Mural

Celebrating our Chumash Heritage

The Chumash are the First Peoples of San Luis Obispo County. They have been here for thousands of years. At one time, their territory encompassed 7,000 square miles from the beaches of Malibu to Cambria and inland to the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the Chumash lived amid abundance — of fish, game, plants, and stunning natural beauty. They were advanced astronomers, fishers and boat builders, healers and artists.

Marking the northern boundary of Chumash territory, Cambria is fortunate to have two Chumash village sacred sites, continuously occupied for 10,000 years. Our mural project is designed to honor this ancient heritage and to raise awareness of Chumash history in our region. 

Designed by Chumash artist John Khus and titled Tomol Rides Wishtoyo, the colorful painting depicts a Chumash elder above a traditional tomol (canoe) watching human spirits pass over the rainbow bridge to join their ancestors, amid cultural symbols and the Milky Way. “Tomol crews often knew that they were taking a dangerous journey and therefore their connection to the spirit world would be very high during their time on the ocean,” said Khus.

The mural also honors the Northern Chumash Tribal Council’s efforts to certify the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The Sanctuary will preserve 7,000 square miles of marine and cultural resources along 156 miles of Central California coastline.

Chumash Iconography

The painting contains just a few of the symbols used across the Chumash nation to represent, track, and educate the People. How many of the symbols can you recognize?

  1. Wishtoyo (rainbow): Hutash (Earth Mother) once used a wishtoyo as a bridge for the Chumash people and it is seen as a bridge to the Sacred as well.
  2. Wot [Chumash Leader]: The Chumash leader would represent the voices of their people at council and during larger gatherings within the nation. The wot would always work with the People, the medicine bearers, and the storytellers to make sure that everything was held in balance.
  3. Tomol: The many fleets of the tomol held a position of importance for the coastal Chumash, enabling them to share, fish, and travel. The tomol crew would never use their own tomol for themselves and always allowed the People to take first from any supplies they carried. The bow’s “ears” of this tomol carries a dancing Spirit in abalone derived from a Cuyama rock painting
  4. Tomol Crew Rock Painting: A partial translation of a rock painting from Cuyama that shows 4 tomol paddlers. The rock painting translation is behind the silhouetted tomol
  5. ‘Elye’wun [Swordfish]: A combination of elements from the rock paintings of ‘elye’wun from across the Chumash nation.
  6. Spirit Wot: Translated from a rock painting from Cuyama, the Spirit Wot carries a staff symbolizing her position and carries a child in her womb.
  1. Moon Spirit: Translated from a Canaliño rock painting, the headdress is a crescent< moon and she carries a child in her womb.
  2. Sun Spirit: Translated from a Cuyama rock painting, her headdress is both the rays of the sun and the path of the sun throughout the seasons. She carries a child in her womb.
  3. Spirit Lizard Wot: Translated from several Ventureño rock paintings – it is said that were it not for Lizard, the hands of humans would be shaped like a Coyote paw instead of the five fingers similar to those of Lizard.
  4. Grandfather Spirit: Translated from a Cuyama rock painting, the Grandfather Spirit carries a staff of hawk feathers and healing medicine.
  5. The Artist Spirit: Translated from a Canaliño rock painting, the artist plays a flute from< which creates the sky and opens the Milky Way and all the stars as the Song floats from one horizon to the next.
  6. The Moon: Translated from both Cuyama and Ventureño rock paintings.
  7. The Sun: Translated from a Canaliño rock painting.
  8. The Night’s Sky & Symbols: The Chumash astronomers tracked and named many of the stars, visible planets, and celestial events (like comets, meteor showers, etc.) that happened above the California skies.