Shell Jewelry Workshop with Eleanor Castro

Connect with local Indigenous cultural traditions during this workshop led by Amah Mutsun artisan and elder, Eleanor Castro. Using shells, pine nuts, and other natural materials, we will craft necklaces under Eleanor’s guidance while learning about the traditional skills and cultural teachings of the Amah Mutsun.

Artist Eleanor Castro is an Elder of the Amah Mutsun tribal band from San Juan Bautista, a descendent of the Ohlone Coastanoan people. Her great-great-grandmother spoke Mutsun and also Awaswas, which was the tribe taken to build Mission Santa Cruz. She learned her cultural and artisanal knowledge from other native people and by studying notes from J.P. Harrington and other tribal members. With this knowledge, she has become a Cultural teacher and mentors Elder to the stewards of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust. She has worked out in the fields as a cook, prayer, leader, mentor, and much more. She also teaches her craft of beading at the Fresno American Indian Health Project in Fresno, CA, and at an annual Native youth camp.

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