Ramaytush Ohlone Land Acknowledgment

Description of Collaboration & Artwork

Working in partnership with Dr. Jonathan Cordero (Ramaytush Ohlone) as cultural advisor, this Ramaytush land acknowledgment was developed with care, consultation, and respect for the original people of the San Francisco Peninsula. Dr. Cordero’s guidance helped ensure that the imagery, language, and symbolism were used appropriately and with cultural sensitivity.

The artwork’s central imagery emerges from a Native American staff, a symbol of guardianship, knowledge, and lineage. An organic network of vines grows outward from the staff. While the initial concept included a clockwise spiral inspired by traditional basketry, the design was ultimately opened up so the vines could expand more freely to fit the space and allow the individual elements to be clearly seen.

Interwoven throughout the vines are plants and animals that hold ecological and cultural significance in the region. The flora includes Toyon, White Sage, California Poppy, Blue Flax, Common Sunflower, Jimsonweed, Arroyo Lupine , and California Fuchsia. The fauna represented include Grizzly Bear, Tule Elk, Green-winged Teal, California Quail, Peregrine Falcon, Mission Blue Butterfly, Red-legged Frog, and the California Darner dragonfly.

Together, the collaborative process and the visual elements create a land acknowledgment that is not only spoken but embodied, rooted in cultural knowledge and brought forward through respectful artistic dialogue with Dr. Cordero.

Sketches and Exploration

Final Artwork