A significant milestone was reached recently when the Chumash Tribe of California became the first indigenous group in the Lower 48 states to be named co-stewards of a National Marine Sanctuary. This accomplishment marks the culmination of decades of advocacy and dedication by the Chumash people, who have long sought to protect the waters that have nurtured their communities for generations.
Stretching out into the Pacific Ocean, between Silicon Valley’s technological might and the glamour of Hollywood, the sanctuary that the Chumash have been fighting for is a testament to their deep connection with the coastal ecosystem. Since 1969, the tribe has worked tirelessly to preserve this unique environment, where coral reefs, kelp forests, dolphins, sharks, whales, and seals thrive in a delicate balance that sustained the Chumash people for centuries. This rich maritime landscape not only provided food and resources but also played a central role in their cultural and spiritual traditions.
In 2015, tribal leaders formally submitted a proposal to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urging the agency to designate the area as a marine sanctuary. Despite the overwhelming ecological and cultural significance of the region, the process proved to be a long and complex journey. For nearly a decade, the Chumash waited as NOAA moved through the various bureaucratic stages, each step bringing them closer to realizing their vision. Just last year, the tribe was “months away from clinching” the designation.
Finally, on September 6, 2023, the long-awaited moment arrived. NOAA issued its final environmental impact statement (FEIS), the last regulatory hurdle in establishing the Chumash National Marine Sanctuary. Under NOAA’s “preferred alternative”—a technical term used to describe the selected management approach—the sanctuary will encompass 4,543 square miles of coastal and offshore waters along 116 miles of California’s central coast. Once officially designated, it will become the third-largest seascape in the National Marine Sanctuary System.
Violet Walker Sage, head of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, expressed her pride and joy at this historic achievement. “In order to preserve something, in order to protect something, people have to love it, and that is like giving us the opportunity, the world stage, to share our stories and our history,” she told CBS during an interview last year. Her words underscore the deep cultural significance of the sanctuary for the Chumash people, whose ancestors have called this coastal region home for thousands of years.
Sage’s father, the late Chief Fred Collins, had been a driving force behind the tribe’s conservation efforts. He was the one who first submitted the proposal to NOAA nearly a decade ago. Sage, who took up her father’s mission after his passing, recognized that recent political changes, particularly under the Biden administration, presented an opportunity to finally bring her father’s vision to fruition. She knew the time was right to capitalize on the administration’s renewed focus on Indigenous rights and environmental preservation.
With Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and the first Native American to serve as Secretary of the Interior, leading the charge, the federal government has taken significant steps toward recognizing Indigenous stewardship over sacred lands and waters. In recent years, several culturally significant areas in the Southwest have been designated as national monuments. Haaland’s appointment, coupled with President Biden’s environmental agenda, gave the Chumash hope that their campaign for the marine sanctuary would finally succeed.
“For the Chumash people, they have been a bit overlooked, unfairly, for some time now,” said NOAA representative Mike Murray, who worked closely with Sage on the final phase of the marine sanctuary’s designation. “We are here at NOAA to say, with Violet and others, ‘Let’s work in partnership and change that. Let’s have this protected area and every coastal attraction or visitor center or sign that one might encounter make it clear that this is Chumash territory, and this is very special, and there’s deep meaning in that.'”
NOAA’s process isn’t quite complete, however. As mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, the agency must wait 30 days after the publication of the FEIS before making its final decision. If NOAA officially designates the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, it will release final regulations and a management plan that will guide how the sanctuary is governed. The plan will emphasize the importance of the Chumash Tribe’s involvement, acknowledging their deep cultural ties to the region and their historical role as stewards of the land and sea.
The sanctuary is anticipated to bring comprehensive protection to a wide array of natural, historical, archaeological, and cultural resources. These include kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy beaches, and underwater mountains, as well as more than 200 documented shipwrecks. Spanning the waters from Cambria to Santa Barbara, the sanctuary will also link the Monterey Bay and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuaries, creating a continuous corridor that serves as a vital migratory path for blue whales and other marine species.
“Every tribal nation across the country maintains a significant cultural tie to its aboriginal lands and waters,” said Kenneth Kahn, Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, in a statement issued by NOAA. “Sadly, for many, those connections have been difficult to reach. But today, with this announcement, the Chumash people take great strides in restoring our connection to our maritime history.”
One key aspect of NOAA’s preferred management plan is the decision to exclude areas earmarked for offshore wind energy projects. This decision ensures that the sanctuary’s boundaries will not conflict with planned wind turbines or transmission cables, balancing environmental conservation with the nation’s renewable energy goals.
Sage’s final words, spoken during a NOAA press release, encapsulate the tribe’s emotional journey. “My father, the late Chief Fred Collins, began the journey to protect these sacred waters 40 years ago, and we have been so proud to continue his work. I am delighted to celebrate his vision, today’s success, and the future of our People who will always be connected to past, present, and future by this special stretch of coastline and the true magic its waters hold.”
The establishment of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is a powerful testament to the perseverance of the Chumash people and their enduring connection to the ocean. It represents not just a victory for environmental conservation but also a crucial step toward restoring Indigenous rights and stewardship over sacred lands and waters.
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