The Chumash have been a maritime culture for thousands of years, with their territory stretching from Malibu to Morro Bay and westward to the sandstone cliffs of the Channel Islands, over 20 miles off the coast of California. To navigate the treacherous currents of the channel for fishing and trading, they built the strong plank canoe tomols for which they are famous. But over centuries of European colonisation, which included forced assimilation and enslavement of Chumash people, the craft of tomol building was nearly lost. Today, Alan Salazar works alongside his Chumash and Fernandeño Tataviam communities to pass their knowledge to the next generation of tomol builders and paddlers.
Related Stories
Madre Mar
Meet the women leading the fight to end bottom trawling and re-meadow the sea in Portugal.
12 Min
For The Love Of The Sea
12 Min
Corazón Salado
Corazón Salado
Ramón Navarro joins the Kawésqar community on a journey to protect their ancestral waters in Chilean Patagonia.
27 Min
Chumash
Chumash
The craft of building Chumash canoes was nearly lost. Alan Salazar is helping to keep it alive, one tomol at a time.
8 Min
In the Family of Things
In the Family of Things
8 Min
Ascend
Ascend
These women were forced to flee their homes in Afghanistan. Now the climbing community is helping them build a new one.
19 Min
The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez
The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez
Patagonia Films The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez one of the most influential surfers and surfboard shapers of all time, brings surfing to new frontiers while pursuing stillness of body and mind.
1:40:32
Raised From Earth
Under the gaze of southern Arizona's cinnamon-hued Canelo Hills, a mother passes along an ancient Puebloan tradition of natural adobe building to her three sons.
9:23
Connecting Walls
Unable to travel overseas due to the ongoing pandemic, Katsutaka "Jumbo" Yokoyama and Keita Kurakami head for Yakushima.
18:51
North Shore Betty
North Shore Betty
Patagonia presents North Shore Betty, a film about bikes and one bad-ass mother hucker.
12:10
