Mati Waiya, a Ventura County resident and Chumash Indian descendant, spoke before elementary and college students alike at noon in the Black Box of the Performing Arts Center at Moorpark College’s Multicultural Day.
“I wanted to come here and share and interact with our future generations,” Waiya explained.
Waiya described the history of the California Chumash Indians and their lifestyle. He also explained how people could learn from the past.
“It’s a cultural exchange. It’s important for people to know the background of the place they call home, so that we can learn from one another and have respect for the way we interact,” Waiya said.
After describing how the Chumash people valued and respected their environment, Waiya explained why this concept was so important even today. He discussed recycling and the importance of not littering, illustrating the effects of plastics flowing to the oceans and killing wildlife, particularly sea turtles.
Waiya closed the event by encouraging the audience to stand up and participate in singing the Grandmother Moon Song, a Chumash Indian “heart song” in honor of “those we have with us and those who have left.”
