Construction of the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center is well underway, a project that Tribal Chairman Kenneth Kahn called a long-anticipated dream. But teaching others about the tribe’s culture and history, Kahn told the Sun, is nothing new for the Santa Ynez Chumash people.
“The tribe had, in the 1970s, a traditional ‘tule ap’ that was built, and then they had shared some cultural items and objects for the community to come and enjoy,” Kahn said. “We’ve had a number of different exhibits over the years in our tribal government facilities, but we felt it was time that we expanded that to bring our collections and tell some of our traditional stories all under one roof for the community to enjoy.”
Certain design elements of the 14,000-square-foot facility will pay homage to those traditions, such as the tule ap, a hut-like structure.
“Traditionally, that was how our ancestors took shelter,” Kahn said. “There would be a subterranean dugout … and then they would build a round, dome-shaped house, build a frame, and then line the frame with tule reeds, and the tule reeds would protect the individuals from the elements.”
The exhibition will feature gathering spaces that resemble these traditional structures to symbolize a Chumash village.
The museum’s advisory committee, made up of members of the tribe and the community, shaped its vision for the exhibits based on Chumash history and how other tribes have told their stories, Kahn said. Early on in the project, the committee visited more than 10 museums in six states to view their collections and learn about their museum practices.
The new museum’s exhibits will feature items that the tribe already possesses, and it will also partner with existing tribal museums to take out Santa Ynez Chumash items on loan.
“But the tribe has amassed a pretty healthy collection of our own,” Kahn said. “Basketry is what our tribe is well known for. The craftsmanship is in some cases so fine that it can hold water.”
The collection of cultural objects amassed by the tribe exceeds 20,000 pieces. In an effort to make the exhibits interactive, Kahn said there will be both original cultural items and replicas on display, allowing visitors to touch and interact with the replicas. But he dislikes using that word to describe the new objects.
“Our present-day Chumash community members have been commissioned to make these, so they’re not really replicas, they’re just modern-day crafted tools and items,” Kahn said. “But since they’re modern … those will be more available for our visitors to be able to touch, feel, and experience for themselves.”
The museum, which is slated for completion later this year, was designed by Jones & Jones Architects. Founding partner Johnpaul Jones is of Choctaw and Cherokee heritage and was a principal designer of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., a structure that Kahn said was a departure from the typical design aesthetic of Capitol Mall museums at the time.
“That’s one of the most significant museums on the mall there because it was the first one that no longer took the regular rectangle, box shape,” Kahn said. “It was very unique for them to take more of a natural, curved approach to building a tribal museum. So we’re in good hands.”
Kahn added that the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum will continue the tribe’s longstanding commitment to sustainability by pursuing LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. If successful, it would be one of the first LEED-certified tribal museums in the United States, he said.
“Our water reuse programming extends over to the museum site, so we’ll be using recycled water for that site, for all of the drought-tolerant native landscaping but also in any kind of water feature for exhibits,” Kahn added.
The project is also locally sourcing many of its materials, such as stone from the Santa Ynez Valley.
Kahn hopes museum patrons will take away an appreciation for tribal values—including environmental stewardship and respect for the land—once the museum opens, which he hopes will happen early next year.
“We want people to be able to feel the presence and understand that for the past 8,000 years, this region has had people thriving off the land,” Kahn said. “We want to make sure that we don’t forget those traditional ways and historical moments.”
Highlight
• The Santa Maria Public Library announced that in recognition of National Craft Month, it will be offering an assortment of spring-themed craft kits for Santa Maria youth to enjoy. “Each craft pack includes supplies for creating International Women’s Day flowers, an Irish fairy garden, and some Springtime bug friends,” according to city officials. “Additional activity links and a book list are included to inspire creativity and learning throughout the month. These craft packs are designed for youth in kindergarten through sixth grade.” Those interested can register through the library’s online events calendar or by calling (805) 925-0994. Packs can be picked up until March 20.
Staff Writer Malea Martin wrote this week’s Spotlight. Send tips to spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 18-25, 2021.