Protecting Sacred Sites and Cultural Resources

We would like to share some behind-the-scenes work that our Cultural Resource team does daily to protect sacred sites. We care deeply about leaving undisturbed sites preserved to honor their presence and for our future generations to study and learn from our Ancestors. We are grateful to the Elders who have given their presence and protected sacred sites so that we can continue to protect and preserve.

Many folks do not know that a majority of our ancestral sites have been disturbed and developed upon — preserving the remaining sites is our duty.

When we have to perform emergency excavations, we have uncovered information that has reshaped the way we envision our Ancestors and taught us about their daily life, skills, and diets.

Meet the Esselen Tribe Cultural Resource Department — these dedicated tribal members are out daily protecting sacred sites, tribal archaeology, and cultural resources. They are skilled professionals in cultural resource protection, dedicated to protecting and preserving our history. This sacred work often goes unnoticed and is often a thankless job. We honor these tribal members for their care and dedication.

Mi’layaya kolo.

LAND BACK does not just mean literal land back, but also the returning of sacred objects. Do you have sacred items you feel called to return back to the Esselen Tribe?