Contacto: Karina Meza
14 de octubre, 2024 240-778-3695
karina@hispanicaccess.org
WASHINGTON – El 11 de octubre, la Administración Nacional Oceánica y Atmosférica (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) designó el Santuario Marino Nacional del Patrimonio Chumash (Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary), convirtiéndolo en el primer santuario marino nominado por un grupo indígena en Estados Unidos y el primer santuario designado en California en más de 25 años. La designación de hoy inicia un período de revisión de 45 días por parte del Congreso y el Estado, con la aprobación final esperada para diciembre de 2024. Esta designación representa una importante victoria en la preservación del patrimonio cultural y ecológico de los indígenas Chumash, al tiempo que avanza la iniciativa America the Beautiful del gobierno de Biden, que busca proteger el 30% de las tierras y aguas de Estados Unidos para el 2030.
“Celebramos la designación del Santuario Marino Nacional del Patrimonio Chumash, el resultado de una campaña de 40 años liderada por los líderes indígenas y comunitarios para proteger importantes hábitats marinos y sitios sagrados de los Chumash,” dijo Maite Arce, presidenta y fundadora de Hispanic Access Foundation. “Mi más profundo agradecimiento a la presidenta Violet Sage Walker, al difunto presidente Fred Collins y al Consejo Tribal del Norte de los Chumash (Northern Chumash Tribal Council) por su esfuerzo impulsado por la comunidad, que establece un poderoso precedente para futuras protecciones oceánicas. Estoy agradecida con todos aquellos que apoyaron a los Chumash, incluidas nuestras comunidades latinas.”
El recién designado Santuario Marino Nacional del Patrimonio Chumash, ubicado frente a la costa central de California, abarca aproximadamente 4,543 millas cuadradas de aguas marinas y promueve la gestión colaborativa, integrando prácticas y conocimientos tradicionales indígenas con los procesos federales. Es reconocido por su biodiversidad excepcional, que incluye hábitats críticos para especies en peligro de extinción y paisajes submarinos intactos. El santuario protegerá estos vitales ecosistemas, asegurando la preservación de la vida marina para las generaciones futuras.
“La designación de este santuario no solo protege las maravillas de la creación de Dios, sino que también enriquece a nuestra comunidad hispana y a todos los que llaman a esta región su hogar,” dijo el Pastor Claudio Lapidus, miembro de la Alianza Basada en la Fe Por La Creación (Por La Creación Faith-Based Alliance). “Al preservar la belleza natural y los recursos que nos sostienen, garantizamos un futuro más brillante para las generaciones venideras. También queremos agradecer a Violet Sage Walker y a la familia Chumash del Norte por su liderazgo y dedicación en hacer de esta visión una realidad.”
Los latinos, quienes están entre las poblaciones costeras de más rápido crecimiento y entusiastas de actividades al aire libre, se beneficiarán de las protecciones ambientales y mayor equidad que promueve el santuario. La designación e implementación del Santuario Marino Nacional del Patrimonio Chumash impulsará los esfuerzos de conservación y honrará las tradiciones culturales indígenas. Al establecer el Santuario Marino Nacional del Patrimonio Chumash, no solo se protege una parte esencial del patrimonio natural del país, sino que también se reconoce la profunda conexión de los Chumash con el mar y su papel en su cuidado.
La designación del Santuario Marino Nacional del Patrimonio Chumash es una importante contribución a los objetivos de 30x30 de California y a la iniciativa nacional America the Beautiful, preservando tanto el patrimonio ecológico como cultural para las futuras generaciones.
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Sobre Hispanic Access Foundation
Hispanic Access Foundation, organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3), conecta a latinos con aliados y oportunidades para mejorar sus vidas y crear una sociedad equitativa. Nuestra visión es que algún día cada latino en Estados Unidos disfrute de buena salud física y un entornonatural saludable, educación de calidad, éxito económico, y participación cívica en sus comunidades, sumando así para mejorar el futuro de América. Para obtener más información, visitar www.hispanicaccess.org.
