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

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 dominion over other Native peoples 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. The Verona Band was terminated, 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. Also, 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. While we support the sovereignty of the MOT and their thriving, we cannot do so 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. 

Statue Removal 

January 20223
CalTrans is working on an official letter that will state its commitment to taking down the Serra statue on I-280 and the Portola statue in Pacifica. The letter will include a timeline for the removal of the statues. Most importantly, CalTrans has put in place a set of policies and procedures for handling requests like ours from groups like ours, including the formation of a Committee on Race and Equity (CORE). The creation of a new structure is the real win for all Californians, not just for Native peoples.  

Recent News and Events

January
20
Jonathan Cordero will offer 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)