This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Tribal citizens and community members came together at Mapipinga — the Tataviam village located at Vasquez Rocks — for a day of celebration, sharing, and learning. The gathering honored the living traditions of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, connecting visitors to the Tribe’s enduring relationship with the land.

Participants learned about traditional plant knowledge and received seeds to take home, carrying forward the teachings of stewardship and renewal. Our Eduation & Cultural Learning Department presented its Keep Tobacco Sacred program, sharing the cultural significance and traditional uses of tobacco as a medicine and offering — a teaching deeply rooted in respect and balance. Elders followed with stories of resilience and connection, passing down wisdom to younger generations.

Throughout the day, music, song, and dance filled the village, reminding everyone that culture thrives when it is spoken, sung, and shared in community.