Empowering Understanding and Advocacy

The Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation, in collaboration with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, administers community education programs to deepen public awareness of Ohlone history, resilience, and contemporary priorities. Led by Co-Chairs Julie Dominguez and Corina Arellano, these initiatives bridge ancestral knowledge with modern advocacy, fostering respect for indigenous sovereignty through accessible resources, interactive events, and curriculum integration. By highlighting cultural revitalization, land stewardship, and federal recognition efforts, we invite allies to become active stewards, honoring the Tribe's enduring presence on unceded homelands in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Muwekma Ohlone Educational Toolkit

Our flagship resource, "Makkin Mak: Nommo – We Are Still Here," is a standards-aligned toolkit for 3rd-5th grade educators, developed with New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU) and San José State University. It connects California History-Social Science and Visual Arts standards to Muwekma stories of regalia reclamation, Chochenyo language revival, land connections, and advocacy. Featuring photos from tribal exhibitions, a glossary, discussion prompts, and hands-on activities—like crafting land acknowledgments, practicing greetings in Chochenyo ("Horše t úuxi" for hello), or designing native gardens—this toolkit promotes critical thinking about indigenous continuity and invites students to create murals or volunteer in clean-ups. Download it free at muwekma.org to bring Ohlone perspectives into classrooms.

Presentations and Land Acknowledgements

Tribal members and allies deliver engaging presentations on Muwekma history, cultural practices, and current initiatives like land access and tribal village development. We offer customized land acknowledgments for events, institutions, and organizations, emphasizing reciprocal relationships with the land. Host us at your school, library, or gathering—suggested donations support speaker stipends and program sustainability. Submit requests via our online form to schedule and collaborate.

School Curriculum Integration and Youth Outreach

Partnering with Bay Area schools, we embed Muwekma history, language, and culture into curricula through workshops, guest speakers, and family engagement nights. Recent efforts include youth camps blending botany and storytelling, and integration of Chochenyo phrases into daily lessons. In 2025, we expanded outreach to foster safe spaces for Native youth education, health, and tradition, with ongoing programs in 2026 amplifying voices on colonial legacies and resilience.

Events, Exhibitions, and Collaborations

We host and co-create events like flag-raising ceremonies for Native American Heritage Month, symposia on ethnohistory, and exhibits at museums such as NUMU. Collaborations include commissioned public art, interpretive trails on accessed lands, and renaming public spaces in Chochenyo. Highlights from 2025–2026 feature Reclamation Exhibitions and MMIW awareness vigils, building alliances for federal recognition. Join us at upcoming powwows or volunteer for earth-honoring clean-ups.

Resources and Further Engagement

Explore our free resources: Muwekma Ohlone Culture photo gallery, San Jose Land Acknowledgement guide, ethnohistory from the 8,000-year-old CA-SCL-671 site, and Muwekma Ohlone Military honors. For inquiries on partnerships, email info@muwekmafoundation.org.