Conserve and restore indigenous cultural and natural resources within the traditional territories of indigenous Mutsun and Awaswas peoples. Steward our lands and waters, combining traditional resource and environmental management with contemporary approaches to ensure a resilient future for all inhabitants of Popeloutchom and fulfilling our obligation to Creator. Research and teach the ways of nature—returning to the path of traditional ecological knowledge that our ancestors followed for thousands of years.
Amah Mutsun Land Trust’s Vision for 2025
We are the only Tribe in Santa Cruz County that provides Indigenous leadership in conservation through research and education, conservation and restoration, and on-the-ground Indigenous stewardship. We engage approximately 200 members of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and approximately 500 residents of Santa Cruz County annually. We collaborate on projects at the UCSC Arboretum, the MAH, Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument, Wilder Ranch State Park, Soquel Demonstration Forest, San Vicente Redwoods and more.
This year, the Amah Mutsun Land Trust celebrated its 10 year anniversary and completed its second strategic plan, in consultation with majority Tribal members. By donating, you join us as we build our land acquisition capabilities and regain access to our ancestral territories, defend sacred sites from development and destruction, and create our first-ever Climate Change program.
We have programs in native plant restoration, ocean and coastal stewardship, cultural burning, and sacred lands protection. Your donation results in healthier and more resilient ecosystems in Santa Cruz County and beyond.
I’m grateful to AMLT for giving me the space to reconnect to family, our culture, and the land. Through [the Summer Intern Program] I was able to grow my knowledge about archaeology and see how they used less invasive methods. I was able to learn how to do SSU’s (surface survey units), GPR (ground penetrating radar), excavation, flotation, and mapping. It was exciting to have hands-on experience in identifying mussels, fire affected rocks, chert, Olivella shells, etc. I'm thankful to see in person the importance of tribal led archaeology and partnership shown through AMLT and University of Oregon.
2024 Summer Intern Program participant
