Learning More
Many faculty, staff, and students are interested in learning more about Ohlone heritage and culture. We encourage individuals from all disciplines to ask themselves how they can make attention to Ohlone heritage and Native knowledge part of what they teach and study in their classes. But not all sources of information are created equal.
As all academics know, not all sources are considered credible, authoritative, or even appropriate to experts in the field. In the area of Indigenous studies, it is especially important to be mindful of where your sources are coming from and to center the perspectives of impacted communities whenever possible.
Tribal members are experts in their own history and culture. The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and the Ohlone Indian Tribe members we consulted, many of whom have dedicated much of their lives to this subject, provided insight into which sources are recommended and which are to be avoided when learning about Ohlone history and culture. This is not an exhaustive list of resources by any means but it does allow readers new to this study to begin with sources that are preferred by these members of the community. It also provides an opportunity for all readers to reflect on the question of source use and how to center Native perspectives in their research. For additional sources, you might also consult the Library Guide developed by Kelci Baughmann-McDowell. Readers not affiliated with Santa Clara University can find many of these articles and chapters in full text on the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe website.
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Which California tribes trace their history and ancestry to this land?
What is Santa Clara University’s particular responsibility to this history?
What are the preferred terms I should use, and what are the linguistic and cultural histories of these terms?
What are the most trusted sources of information for my field or area of interest?
The Ohlone are here, still. You can learn about them and some of their work here.
Who created this website and how was the content determined?