"Moohat Akiko" sounds like an exotic stage name, but it's actually not a person's name at all. It means "Breath of the Ocean" in Chumash, the Native American tribe that used to inhabit what is now Santa Monica. For the gory details behind the adoption of this name, check http://www.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2004/20040525/s2004052501-B.htm
The City of Santa Monica contacted the Gabrielino Tongva Tribal Council in Santa Monica, and confirmed that “Moomat Ahiko” is of the Tongva language, Shoson, and can be translated to “Breath of the Ocean.”
So...suddenly Moomat Ahiko, our beloved ti'at, has become somewhat of a phenomenon in popular culture. We are currently preparing for the upcoming HONORING THE SEA CEREMONY, Sept 28th....a spectacular ceremony that will be well attended (expected 4000 or more!). The irony is that as we launch the offerings from international delegations into the waters of Santa Monica, we are just blocks from a recently renamed street...MOOMAT AHIKO WAY. Amazing, just amazing. As Ti'at Society, the community who has the Moomat Ahiko, we have no part in this process. Suddenly, one day, while driving to Malibu, I take the turn off to get to PCH North and there it is, big as life...Moomat Ahiko Drive. A unique indigenous presence in the midst of the contemporary Southern California. Go ahead, try it...do a GOOGLE Search. Read the blogs and curiosity of the citizens who all speculate as to what this means. Moomat Ahiko...is Tongva (not Chumash)...means Breath (or wind) of the Ocean. It is the name of our Ti'at (plank canoe) who was born in 1994 (the only Tongva plank canoe in the world). She represents an amazing renewal of a cultural tradition that was believed to be extinct by scientist and others. She came to us in our dreamtime in the 80s, evidence of genetic memory. She will be on the beach at the World Festival of Sacred Music on sunday, Sept. 28th at the HONORING OF THE SEA Ceremony. We begin at 3 until sunset. We are on the beach at the end of Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica (south of SM Pier and just north of Venice Beach). Come join us...
"She will be on the beach at the World Festival of Sacred Music on sunday, Sept. 28th at the HONORING OF THE SEA Ceremony. We begin at 3 until sunset. We are on the beach at the end of Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica (south of SM Pier and just north of Venice Beach). Come join us..."
If you wonder about the sudden interest for "Moomat Ahiko", it's because there is a picture of PCH on the logon screen of Microsoft Office 365 where "Moomat Ahiko" is seen in the front! :-)
8 comments:
Yes.
The Eternal mystery....
"Moohat Akiko" sounds like an exotic stage name, but it's actually not a person's name at all. It means "Breath of the Ocean" in Chumash, the Native American tribe that used to inhabit what is now Santa Monica. For the gory details behind the adoption of this name, check http://www.smgov.net/cityclerk/council/agendas/2004/20040525/s2004052501-B.htm
Hey, thanks for the info! Our eternal mystery was solved in a mere five months!
The City of Santa Monica contacted the Gabrielino Tongva Tribal Council in Santa Monica, and confirmed that “Moomat Ahiko” is of the Tongva language, Shoson, and can be translated to “Breath of the Ocean.”
Gabrielinos are not Chumash.
So...suddenly Moomat Ahiko, our beloved ti'at, has become somewhat of a phenomenon in popular culture. We are currently preparing for the upcoming HONORING THE SEA CEREMONY, Sept 28th....a spectacular ceremony that will be well attended (expected 4000 or more!). The irony is that as we launch the offerings from international delegations into the waters of Santa Monica, we are just blocks from a recently renamed street...MOOMAT AHIKO WAY. Amazing, just amazing. As Ti'at Society, the community who has the Moomat Ahiko, we have no part in this process. Suddenly, one day, while driving to Malibu, I take the turn off to get to PCH North and there it is, big as life...Moomat Ahiko Drive. A unique indigenous presence in the midst of the contemporary Southern California. Go ahead, try it...do a GOOGLE Search. Read the blogs and curiosity of the citizens who all speculate as to what this means. Moomat Ahiko...is Tongva (not Chumash)...means Breath (or wind) of the Ocean. It is the name of our Ti'at (plank canoe) who was born in 1994 (the only Tongva plank canoe in the world). She represents an amazing renewal of a cultural tradition that was believed to be extinct by scientist and others. She came to us in our dreamtime in the 80s, evidence of genetic memory. She will be on the beach at the World Festival of Sacred Music on sunday, Sept. 28th at the HONORING OF THE SEA Ceremony. We begin at 3 until sunset. We are on the beach at the end of Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica (south of SM Pier and just north of Venice Beach). Come join us...
its a great word.. but by the time you look at it you get lost thinking its not the legendary PCH....
It creates confusion especially for our tourists being a destination city
Way to go SM!
When is the next Moomat Ahiko Party!?
"She will be on the beach at the World Festival of Sacred Music on sunday, Sept. 28th at the HONORING OF THE SEA Ceremony. We begin at 3 until sunset. We are on the beach at the end of Ocean Park Blvd in Santa Monica (south of SM Pier and just north of Venice Beach). Come join us..."
If you wonder about the sudden interest for "Moomat Ahiko", it's because there is a picture of PCH on the logon screen of Microsoft Office 365 where "Moomat Ahiko" is seen in the front! :-)
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