For Immediate Release
NOAA Designates Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
Pismo Beach/Pismú, CA — On October 11th, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is designating the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS). NOAA’s announcement and publication of regulations, expected on October 16th, kicks off a statutorily required 45-day final review by Congress and the State of California. The decades-long campaign to designate the first Indigenous-nominated national marine sanctuary, led by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and allied organizations, is expected to be complete by December 2024.
Violet Sage Walker, Chairwoman, Northern Chumash Tribal Council said: “Each step we’ve taken in this determined campaign to fulfill the dream of my late father, Chief Fred Collins, has been sweeter and more poignant. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all who have helped bring to life the vision of a Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. We are almost there and the significance of our collective effort will make history, begin to heal centuries of wounds to our People, and bring all of us closer together.”
When finalized later this year, the CHNMS will be the third largest national marine sanctuary in the United States, the first Indigenous-nominated sanctuary, and the first new sanctuary designated in ocean waters in over 30 years. It will prohibit new oil drilling and mining within its boundaries and support climate solutions by promoting the health of kelp forests and other ocean habitats that serve a host of vital ecosystem functions, including carbon storage. It will protect a globally significant ecological transition zone that is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including many at-risk species such as snowy plovers, southern sea otters, leatherback sea turtles, abalone, and blue whales. The sanctuary will also provide opportunities to advance cultural and environmental education and outreach.
Following Wednesday’s release of the final regulations and management plan, Congress and the State of California will enter a 45-day review period, required by law. The sanctuary is expected to take effect in December 2024.
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council and Chumash Sanctuary campaign partners extend our thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration for prioritizing federal ocean protection and for championing the designation of this groundbreaking sanctuary. We hope this is the first of many more Indigenous-nominated and Indigenous co-stewarded national marine sanctuaries.
The success of our collective efforts is a testament to the lifelong vision and dedication of Fred Collins, the late Northern Chumash Tribal Council Chair, who originally nominated the Sanctuary in 2015. “Grandmother Ocean has been providing life to the Chumash Peoples for over ten thousand years, now is the time for all communities to work together and assist her in rebuilding her Vibrant Thrivability for all future generations,” said Collins before he passed into spirit on October 1, 2021.
“It is most appropriate that on this Indigenous Peoples Day of 2024 that the bedrock of all Indigenous and Native values, namely our love for Hutash Mother Earth and compassionate stewardship of our natural world be marked with the acclimation of a new national marine sanctuary, something that CBCN members have sought since the 1980’s,” said Gabriel Frausto, Chairman, Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation. “We are grateful to the Biden Administration, our elected officials, our many thousands of supporters, NOAA and the dedicated local and national environmental and national ocean protection organizations that have worked so hard for so many years to make the designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary finally happen!”
“The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary has been a twinkle in the eye of the Central Coast for more than a generation. Today, that long-held idea of creating a marine sanctuary off the Central Coast finally becomes reality with the final federal step in the process officially submitted by the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Representative Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara). “I am grateful to the Indigenous and community leaders who have helped advocate for these protections over the past decade and more. The historic designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary comes not a moment too soon. As our oceans and communities face unprecedented challenges from a changing marine environment, this new sanctuary comes at a critical time for our region. I look forward to continuing to work with our local stakeholders and federal partners to implement this sanctuary – which will nearly double the amount of coastline protected along the Central Coast – and build on them to protect every coastal community and ecosystem in our region."
“Our Central Coast community has worked for forty years to protect our coast and it is the power of local community engagement that finally made it happen,” said Gianna Patchen, Chapter Coordinator of the Santa Lucia Sierra Club Chapter. “The Sierra Club is honored to be a longtime partner with the NCTC and our local communities, who made this sanctuary possible. Generations of Central Coast residents from Tribal Elders to college students have tabled at the farmer’s market, knocked on doors, sent postcards and emails, circulated petitions, organized and attended meetings, addressed local governments and community groups, and held fundraisers on behalf of the marine sanctuary. Now that our community’s hard work has come to fruition, we’re elated to help make this sanctuary the best it can be.”
