YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

PLEASE EMAIL KEY CALIFORNIA STATE LEADERS TO SUPPORT THE RETURN OF DIABLO CANYON HOMELANDS TO YAK TITʸU TITʸU YAK TIŁHINI (YTT) NORTHERN CHUMASH TRIBE

Dear Friends,

We are asking for you to help yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region (YTT Tribe), with obtaining Ancestral Home Land Back on the coast of San Luis Obispo County. This land is commonly called Diablo Lands, or the Pecho Coast, and is in our ancestral homeland. This nearly pristine 12,000 acres was taken from us in the 1700s without agreement or compensation. We are trying to purchase about 9,000 acres. But we need your help - please email key state leaders to support the return of Diablo Canyon Homelands to YTT Northern Chumash Tribe.

Please read more to understand our request to you and points that could be in your letter:

In late April, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) is providing recommendations for a Land Conservation and Economic Development Plan for Diablo Lands as required by SB 846. The California State Legislature will be voting on the future of these lands that are rightfully ours. At stake is the future of these lands and the funds to purchase them.

YTT Tribe has been working for many years building a community coalition. Our Coalition includes ytt Tribe, our local powerhouse land conservation group, The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, nationally acclaimed Cal Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, and REACH (Regional Economic Action Coalition). All of our coalition members are united in returning ownership of approximately 9,000 acres to YTT Tribe. Together we have written a Proposal that has been presented to numerous local and state politicians, agencies and community groups.

Although these lands should be given back to us, we know that isn’t acceptable to the current owner PGE and its subsidiaries, so funds from SB846 will catalyze us toward purchasing these lands as outlined in the Slide Deck and Narrative created by our Partnership. Also included in this Proposal is the Economic Development Plans for the future of our community and California. But, to be clear, the economic development component would only be on the parcel on which a power plant is already built. 

We ask that you help us and be a part of this history-making time by sending letters of support for the return of the Diablo Lands to yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region (YTT Tribe) and in doing so we believe it will also help set the stage for Land Back by other Tribes. 

Points you may want in your support letter are listed at the bottom of this page.

au’ au’ (thank you)

 
 

Mona Olivas Tucker, Chair yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe San Luis Obispo County and Region

" History, despite its wrenching pain Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again."

- Maya Angelou

 

EMAIL KEY CALIFORNIA LEADERS

Links to message Key California Leaders are listed below (links to either email or that leader’s web messaging page). For the last four leaders listed, we included a sample email text that you can personalize, edit or draft when you click on their name (please remember to sign). Otherwise, you will have to write a note and can use the Email Talking Points that are provided at the bottom of this page as reference or for your use, editing or personalization.

 
 

It’s time to return Diablo Canyon Lands - Our Coastal Homelands

It’s time to Return our Ancestral Homeland

DIABLO CANYON ANCESTRAL HOMELANDS - LAND BACK

Our Homelands - Diablo Canyon Ancestral Land Back

 

EMAIL TALKING POINTS

POINTS TO CONSIDER FOR A LETTER FROM YOU, YOUR TRIBE OR ORGANIZATION

(IF YOU REPRESENT A TRIBE OR ORGANIZATION, PLEASE PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION IN YOUR LETTER).

PLEASE STATE THAT YOU ARE IN SUPPORT OF THE RETURN OF DIABLO LANDS TO

yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region (YTT Tribe)

  • yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe of San Luis Obispo County and Region (YTT Tribe) are documented as descendants of the Pecho Coast (Diablo Lands) and their ancestors lived there for thousands of years.

  • They were forcibly removed from these lands in the 1700s without agreement, consideration or compensation.

  • Even after the collapse of the mission system they couldn't return, because the Mexican government had given Diablo lands away via Mexican land grants.

  • Diablo Lands became private property with the most recent owner being PGE and its subsidiaries. This ownership has generated millions upon millions of dollars for PGE, but no funds have ever been shared with the rightful people who stewarded and lived on these lands for over 10,000 years.

  • However, for the first time since the 1700s, there is this opportunity for YTT Tribe to regain ownership of approximately 9,000 acres of their Ancestral Diablo Homelands. They would do so only with appropriate tribally influenced easements held by The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County (LCSLO) that would include managed public access.

  • YTT Tribe is a small, but strong Tribe with extensive knowledge of their homeland. They have developed critical and experienced partners as demonstrated in the Proposal in the areas necessary towards reacquiring Diablo Lands. This includes The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County (LCSLO), California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and REACH (Regional Economic Action Coalition). For example, LCSLO has conserved more than 35,000 acres in San Luis Obispo Co, and there is currently an additional 50,000 acres in various stages of acquisition. Cal Poly is the second largest land-holding university in California, currently managing more than 9,000 acres. These two entities have extensive and successful land management practices which will be essential for developing the tribally influenced  conservation easements on the Diablo Lands. YTT Tribe is also meeting with other experts for developing surveys to identify important cultural and biological resources areas.

  • YTT Tribe values of living "light on the land" will be demonstrated in their care-taking roles, as the proposal will include building smaller caretaker quarters, or perhaps remodeling of some old existing residences if determined to be structurally sound. 

  • YTT Tribe is opposed to any large development, hospitality services, a casino, etc. on these lands.

  • The operations of the power plant may go on for several years, followed by the process of decommissioning. So, while those activities are taking place, YTT Tribe will wait to gain access, but are seeking ownership of some of the Diablo Lands now. 

  • YTT Tribe supports the future economy of the central coast with the reuse and repurposing of Parcel P where the PGE power plant now sits.

  • YTT Tribe's main goal is CONSERVATION. For now and in perpetuity.  They want these lands to look much as they do now, a thousand years from now.

  • YTT Tribe recognizes and honors Governor Newsom's 30x30 Biodiversity Initiative to conserve 30% of the state lands and waters by 2030, and their Proposal aligns with those important and critical goals for our state, our nation, and our world. 

au’ au’ (thank you)