools like arrowheads and spearheads.
Here, you can explore a short, self-guided interpretive trail that circumnavigates Upper Lake near the parking lot. At the second stop, check out a display of boulders featuring mortars where Ohlone people prepared acorns, hard seeds, nuts, berries, meats, and fish using smaller stones. Over generations, these deep holes formed. The seven remaining stops on the tour highlight local species, natural and human history, and more. Get an even more comprehensive overview of Bear Creek Redwood’s cultural history with their interactive online experience!
Near Davenport
At POST-Protected San Vicente Redwoods, you can learn more about how local tribes used low-intensity fire to aid the forest system. This forest is in the ancestral homeland of the Awaswas, and today the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band are among the conservation partners collaborating to steward this landscape and survey its history. “It’s important to the Amah Mutsun to ensure the Awaswas ancestors are honored and never forgotten,” said Tribal Band Chair, Valentin Lopez, in a 2022 news article. For Tribal members, this work is not only good land stewardship, it’s a way of reconnecting with what indigenous communities have lost. Chairman Lopez says, “It is still our responsibility to protect and steward this forest.”
To recognize the people who inhabited and stewarded these lands for millennia, the names of the five trails are in the Awaswas language. One trail is mȃ-rŭs (panther), for example, and another is hai-min’ (lizard). Please note that a trail pass is required to visit San Vicente Redwoods, so please plan ahead.
Here are some guidelines to follow when visiting spaces that are sacred or significant to local Native communities, which may include all of the Land. Remember, these sites may have ties to ceremony, violence, birth, death, or other events.
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) protects open space on the Peninsula and in the South Bay for the benefit of all. Since its founding in 1977, POST has been responsible for saving more than 89,000 acres as permanently protected land in San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Learn more
Want family-friendly hikes, outdoor tips, local events, and more sent right to your inbox?
Can't see the form? Please click here for a simplified version.
Want fun facts about local wildlife, scenic spots, quick nature tips, and more sent right to your inbox?
Can't see the form? Please click here for a simplified version.
Want scenic spots, must-see trails, local outdoor experiences, and more sent right to your inbox?
Can't see the form? Please click here for a simplified version.