Voices of the Timeless Coast

Introduction to the Project

We live and go to school in a unique part of the world, a stretch of coastal California just north of Santa Barbara which has remained relatively unchanged over the centuries. Long before it figured in the dreams of Europeans, the Chumash Indians knew this to be a sacred place. Later, to the Spanish and the Mexicans, it was known as La Nuestra Senora del Refugio. Today, it is farmed and ranched, but still unspoiled -- a visitor from the distant past would recognize the shadowed faces of these hills. Twisted oak and sycamore live close to forever along the creeks and contours here. The wind howls its ancient secrets through the Gaviota Pass. We walk the wild shores which skirt the entrance to heaven.

To better understand our past and ourselves, the sixth grade students of Vista de las Cruces have been interviewing the local ranchers and old-timers whose lives have been shaped by this land. We have received the gift of their stories and felt a kinship that transcends generations. Our love of the land unites us. And as we take our places in its endless cycle, we are wise to pause, look back, and listen.

Come and journey through the timeless coast. On this site, sixth grade students share the stories of their elders; their own impressions, reflections, and poetry; and their advice to other youngsters who would like to launch an oral history project.