The Chumash Nation is a maritime culture. We have lived along the California coastline from Ragged Point to Malibu and out to the Channel Islands for over 15,000 years. The Chumash have lived and thrived in these lush lands and coastal ocean environments. Our ocean going vehicle is the "Tomol," which means "canoe" in Chumash. The Chumash plank canoe is constructed with no nails, rivets, or ribs and it is sown together with a local plant called "Dog Bane." This twine is made from the hand twisted fiber of the Dog Bane. You can see below the stitching on our latest Tomol Xax 'Alolk'oy' (Great Dolphin)
Over the last 50 years the Tomol has been the focal point for our community, enabling us to start coming together once again after over 200 years of hiding. The Tomol is the symbol of our strength in working together. The great paddlers of our Nation are leading the way for our community to come together. When we come together we get a chance to tell our stories and hear new stories, it helps to heal the wounds of the Native American Holocaust.
Marcus Lopes is a captain in our Tomol Family and co-chair of the Barbarenos Chumash Council, He tells a story of the history of our beloved Tomols and their Brotherhood of paddlers. Please read his history story below.
July 4, 1976 — The Tomol, Helek (Peregrine Falcon), is the first tomol to be built in recent time. The Tomol is taken aboard the support vessel, Just Love, and transported to San Miguel Island. From there, she is paddled by her Chumash crew, the modern Brotherhood of the Tomol, to Santa Rosa Island and, on the following day, to Santa Cruz Island. On her way, she meets a head-on current and wind. The crew reaches the destination (Coches Prietos) only to capsize in the surf and damage her hull planking. The planned channel crossing was cancelled due to ocean conditions. The Helek and her proud crew of six, return triumphantly to Santa Barbara aboard Just Love. They were the first in what was to become the many.
September 1996 — The Ti'At, Mommat Ahi'ko (Breath of the Ocean), a plank canoe built by the Ti'At Society of the Traditional Council l of Pimu, went from Two Harbors of the Island of Pimu (commonly known as Catalina Island) in an eight-hour journey with a crew of 5 members toward Avalon Bay and completed a successful journey. This voyage ended with a large community coming together in a Ti'At Festival, a celebration with many supporters and friends from all over the Tongva Nation. This was the first time in 200 years that a Ti'At navigated off the coast of Pimu since the forced relocation of many families from the island by the invaders.
July 15, 1998 — Two Tomols were built sponsored by the Santa Barbara Educational District. Title IX lead by the Chumash Academy in Santa Ynez. The two Tomols were named the 'Alolk'oy and the Hummingbird.
2001 — 'Alolk'oy had her maiden voyage and the crew and supporters of 12 individuals celebrated the success of building and creating two Tomols. The vessel traveled around the Santa Barbara Harbor going up to 5 knots and gracefully skimmed the surface of the waters. Many Chumash children were involved in lashing and finishing the coating to have her sea worthy. The two Tomols are in display from time to time. One is in the Maritime Museum of Santa Barbara in the Chumash living display.
September 2001 — "Elye'wun was built after the earlier Tomols of the Title IX project. The 'Elye'wun was sponsored by the Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary. That year, Saturday morning: 'Elye'wun's twenty-two crew members started out the historic voyage out at 2:00 a.m., in the dark waters, and set course for the twenty-six mile journey across one of the most dangerous waters in the world. First to Anacapa Island and then to Limuw (Santa Cruz Island). The Tomol leaves, everyone pulls great. Good conditions. Upon noticing a crack in one of the planks, which draws water rapidly, the crossing is in jeopardy. Emptying several ballast-sandbags and a crew member, the Tomol stabilizes, saving the mission, and the journey continues having come within minutes of aborting the mission. The one sacrifice of a crew member saved the day and made the Tomol crossing an historic event. The 'Elye'wun brings her crew safely to Limuw, to Swaxil and people gathered to, welcome the crew and praying, singing and assist the landing through the surf the Tomol and her crew of 4 are safe She has crossed the Channel, coming full circle, coming home to Limuw, returning to our past, as it meant to be The crew and Chumash families celebrate and pray the all went well. It did. Since then, the 'Elye'wen has crossed the channel some ten times for now the Crossing of the Channel by the Tomol and the large reception of Chumash people is an annual sacred ceremony, an event for the Chumash Nation.
July 2008 — A tomol was built named Isha Kowoch (Glimmering Salmon.) She is based in Malibu area and is a coastal Tomol and has a crew of three members. Her last voyage was in Santa Barbara, of this year, for a ceremony of the Chumash people.
July 2010 — The Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians sponsered a building of a tomol. Her name is Muptami (Memory). Her maiden voyage was of this year celebrated by many Chumash Individuals. In September of 2011 she completed with her crew of 18, the successful crossing of the Channel Island toward the island Limuw. She is the largest Tomol and navigates gracefully in the waters and seats 7 individuals. As she crossed with the 'Elye'wun (2011), she navigated in front of the 'Elye'wn from time to time, being careful not colliding with each other Tomol. This was the first time in 140 years that two Tomols have crossed together. As she headed for the reception of Chumash families and friends, waiting for her at Limuw, all were proud of her and the historic crossing as she arrived to greet our past ancestors and new ones at Limuw .As this Tomols' name meaning, the creation and respect for our memories past, present and future.
May 2012 — The Barbareño Chumash Council of Santa Barbara sponsored a building of Xax 'Alolk'oy (Great Dolphin) This project took ten years to complete as fires and other obstacles were encountered along the route of the creation of this Tomol. Her Maiden voyage was on this date as she took off with celebration as she departed, followed by the 'Elye'wun the Isha Kowoch She landed at Syuxtun (Santa Barbara) and at the beach, over 150 Chumash and supporters all celebrating her completion and naming received her. At Syuxtun many cultural dignitaries honored her, as her coming out was a celebration of life, culture and being together.
Last year the Chumash community was invited to join the annual Tribal Journey canoe revival in the Pacific Northwest, which they have been doing since the 1990s. We set off on a journey to paddle our Tomol with our northern neighbors in Washington. This video "Journey of Prophecy" was produced by the Chumash Maritime Association to raise money so the Chumash community could join the annual Tribal Journey canoe revival in the Pacific Northwest. We finally realized our dream of joining this beautiful gathering and this journey of healing for our people, for the oceans, and for all of humanity.
Muptami on Maiden Voage to Santa Cruz Island - 2011