The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Environmental Department will host its annual free Chumash Earth Day event, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at Kitiyepumu’ Park on the Santa Ynez Reservation, 100 Via Juana Road.

A child whose face is painted like a tiger face smiles broadly as she looks into a hand-held mirror. (Courtesy photo)
Face-painting is among the activities planned for the Earth Day event at Kitiyepumu’ Park. (Courtesy photo)

The zero-waste event will feature activities for all ages, including educational booths, face painting, arts and crafts, a raffle, local food trucks with food for purchase, and appearances by Smokey Bear and Safety Sam.

Free parking is available at the Tribal Hall, with shuttle service to Kitiyepumu’ Park.

Some 20 local businesses and organizations will be there, including Explore Ecology, Southern Steelhead Coalition, U.S. Forest Service, Beekeepers Guild of Santa Barbara, Community Environmental Council, Nature Conservancy, and Farm Service Agency.

The tribe’s Culture, Education and Health departments will attend, along with representatives from the Santa Ynez Tribal Health Clinic and Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center.

Registration will take place at the event, with the first 250 people receiving a swag bag that includes a t-shirt, homemade natural bug spray, treats, and custom-designed stickers, all packaged in a reusable, collapsible shopping bag.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own gently used clothing items for a clothing swap.

“The Santa Ynez Chumash Environmental Office (SYCEO) is grateful and excited to be celebrating our 16th annual Chumash Earth Day this year,” said Julie Colbert, environmental director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

“Our theme is For Our Wild Relatives,’which is aimed at honoring and bringing awareness to the preservation and protection of wildlife and their habitats,” she said. “We have an incredible lineup of local organizations and partners as well as support from the tribal departments. It’s always a special event for the community.”

For more about Chumash Earth Day, contact SYCEO at syceo@chumash.gov.

The Environmental Department was established by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Tribal Government in 1998. Its mission is to prepare tribal lands for environmental adaptation, protect and regenerate natural resources, and cultivate the connection between culture, spirit and community through collaboration and education. To learn more, visit www.syceo.org.