"We celebrate the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary designation, the result of a 40-year campaign by Tribal and community leaders to protect significant ocean habitats and sacred Chumash sites,” said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. “My deepest gratitude goes to Chairwoman Violet Sage Walker, the late Chairman Fred Collins, and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council for their community-driven effort, which sets a powerful precedent for future ocean protections. I’m grateful to all who stood with the Chumash people, including our Latino communities."
“We at the Environmental Defense Center are thrilled to see the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary finally become a reality,” said Rachel Kondor, Staff Attorney for the Environmental Defense Center. “The ocean off our beautiful coast will now receive both the recognition and protection it rightly deserves thanks in large part to the vision, leadership and perseverance of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council. NOAA’s action to designate this Sanctuary will protect submerged sacred Chumash sites and incredible marine resources and wildlife for generations to come.”
"Protecting these submerged ancient villages from future industrial encroachment will ensure the resting places of their ancestors remain undisturbed,” said Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder of Mission Blue. “The cultural significance of Chumash heritage makes this National Marine Sanctuary the only one of its kind. Bravo to the Northern Chumash Tribal Council for leading this very important nomination as a National Marine Sanctuary and as a key part of the international network of Hope Spots."
“The designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary by the Biden-Harris administration is a transformational moment for America’s coastal California waters,” said Joel R. Johnson, president and CEO of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. “Truly, the first Indigenous-focused sanctuary is an historic achievement, benefiting the natural wonders of these waters as well as the people and communities that are at the heart of its story. Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary will now advance ocean justice and equity by protecting ancestral waters, uphold the Central Coast Tribes’ traditional knowledge and ways, and promote co-stewardship of vast cultural and marine resources.”
“This stunning stretch of coast has long been a central part of life for Indigenous people,” said Dr. Steve Palumbi from Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station. “Their efforts to designate the Chumash Heritage National marine sanctuary is a gift to us all. It’s a celebration of a place that has always had a sanctuary in their hearts and now they are sharing that with everyone,” Dr. Palumbi is currently collaborating with the Northern Chumash Tribal Council to combine Indigenous and Western science in the proposed Chumash Heritage Sanctuary waters.
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Media Contacts:
Violet Sage Walker - reach out to Scott Lusk (202-288-3233, slusk@signaldc.com)
Gabriel Frausto - reach Gabriel, Chairman, Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation at (805-568-8063, cbcntribalchair@gmail.com)
Gianna Patchen - reach Gianna at (805-543-8717, Santa.lucia@sierraclub.org)
Rachel Kondor - reach out to Betsy Weber at Environmental Defense Center (307-200-1661)
Maite Arce - reach out to Karina Meza, Chief of Communications at Hispanic Access Foundation (240-778-3695, karina@hispanicaccess.org)
Dr. Steven Palumbi - reach Dr. Palumbi at (831-601-7002, spalumbi@stanford.edu)
Joel Johnson - reach out to Chip Weiskotten, Director of Communications at the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (518-669-3936, chip@marinesanctuary.org)
Dr. Sylvia Earle - reach out to Huntley Penniman, Director of Communications for Mission Blue for press inquiries (hpenniman@missionblue.org) and Shannon Rake, Hope Spots Program Manager for Mission Blue for Hope Spot Inquiries (srake@missionblue.org)
Northern Chumash Tribal Council
Established in 2006, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is a California non-profit corporation 501(c)(3) and a State Recognized Tribal Government under the guidelines of the state of California Senate Bill 18. Our mission is to offer a foundation for Chumash people to bring our Culture and Heritage back to life, to create dignity with the people, and to educate the public that the Chumash have always been here, we have not gone anywhere, and we will always be here, one continuum. We are Chumash, by our cultural understanding we have lived on the Central Coast of California since time immemorial.
Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Campaign
The Campaign supports the Northern Chumash Tribal Council’s efforts to secure designation of the Sanctuary. The Campaign is supported by dozens of conservation, Tribal, community, environmental justice, science, education, business, and other partners. https://chumashsanctuary.org/