On March 16, the Leadership Council of the Tribal Marine Stewards Network (TMSN) had the opportunity to visit important sites within the traditional Amah Mutsun territory as part of an ongoing effort to collaborate and learn about each other’s stewardships projects.

The day started with a boat tour of the lower part of Elkhorn Slough, a region with an abundance of culturally significant sites for the Amah Mutsun people. The TMSN Leadership Council were able to observe a variety of marine life, including seals, sea lions, sea otters, and a plethora of birds. It was a fantastic opportunity for the Council to get a close-up look at the area’s rich biodiversity and to commune with Amah Mutsun’s land and waters.

After the morning tour, the Leadership Council met to discuss various topics related to the collaboration between TMSN partner Tribes. It was an excellent opportunity for the Council to meet in person and continue to advance their work.

In the afternoon, the group continued their tour of the Elkhorn Slough region, visiting the oyster beds in the upper part of the slough. The members had the opportunity to learn about the Amah Mutsun Land Trust’s (AMLT) involvement in native oyster recovery efforts. The AMLT has been working to restore the native oyster population to the region, a vital component of the local ecosystem and a critical part of the Amah Mutsun peoples’ cultural heritage.

Overall, it was an inspiring day filled with collaboration and learning from the Amah Mutsun about their traditional territory. The TMSN Leadership Council left with a deeper understanding of the challenges the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band face and the ways in which they are working to address some of them.