Chumash People

The Chumash people are an Indigenous group native to the coastal regions of Southern California, including areas like Santa Barbara and Ventura. Historically, they thrived through fishing, hunting, gathering, and trading, developing advanced craftsmanship in tools, basketry, and rock art. They lived in villages with plank houses and had complex social and spiritual practices centered around nature and ancestral traditions. Today, the Chumash work to preserve their cultural heritage, language, and history, maintaining a vital connection to their ancestral lands and customs.