Chumash and Tataviam Stories

Please join us for an evening of oral history and storytelling with Alan "Spirit Hawk" Salazar. 

Salazar has worked in several different areas in his life. He has been a Native American consultant/monitor, a traditional storyteller, a spiritual adviser, a traditional paddler of Chumash canoes, a preschool teacher, and a juvenile institution officer. His family has traced their ancestry to the Chumash and Tataviam village of Ta'apu, now known as Simi Valley, and the Tataviam village of Pi'ing near Castaic, California. They are Ventureno Chumash and Tataviam. His ancestors were brought into the San Fernando Mission starting in 1803. Salazar remains active in protecting his ancestors' village sites and tribal territories, which include the Malibu area. 

Salazar offers educational programs to enrich understanding of Chumash and Tataviam cultures and put a real face on the history of the Chumash and Tataviam people. Using traditional storytelling, similar to the elders of his tribe, he presents his history, his family history, and the history of his tribe with the goal of increasing understanding and reminding students that the Chumash and Tataviam were and remain a strong and vibrant culture.

Admission is free.