Land Acknowledgement

Berkeley Public Library buildings are built on the territory of xučyun (Hooch-yoon), within the homeland of the Chochenyo (Cho-chen-yo) speaking Ohlone (Oh-low-nee) people. We acknowledge and honor the Ohlone people, who have lived in Berkeley and throughout the East Bay since time immemorial. The Library recognizes that Berkeley residents have and continue to benefit from the use and occupation of unceded stolen land, and we pledge to recognize the permanence and the rich contributions that the Ohlone people continue to bring to the City of Berkeley and throughout the East Bay. We celebrate the strength of the Ohlone people and their culture. The Berkeley Public Library is committed to helping create a more just and anti-racist society and to furthering the visibility and celebration of Ohlone authors who are specific to the East Bay and Ohlone culture in our collections and programming.

 

This is a living document that was co-written by Ohlone cultural leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino and the Berkeley Public Library.

Ohlone and Indigenous Heritage

Ohlone woman depticted on mural
Ohlone dancer depticted on mural
Ohlone in ceremonial dress depticted on mural
Scenes from Ohlone Park mural including ceremonial hut, teaching, and modern Ohlone family

Join us as we celebrate the history and culture of Ohlone and other Indigenous peoples in California. For thousands of years, California has been home to Indigenous tribes numbering in the hundreds prior to European contact.  Today, over 100 tribes still exist in California. We hope you can join us for events that honor and explore Ohlone and Indigenous history and culture and find the resources below helpful in learning more.  

(Slides 1-3 are of the Ohlone Mural under University Ave. Bridge by John Wehrle, 2007 and Slide 4 Images are from Ohlone Park Mural by Jean La Marr, 1995.)

Read books by and about Ohlone and Indigenous Peoples