Exploring the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary with Violet Sage Walker

December 6, 2021

The first native-led National Marine Sanctuary nomination

On this episode, Peter Ravella and Tyler Buckingham speak with Violet Sage Walker, the chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and the nominator of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. A descendant of Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo County, California, Violet is campaigning tirelessly for the proposed 140-mile Chumash National Marine Sanctuary, carrying on the legacy of her father who initiated the Sanctuary proposal process. Come along as we learn about the Chumash people and cultural heritage in the beautiful region of the American Shoreline.

Violet Sage Walker, the chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and the nominator of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
The noted photograph of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary delegation with Tim Gallaudet in his requested dress uniform, during DC Ocean Week.
The late Native American Tribal Chief Fred Harvey Collins, Violet's father, former leader of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and original nominator of the Proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.

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Show Transcription
This transcription was generated by a computer. Please excuse any errors.
Peter Ravella & Tyler Buckingham

Peter and Tyler joined forces in 2015 and from the first meeting began discussing a project that would become Coastal News Today and the American Shoreline Podcast Network. At the time, Peter and Tyler were coastal consultants for Pete’s firm, PAR Consulting, LLC. In that role, they worked with coastal communities in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, engaged in grant writing, coastal project development, shoreline erosion and land use planning, permitting, and financial planning for communities undertaking big beach restoration projects. Between and among their consulting tasks, they kept talking and kept building the idea of CNT & ASPN. In almost every arena they worked, public engagement played a central role. They spent thousands of hours talking with coastal stakeholders, like business owners, hotel operators, condo managers, watermen, property owners, enviros, surfers, and fishermen. They dived deep into the value, meaning, and responsibility for the American shoreline, segment-by-segment. Common threads emerged, themes were revealed, differences uncovered. There was a big conversation going on along the American shoreline! But, no place to have it. That's where CNT and ASPN were born.