Restoring the Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve with Payómkawichum Ecological Knowledge

Restoring the Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve with Payómkawichum Ecological Knowledge

Notice of exemption for Coastal Conservancy approval of grant funding. This project will focus on three goals: develop and implement Payómkawichum Ecological Knowledge curriculum, document Indigenous stories, and engage in hands-on restoration efforts with the Indigenous community. While California Audubon will be the grantee for this project, sub-awardees include the San Luis Rey Band, 'ataaxum Pomkwaan (a Native and Indigenous led non-profit that is driven to provide community resources centered around healing and improved mental health for the continued survival of California’s Native and Indigenous peoples), and the Buena Vista Audubon Society. The project will plan and implement restoration activities within the Buena Vista Lagoon Ecological Reserve that are directly informed by and include local Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The majority of restoration work will involve invasive plant removal and cleanups. Restoration work will also include the planting of native species. The San Luis Rey Band and ‘ataaxum Pomkwaan will play a large role in restoration planning and implementation, and they will also lead the work in supporting relationships between the Indigenous people and the land. This will be facilitated through the development of the Payómkawichum Ecological Knowledge (PEK) 101 Program, which will be created by local Indigenous and Payómkawichum educators who have acquired this knowledge from their ancestors over thousands of years through direct contact with the environment.

Oceanside

San Diego

Southern California