Native American Heritage Month

Did you know that our community is named after Chumash villages that originally inhabited the Valley. ‘Simi’ itself even comes from the Chumash word Shimiyi or Shimiji, and pictographs from the Chumash villagers thousands of years ago are still being preserved and researched today.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and our opportunity to look back at the rich history of those that first inhabited the valley that we live in today. If you would like to learn more about the Chumash that first inhabited Simi Valley, try checking out any of the books below:

Are you interested in novels that have been written by Native American authors? Dive into the works of Native American authors with any of these great works:

If you’re interested in seeing contemporary examples of how we are still using Chumash traditions and designs today, the Museum of Ventura County’s Woven Earth Exhibit is an opportunity to see Chumash art up close. On November 23rd and 24th, any resident with an ID displaying a 93063 or 93063 zip code will be able to attend for free! To find out more information about the event, or other exhibits, visit the Museum of Ventura County Website here.