“After ten years of steady, determined work, AMLT is witnessing the emergence of a cultural landscape that reflects our long‑held vision: returning the Mutsun people to their ancestral lands. These lands strengthen AMLT’s ability to restore Indigenous stewardship practices and expand youth and community engagement. Protection of these sacred spaces represent a historic step forward in healing and restoration for the Tribal community and beyond.”

Noelle Chambers, Executive Director Amah Mutsun Land Trust

Juristac (Sargent Ranch)

After decades of hard work by the Tribe and supportive partners to stop the threat of a proposed sand and gravel mine on this sacred land, on January 28, 2006, our partners at Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced the purchase and permanent protection of 2,284 acres of Sargent Ranch, bringing their total ownership to more than 6,100 conserved acres of the Juristac Tribal Cultural Landscape.

For the Mutsun people, Juristac, pronounced “Huris-tak,” is the home of a powerful spiritual being known as Kuksui. Juristac translates to “place of the Big Head,” and Big Head dances associated with Kuksui and other healing and renewal ceremonies took place in the area for centuries, often attended by neighboring tribal groups. Its protection brings hope for a brighter tomorrow when the Tribe can return to its sacred grounds and restore its traditions.

For years, this sacred place faced the threat of a massive open‑pit sand and gravel mine that would have destroyed hundreds of acres of cultural sites, threatened the lives of plants and animals alike, and irreparably damaged the spiritual and cultural integrity of the land. The Tribe made clear that such harm could never be undone, and it would have decimated one of the last remaining undisturbed areas in Mutsun territory. Today, that threat no longer exists.

Chairman Ed Ketchum shared, “The protection of Juristac is a culmination of more than a decade of work by our Tribe and many dedicated partners, guided by the power of our ancestors who honored this land since time immemorial. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the thousands who stood with us in calling for the sacredness of Juristac to be respected.”

Looking to the future, the Tribe will work through AMLT to engage with POST towards providing Tribal access and bringing Indigenous stewardship to Juristac. We recognize this will take a significant investment in time and strengthened capacity and welcome you, our dedicated community, to walk alongside us on this path through your support and encouragement.

CLICK HERE for a video of aerial view of Juristac/Sargent Ranch by Stephen Lam of the San Francisco Chronicle

tooromakma hinse nii (Searle Rd.)

On September 20, 2025 AMLT acquired this 50-acre property near the intersection of Highways 129 and 101 in San Juan Bautista, Calif., marking the first time the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band (AMTB) regained full access rights to land in its traditional territory since their forced removal over 225 years ago.

This acquisition is a powerful step for the Land Trust, now in its tenth year. We at AMLT are proud to join the broader Indigenous community in the critical work of ancestral land return. The organization’s first decade was focused on building partnerships while re-learning and re-engaging Indigenous stewardship practices. After building our organizational capacity, we are positioned to move into the next phase of AMLT – acquiring lands for long-term Tribal stewardship.

This land is part of the greater Juristac landscape, a critical cultural and sacred space for AMTB. The name, “pronounced toe row mock ma hēēn say knee”, means “bobcats wander here” and honors our bobcat relatives who inhabit this landscape. Former Chairman Valentin Lopez shared, “Our ancestors lived on these lands for thousands of years and hundreds of generations. Through colonization, they were forced to endure slavery, abuse, and to forsake our traditional culture and spirituality. Today, we are realizing the enormous efforts of the Amah Mutsun people and our partners in restoring our traditional ways and our return to our traditional Tribal territory.”

Awnicmintac (Nyland)

On June 23, 2023 the 540‑acre Nyland property, named “Awnicmintac” ("ah-neech-meen-tak") which translates to “Place of the Turtle,” and located located across Highway 156 from San Juan Bautista, less than half a mile from the San Juan Mission and associated State Historic Park was permanently protected through a partnership of regional land trusts, with the Amah Mutsun Land Trust playing a central role. As part of the acquisition, AMLT now holds a cultural easement that ensures Indigenous access for stewardship, cultural teaching, and ceremonial practices—restoring the Tribe’s relationship with a landscape their ancestors cared for over thousands of years.

This cultural easement, paired with a conservation easement held by the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County, guarantees the land will remain undeveloped while supporting ecological restoration, wildlife connectivity, and ongoing ranching. For AMLT, the acquisition represents a meaningful return to the land and strengthens long‑term efforts to revitalize traditional land care and protect culturally significant homelands

The cultural easement on the Nyland property will provide the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band special access to the property for cultural, spiritual and ceremonial traditions. The tribe’s guidance will also facilitate restoration, conservation and care of the lands and waters using traditional and contemporary indigenous knowledge and methods.

“The Amah Mutsun people have lived in Popoloutchum, which is now recognized as San Benito County and beyond for millennia,” said Valentin Lopez, Former Chairman of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. “Our ancestors worked to fulfill their sacred obligation to take care of Mother Earth and all living things for thousands of years.”