Before colonizers pushed California’s native tribes inland, the people lived much of the year by the ocean, fishing with the seasons. In this Outbound Collective video, Chumash member Marcus Lopez talks about how the organization Native Like Water seeks to reconnect tribal youth with the ocean.
“We’ve lost centuries of water knowledge,” he says, “but today we are revitalizing our communities by bringing back that connection to that water spirit.” Their unique approach is one that visitors can experience too.
The Back Story
Based in Imperial Beach in San Diego County, Native Like Water helps connect Native American youth and adults with the ocean—to play, to understand tribal history, and to learn about sustainability. Using surfboards and other gear, they set out onto the waters near the ancestral lands of the Kumeyaay, Chumash, and Payómkawichum—an area that stretches from San Diego to the Central Coast.
Over time, the group has started inviting the general public for “surf therapy” outings with the same spirit. The main vehicle: the SUPsquatch, an 18-foot inflatable paddleboard that operates like a combination of a stand-up paddleboard and a giant canoe.
Do a Tour Yourself
A SUPsquatch excursion makes for a fun family outing or team-building experience: A Native Like Water representative says that past participants range in age from 5 to 90. The inflatable craft seats (or stands) about five people who paddle in the waves, and outings typically last 3–4 hours.
Set up your trip by contacting Native Like Water: The staff can often accommodate requests for different spots along the California coast, but most often offers the experience in Southern California locations such as Venice Beach, Newport Beach, San Onofre, Carlsbad, and La Jolla.
Sessions begin with a full orientation of the SUPsquatch, as mentors like Lopez help to guide the inflatable onto the water and get paddlers comfortable on the waves. There are no age restrictions, but participants should be able to swim and kids should have a parent or guardian present.
Where to Stay
For more insight into Native California culture, stay at a tribally owned hotel or resort. In downtown San Diego, you can stay near the coast at the U.S. Grant Hotel, which was built in 1910 by President Grant’s son and then purchased by theSycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation in 2003; the beaches of La Jolla and Imperial Beach are both just minutes away. In Santa Barbara County, the Chumash Casino Resort is located less than 20 miles from the beach and also sits in the heart of Santa Ynez Wine Country.
