The Ramaytush Ohlone
Original Peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula

​The Ramaytush (pronounced rah-my-toosh) are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the Ramaytush Ohlone numbered approximately 1500 to 2,000 persons, but by the end the Mission Period only a few families had survived. Today, only one lineage is know to have produced living descendants in the present. Today, those descendants comprise the membership of the Ramaytush Ohlone peoples and the staff of the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone. ​
Announcements

Two Art Awards!

​The ARO has been included in this year's YBCA 100. 
The annual YBCA 100 list celebrates artists, activists, and leaders who are committed to building regenerative and equitable communities
​Sandy Rodriguez has received this years Jacob Lawrence Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Jonathan Cordero is collaborating with Sandy on an art installation and catalogue.

The ARO will no longer tolerate
the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe's
​false claims and adverse actions

"The San Francisco Inquirer looks like local news. Here's why politicians are furious with the site."
January 20, 2023
​
January 2023
With reluctance, the ARO has decided to speak out publicly against the false claims and adverse actions of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe (MOT), most importantly the false assertion that the MOT is a previously federally recognized tribe. This false claim, along with others, is used by the MOT to assert their purported supremacy and dominion over other Native peoples and lands in the Bay Area. Based on this and other misleading and false claims, the MOT undermines the sovereignty of other Bay Area Native peoples, attempts to erase other Native peoples, and inserts their ethnic identity, culture, language and history in the place of other Native peoples. These acts of erasure constitute lateral oppression and will no longer be tolerated.

For the record, the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe is not a previously federally recognized tribe. The Verona Band was previously federally recognized, not the MOT. Federal recognition is recognition by the federal government--it cannot be self-determined by tribes. The Department of the Interior has determined that the MOT was not the same tribal entity as the Verona Band; therefore, the MOT is not a previously federally recognized tribe. Congress cannot "reaffirm and restore" federal recognition to a tribe that never had it in the first place.

To be clear, we support other tribes' efforts to gain federal recognition, but we cannot support the use of false and harmful statements to do so. Further, the consequences for other Bay Area tribes of the MOT gaining federal recognition has not been investigated. It is highly likely that federal recognition for the MOT will adversely impact the sovereignty and rights of other Bay Area tribes, including their opportunities to apply for recognition themselves. We support the sovereignty of the MOT and their thriving, but we must speak out when their words and actions harm others.

We have created a series of webpages to share information with the public. We have attempted to be as clear as possible and have made every effort to include supporting evidence where appropriate. The truth matters. Indigenous sovereignty must be maintained for all Bay Area tribes. We resist re-colonization by all others, including other Native peoples. We are sovereign in our own lands, and we will defend against intrusion in the lands of our ancestors. We encourage the MOT to exercise sovereignty in their own lands, which are located exclusively in the East Bay. 
For more information visit,
1. Muwekma Territory
2. Muwekma Myths Part I. The Myth of Previous Federal Recognition
3. Muwekma Myths Part II. The Myth of Supremacy

Recent News and Events

March

23
Jonathan Cordero will present at UC Berkeley with a working group on the topic of anti-carcerality in the tenderloin. (Re)Imagining Trans Anti-Carceral Resistance in the Tenderloin.
16-19
Gregg Castro will present at the Society for California Archaeology in Oakland.
13
In partnership with the ARO, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is holding three workshops for arts and cultures organizations in San Francisco. The first, to be held om March 13, is entitled, Beyond Land Acknowledgement: Indigenous Protocols.

February

20-23
Jonathan Cordero will offer a workshop and present on a panel at the Bartimeaus Kinsler Institute in Ojai.
16
The ARO met with USF President Fitzgerald and Provost Oparah 
14
Jonathan Cordero met with Millbrae Mayor Ann Schneider
7
The ARO will attend the County and Non-Profit Partnerships Summit sponsored by the County of San Mateo and Thrive Alliance

January

31
Gregg Castro opened up the press event for the Friendship House's announcement of The Village SF.
20
Jonathan Cordero offered a workshop on Indigeneity, Ecological Justice, and Decolonization to the Lega Aid Society of San Mateo County
19
The ARO participated in the opening ceremony for Living Waters in Federal Plaza, San Francisco
19
Jonathan Cordero presented on land acknowledgments to the Ophthalmology Department at UCSF
18
Gregg Castro participated in the EcoFarm Conference in Monterey.
11
Jonathan Cordero presented on Land Back to the Marin Estate Planning Council.
7
Gregg Castro participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the Central Subway in San Francisco

December and November 2022

During the months of November and December, the ARO gave a number of openings, presentation, and workshops for the following organizations:
Lucas Films
California Academy of Sciences
United Way
SF Department of Public Works
CG Jung Institute
San Francisco Historical Society
Redwood City Mural 
First Congregational Church of Palo Alto
San Francisco Airport
Haas-Lilienthal House of San Francisco
Ohlone People: Survivance to Thrivance (film)
Town Destroyer (film)