Capacity Building for Chumash Tribal Engagement in the West Coast Ocean Alliance

Recipient: Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians

Recommended Federal Funding: $266,473

Summary: The goal of this project is to strengthen the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians’ capacity and capability to cultivate a collaborative partnership with the West Coast Ocean Alliance. The funding will allow the Chumash tribe to hire a liaison to help establish a collaborative partnership with alliance leadership and staff, the West Coast Ocean Tribal Caucus, and federal and state members of the alliance. The results of this partnership will help advance the alliance’s five-year strategic plan goals, including focusing on offshore wind energy that recognizes the values of Indigenous rights, sustainable aquaculture, and state-tribal co-management of marine resources, and addressing the synergistic impacts of climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems and Indigenous cultural heritage.

For more information on the Office for Coastal Management grant program funding this project, please visit the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law webpage.