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California State Parks and the Kakoon Ta Ruk Band of Ohlone-Costanoan Indians of the Big Sur Rancheria sign memorandum of understanding. Photo from California State Parks.<\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO \u2014 California State Parks and the Kakoon Ta Ruk Band of Ohlone-Costanoan Indians of the Big Sur Rancheria (Kakoon Ta Ruk) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 15 to formalize the coordination and partnership between the Kakoon Ta Ruk and State Parks for the state parks within the tribe\u2019s ancestral lands in Monterey County.<\/p>\n
This MOU includes cooperation on the stewardship of the state park units,\u00a0expanding upon\u00a0previous joint projects of plant\u00a0restoration,\u00a0and\u00a0collaborating on interpretation\u00a0to further highlight Native American voices and stories in State Parks, a focus of the Reexamining Our Past Initiative.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis MOU will streamline and improve Tribal access to the parks within their ancestral lands, where they can collect plant materials and minerals for traditional purposes,\u201d said State Parks Director Armando Quintero. \u201cThis streamlined access supports the continuation of cultural practices by facilitating access for cultural activities, gathering and passing down of traditional knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThrough generations, the Tribe has cared for and protected the land, preserving the native resources and ecological knowledge that sustain cultural traditions,\u201d said Kakoon Ta Ruk Vice Chair Lydia Bojorquez. By restoring culturally significant landscapes, we are creating opportunities for the re-awakening of basketry and the creation of new works that honor our ancestral practices while inspiring contemporary Indigenous artistry. As the land is renewed, so too are our citizens\u2019 cultural connections, knowledge, and creative expressions that strengthen the greater community and preserve our traditions for future generations.”<\/p>\n