My interest in the native people of California began when I heard that my Grandfather George Stanley Cordero (Jorge Santiago) carried a card that allowed him social services for Native Americans in Santa Barbara, CA.  I soon started doing the research and sending out inquiries in August of 1999.  What started out as some sort of “small boy’s” excitement that he may be an “Indian” soon became a serious study of genealogy.  I can thank my mother, Betty for all of the information she gathered and passed along to me regarding the Corderos, Hermans, Clarks and the many other family names that take me back through the years.  From there it opened up an endless study of California, Mexico, Spain and world history and the real people that populate(d) these places.

    Yes, I eventually found the Chumash links to members of my family.  Along the way I have gathered many old stories and created a few new ones.  One of my 4th great grandfathers, Mariano Antonio Cordero came to Alta California in mid 18th century.  Gregorio and Antonio Cordero brought the Cordero name over to Turtle Island in the early 16th century.

    The Chumash people have a rich and complex living culture full of history. Their homeland ranged from San Luis Obispo to the North down to Malibu in the South, from the Channel Islands in the West to Tehachapis to the East.  I am grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to visit some of these Sacred Places.