Virtual Field Trip

Nicky Rehnberg, “Syuxtun Story Circle,” Clio: Your Guide to History, 16 April 2021, https://theclio.com/entry/130791.

In the introduction of this syllabus, we explore different conceptions of energy and its relationship to history and environment in California’s central coast. Click the link above for a virtual tour of a Santa Barbara public artwork that explores this relationship, created by the local Chumash community—or visit the site in person!

The Syunxtun Story Circle, also spelled Syuxtun, is a mosaic marking the largest Chumash settlement in the area. This post includes background on the Syuxtun Story Circle and directions to visit the circle yourself. Here you can also find the video of the Chumash Community performing the stories included in the Syuxtun Story Circle. The video is a performance documenting the stories shared in the 20ft mosaic, which was assembled over 5,000 collective hours. The performance and mosaic are a celebration of Chumash resistance to colonialism and continued success of the Chumash community.