- Details
- By Chez Oxendine
- Real Estate
The yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe — known as the ytt Northern Chumash — has launched an $18 million campaign to acquire the historic Alexander Ranch, a former abalone farm along California's central coast.
The one-mile coastal property represents more than just real estate for the tribe, according to Becca Lucas Thomas, executive director for the tribe’s nonprofit. The land, which includes “unique cement tanks, wooden structures and access to critical ecological zones,” also symbolizes cultural restoration and environmental preservation.
“We are ocean people, and abalone is really, really important to us — it's been a traditional and important, nutrient-dense food source for thousands of years,” Thomas said. “Getting abalone is not very accessible anymore, and so being able to revitalize that cultural food way for us is really significant.”
The property was originally acquired and developed by cement producer John Alexander, who utilized his prior profession to build out the cement infrastructure that comprises much of the site. According to Thomas, Alexander expressed a desire for the land to eventually return to Indigenous people, facilitating the current acquisition process. Trustees for Alexander’s estate have agreed to hold the property in escrow for the tribe, giving the latter until October to fund the purchase.
The tribe's vision extends beyond land ownership. They plan to restore existing structures, revive traditional aquaculture practices, and collaborate with conservation partners to restore endangered species like black abalone. The project includes plans for kelp and seaweed production, as well as rewilding coastal ecosystems.
Currently, recreational and commercial abalone fishing in California is prohibited due to significant population declines. The closure, in effect since 2017, is scheduled to remain until at least April 1, 2026.
Partners in the landback effort include the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, Creek Lands Conservation, and the Harmony Coast Aquaculture Institute, according to the tribe. The ytt Northern Chumash, which is not federally recognized, is pursuing multiple funding streams, including state grants, philanthropic donations, and a community fundraising campaign.
Without federal recognition, the tribe operates as a state-registered nonprofit and has struggled to establish a landbase. Purchasing the Alexander Ranch would provide a “good start” on that process, Thomas said.
“This opportunity was just sort of a really incredible confluence of events,” she said.
