Mutsun Language Foundation

^{Click on the console above to hear Mutsun useful words and common phrases.}

miSmin Tuuhis unnemukma means "good day friends."

Welcome to the home of the Mutsun Language Foundation. Please visit our website to learn who our people were, who we are today and what's in the future for Mutsun and other Ohlone/Costanoan people.

Mutsun is one of eight Ohlone/Costanoan dialects that were spoken along the central California coastal region. The Mutsun come from land that stretched from southern Santa Clara county to northern Monterey county and from western Merced to the coast of the Pacific ocean.

As Mutsun people labored at the Missions they were forced to learn Spanish and abandon their native language. The last fluent speaker was Ascencion Solorsano who died in 1930. She is buried at the Mission San Juan Bautista cemetery.

There are hundreds of Mutsun living in California today, many of whom continue to learn, teach and practice Mutsun traditional ways. The Mutsun Language Foundation's purpose is to promote & provide leadership for the revitalization of Mutsun language and culture. We are a federal non-profit organization with all proceeds going directly back to the foundation's work.

"Just like the Hawk who delivered earth to man, we are returning the Mutsun language and culture back to our people"

Our logo comes from the Hawk story that has been told for hundreds of years by our people. We use it with the utmost respect. We hope that through the Foundation's efforts we will preserve our culture and most importantly, revive our language for generations to come. Keeping our ancestor's traditions alive is our way of making sure they are never forgotten or that our generations to come do not have to be silent again. We hope you enjoy our website and treasure it the way we find pride and honor in being able to share with you. Here is the story as told in Mutsun and English:

Mutsun: tcahi peTTes emhe sitka yuu wak-isukma stuk oios-k pirese yuu-k hummis waakse amakma, piinaway, pirie his YSeSte.

English: Hawk flew deep down into the water and with his claws he grabbed the earth and gave it to the people, therefore, the world was created.