Discovering Ohlone Culture

The third and fourth grade students recently spent a memorable day on the UC Berkeley campus visiting Café Ohlone as part of their Project Based Learning units. During this field experience, students stepped into a living story of culture, language, and resilience. Café founders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino welcomed the group with warmth and generosity, sharing the many ways they keep Ohlone traditions alive through language, food, and community.

As students listened, they learned about the deep and enduring relationship the Ohlone people have with the land—how native plants serve as food, material for basketry, and sources of medicine. They were especially fascinated to discover that acorns, a staple of the Ohlone diet, require six months of careful preparation before becoming soups and breads.

Student curiosity sparked a steady stream of thoughtful questions, so many that Vincent and Louis kindly extended their presentation to continue the dialogue. Students were eager to understand how traditional foods, languages, and customs continue to shape Ohlone life today. Vincent and Louis emphasized one message above all: Ohlone people are still here, actively preserving, practicing, and celebrating their culture.

A highlight for many students was learning to say several words in Chechenyo, the traditional Ohlone language. Speaking the language offered students a meaningful way to honor and connect with the living culture they had just encountered.

This field experience deeply enriched students’ exploration of their driving question. By connecting firsthand with Ohlone voices, students gained a more nuanced understanding of history, identity, and belonging—and a lasting appreciation for the resilience and vibrancy of the Ohlone community.

#SaklanProjectBasedLearning #SaklanFieldExperience