Honor the past to shape the future.

For thousands of years, native people thrived near Monterey Bay. The Ohlone (Costanoan, as named by the Spanish), including Esselen and Mutsun, flourished here. The Spanish mission system of the 1700’s began the radical decline of these people, forcing them into missions and forbidding them to maintain their culture. They were removed from their lands, assimilated, and nearly annihilated.

The area was rich with highly nutritious plants that are now rare or extinct. The Ohlone diet included many different kinds of foods—roots, seeds, grasses, and especially acorns. There was also an abundant animal population—from insects to the now vanished grizzly bear. The Ohlone ate them all: insects, reptiles, rodents, birds, fish, and larger game animals.

They were an intelligent, resourceful people who made full use of their rich environment. Very little in their surroundings was wasted. They invented clever snares, decoys and weapons for hunting, and devised advanced methods of preparing acorns that leached away the bitterness and turned them into a highly versatile food staple to make flour, bread, soups, and mush. Throughout the area “middens” can still be found, where debris, shells and bones were deposited.

The Ohlone moved frequently throughout the year to make the most of the territory and the seasons. They respected nature and their fellow tribe members—sharing is fundamental to their philosophy. Unfortunately, today’s Ohlone still face challenges as they are not recognized by the federal government as a tribe, so they do not have a legal title to their land.

Throughout the Monterey Bay area, remnants of the way these native people lived survives. Learn more with these videos from “Stories by Alex.” If you explore do not touch, do not disturb.

Awasas People of Santa Cruz
Rumsen Indians of Carmel Bay-Part 1
Rumsen Indians of Carmel Bay, Part 2
Rumsen Ohlone Village of Pitchi – Big Sur
Rumsen Indian Acorn Gathering Site – Carmel Valley
Rumsen Ohlone Indians of Carmel Valley

Learn even more history
Native people, the Anza Expedition and the Settlement of California

Eco-guide to living lighter

Indigenous People of Monterey Bay

Indigenous People of Monterey Bay

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