Amah Mutsun Tribal Band: Protect Juristac

The Amah Mutsun people are a band of the Ohlone who have inhabited the Central Coast for 15,000 years. The obligation and responsibility of the Amah Mutsun Tribe remains as it has been since the beginning - to protect and care for all living things in the lands of Popeloutchum (Monterey Bay region).

The Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz Sounds of Wisdom Series is honored to host an Amah Mutsun Tribal Band event and benefit on Saturday, November 10th at 7 pm. Tribal Chairman and United Nations presenter Valentin Lopez will share the Amah Mutsun history through storytelling and video, emphasizing traditional ecological knowledge, and the impending cultural and environmental threat to their most sacred site, Juristac.

Juristac (pronounced Yur-e-stock) is a 6,500 acre parcel of land in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains just South of Gilroy, currently known as the Sargent Ranch. This unique historic site contained one of the longest held villages in local history, and is where the Amah Mutsun people lived and held sacred ceremonies for centuries. Recently purchased and under permit application for a sand and gravel open pit mine, the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is slated for completion by year-end and will have a period of public comment open this December and January. Juristac is at cultural and environmental risk—endangering the sacred history, but also the region's water table and tributaries, a main wildlife corridor and endangered species habitat.

This critical issue provides an opportunity to apply ancient and current preservation paradigms to prevent the inappropriate, destructive use of an invaluable land resource that enriches the entire Monterey Bay area. We invite all to stand with the Amah Mutsun, to honor their spirituality and culture by helping to preserve this sacred area.

ACTION ITEMS:
• Please join in promoting, attending and supporting this Project Juristac Benefit.
• Sign the online petition: http://www.protectjuristac.org/petition/
• Visit: ProtectJuristac.org and AmahMutsun.org

Sounds of Wisdom Series: Ancient Sources - Contemporary Voices explores the roots of human goodness with the intention of strengthening the ties that connect us. The Series invites local speakers, artists, elders and healers to share their knowledge, music and culture in order to deepen our human experience, towards enlightening ourselves and our community.

Wisdom Center of Santa Cruz is located at 740 Front St., The Galleria #155.
Visit Wisdomcentersc.org
Suggested donation is $20