We're excited for our upcoming Jeffrey B. Graham Perspectives on Ocean Science Lecture — Indigenous Ocean Culture: A Renaissance — with Stan Rodriguez (Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel), Priscilla Ortiz (Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel and descendant of Rincon), Andrew Pittman (Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeño Indians and Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel) and Nan Renner (Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Birch Aquarium at Scripps).
The land we now call Scripps Oceanography has been home to the Kumeyaay people for thousands of years. A history of encroachment, colonization and displacement from coastal lands has challenged Kumeyaay ocean traditions and practices. Today, Kumeyaay-Iipay-Tipay people are actively revitalizing Indigenous ocean culture. Through community efforts, they are rebuilding traditional ha kwaiyo (tule boats), harvesting ha shupill (grunion) and teaching language about the ocean (ha silowik). These intergenerational practices embody Indigenous resilience, resistance and revival — nurturing and evolving Indigenous ocean knowledge, culture and traditions.