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. ​

Staff Announcements

Executive Director Jonathan Cordero is undergoing chemotherapy for Lymphoma
 at Stanford Medicine in Ramaytush Ohlone Territory. He will be available on an intermittent basis until mid-October. 
​

Culture Director Gregg Castro has been hired full-time beginning August 1st!

Barbara Mumby is working as an Organizational Development and Sustainability Consultant for the ARO. 
Announcements

Yet Another Big Grant

The ARO is a 2023 recipient of the San Francisco Soda Tax Initiative Award! The funds will support the ARO's work in developing a Community Garden/Urban Farm in San Francisco in coordination with the Friendship House and The Cultural Conservancy. Click here for more information on the grant. Click here for information on the Urban Farm.

Another (Big) Project Grant

In partnership with the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone and Potrero Nuevo Farm, the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District has received $5.5 million to increase stream flow and fish passage in Pilarcitos creek and to increase water storage at Potrero Nuevo Farm, which serves the homeless and Latinx population in and around Half Moon Bay. Congrats to us all!

Forbes Interview
with Jonathan Cordero

Executive Director Jonathan Cordero was interviewed by Forbes about the Land Back Movement. You can find the interview HERE.

Three Project Grants!

The ARO, along with its partners, has received three grants so far this year for the following projects:
  • Yelamu Ethnohistory 
  • Twin Peaks Visitor's Center
  • Tenderloin Tree Planting

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 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

September and October

24
The ARO will participate in the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the town of Atherton.
19
Gregg Castro will open for Rights and Wrongs: A Constitution Day Conference at San Francisco State University.
14
Gregg Castro will open for the CHHESS report for the America Indian Cultural District and participate on a panel.
8
Gregg Castro opened for "The Source" (festival) sponsored by Dancing Earth. 
7
The ARO participated in California Academy of Sciences' California Biodiversity Day.  

July and August 2023

During the months of July and August, the ARO gave a number of openings, presentations, and/or workshops for the following organizations:
Presidio Trust
​California Academy of Sciences
Presidio Theater
San Francisco State University
Exporatorium
​Peninsula International Dance Festival in San Mateo
American Indian Cultural District

May and June 2023

During the months of July and August, the ARO gave a number of openings, presentations, and/or workshops for the following organizations:
South Skyline Community Preparedness Day
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
California Institute of Intregal Studies
​American Indian Cultural District
De Young
​California Academy of Sciences
​AIANTA
State Coastal Conservancy
Surfrider Foundation

March and April 2023

During the months of March and April, the ARO gave a number of openings, presentations, and/or workshops for the following organizations:
Mid-Peninsula Opens Space Trust
Society for California Archaeology
Exploratorium
​Bioneers
Southern Exposure​
​California Institute for Integral Studies
Central Coast Indigenous Documentation Project
California Preservation Conference
California Academy of Sciences

January and February 2023

During the months of November and December, the ARO gave a number of openings, presentations, and/or workshops for the following organizations:
Bartimeaus Kinsler Institute
The Village SF
​Lega Aid Society of San Mateo County
Ophthalmology Department at UCSF
EcoFarm Conference in Monterey
​Marin Estate Planning Council
Central Subway in San Francisco
Non-Profit Partnerships Summit (San Mateo County and Thrive Alliance)
Millbrae Mayor Ann Schneider
University of San Francisco
Notre Dame de Namur University