Sunland-Tujunga Forward (ST Forward) will host the 6th Annual Tuxuunga Indigenous Peoples Day on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Tuxuunga – “The Place of the Old Woman” – located at 12400 Big Tujunga Canyon Road in Tujunga.

This year’s theme, Nature As Relatives, honors the interconnected kinship between people, land, water and all living beings – a relational worldview that guides humanity’s shared

responsibility to the earth. Programming will highlight the Rights of Nature through a panel discussion, cultural presentations and hands-on workshops, alongside ceremony, song, art, food and community gathered beneath the event’s namesake mother oak.

“Everyone is welcome. Come with a good heart and open mind, interact with Indigenous knowledge keepers and a wonderfully supportive community” said Tina Orduno Calderon, the event’s lead Indigenous advisor, and ST Forward board member. “The workshops, stories, songs and great food ensure a wonderful event.”

The free, all-ages event will feature performances, teachings and presentations from respected Indigenous culture bearers, including Tina Orduno Calderon, Ted Garcia, Dyann Dominguez,

and Virginia Carmelo, among others, representing the Tongva, Chumash, Tataviam and other Indigenous communities. 

Attendees can expect:

• Traditional song, dance and spoken word performances
• Panel discussions on the Rights of Nature and land stewardship
• Hands-on workshops, including native plant walks, natural dyeing, and traditional cordage-making
• Children’s programming and youth-focused activities
• Vendor and resource tables from Indigenous-led organizations, nonprofits and civic partners
• Traditional foods and Indigenous-made arts and crafts

Now in its sixth year, Tuxuunga Indigenous Peoples Day has grown into one of the most anticipated cultural events in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, drawing hundreds of attendees annually. 

The event is organized with special guidance from Indigenous Culture Bearer and Advisor Tina Orduno Calderon, with support from the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) and a growing network of community and civic partners.

The celebration is shaped by five guiding values: respect for the land, a focus on reciprocity, relational educational opportunities, cultural diversity and generative dialogue.

Tuxuunga Indigenous Peoples Day is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to wear sunblock, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes, and to bring cash as WiFi access at the

site is limited.

For more information, updates and ways to get involved, visit www.stforward.org.