Keep the fire bright at Indian Canyon

“Welcome to Ohlone territory! We are still here, and we are still on our lands where we have always been.” - Ann-Marie Sayers, Mutsun Ohlone elder.

We’re fundraising to support Indian Canyon, an important site of Indigenous revitalization in California. You can be part of the movement to support Indigenous land sovereignty by contributing.

What is Indian Canyon?

Indian Canyon is located in the Gavilan mountain range along central coastal California south of Silicon Valley. In the southern part of what we now call Ohlone territory in the Mutsun linguistic area, it is home to the Costanoan Chualar Community of Indian Canyon.

Indian Canyon is the only land continuously held by the Ohlone people, the first inhabitants of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas. This land is the only federally recognized “Indian Country” for 300 miles along central coastal California from San Pablo to Santa Ynez.

Indian Canyon has provided a refuge for Indigenous Ohlone people since time immemorial. The original stewards have tended this haven, focusing on cultural revitalization and resurgence, food sovereignty initiatives, and stewarding the land for all Indigenous people in need of land for ceremony. The connection to community and place-based knowledge made possible in this place helps ensure that our communities come together in a good way, supporting Indigenous studies, ecology education, rural development, and culture-sharing connections.

The land hosts five sweat lodges, a beautiful arbor area for gatherings, and a round house area for special events. In addition to space for individual prayer and ceremony. Indian Canyon provides research and exchange opportunities for students and interns from throughout Northern California.

You can learn more about Indian Canyon or get involved in supporting the tribe through their website: http://support.indiancanyonlife.org/.

Our Goals

Kanyon Sayers-Roods speaks about the support needs at Indian Canyon: “Maintaining the Canyon is no easy task. We have a sacred obligation to tend our ancestral homelands and be good Ancestors-In-Training.”

The Indian Canyon community is in need of funds to help with off-the-grid land maintenance and resources needed to care for our two elders, both of whom are in failing health and require ongoing care.

The primary goal for this fundraiser is $6,000. This will support the purchase of a reliable, high-quality log-splitter for firewood to keep these elders warm and to provide for ceremony for years to come. If we raise enough funds, we will also direct funds toward desperately needed upgrades and repairs, such as the over 20-year old solar power system and other crucial infrastructure projects.

Who is handling these funds?

The Coru Cathubodua Priesthood (a Celtic polytheist religious order) is organizing this fundraiser. Your contributions will be received by the Priesthood’s nonprofit GoFundMe account, and then passed on directly to Indian Canyon. We are serving as the organizers for this fundraiser simply in order to relieve some of the labor of fundraising so that the very busy Indian Canyon folks can focus on other tasks. 100% of all funds raised by this fundraiser will be passed on to Indian Canyon through their registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Costanoan Indian Research, owned and held by the Indian Canyon Chualar Tribe of the Costanoan-Ohlone People, aka “Indian Canyon Nation” since 1985.

Donor gratitude gifts

To thank you for your contributions, we have gifts for you donated by creative folks in our community.

We also have a new, very special donor gift. Offered by Native Cherokee creator Tsula, the next donor to contribute $300 or more (starting February 14, 2023) can get a custom set of beaded jewelry, including a necklace, bracelet, and earrings, similar to the ones shown in these photos.

Join us in helping Indian Canyon thrive!

Your contribution to this fundraiser will help in revitalizing Indigenous Ohlone land and culture, supporting connection and learning about the natural environment and bringing Indigenous knowledge forward. Indian Canyon is a place where many seedlings start and thrive. Please contribute what you can, and share this fundraiser with your friends and networks!