The Tule Project

Tule Project braids Indigenous knowledge surrounding tule with cutting-edge eco-cultural research. On this project we are working together to restore tule wetlands, celebrate tule cultural heritage, and foster healthier, more resilient Bay Area ecosystems through public engagement.

Specific partners:

Association of Ramaytush Ohlone (ARO)

Native California Research Institute (NaCRI)

Goals:

Tule Eco-Cultural Regeneration & Stewardship

TEK Collaboration, Boatbuilding, and Community Engagement

Collections, Exhibits, and Public Education

Timeline:

August 2026:

The Tule Boat was featured in a Phenomena blog post, "Recent Research from A(nthropology) to Z(oology)". Click here to read the post.
Mindy presented her work during the Cal Academy SSI Final Symposium with a talk entitled: Tule Through Time: Exploring the Intersection of Ecology and Culture Through Two Tule Species. She did an amazing job introducing everyone to the complexity of tule, and the status and issues surrounding tule in San Francisco and beyond. Congratulations Mindy! Stay tuned to see a tule infographic designed by Mindy in collaboration with the team, Gregg, and Sara (ARO).

June 2026:

Mindy Schneider joined the Tule project studying the two common species of tule in the bay area: Schoenoplectus acutus var. occidentalis (hardstem tule) and Schoenoplectus californicus (California bulrush).
We used location from herbarium samples and community science records to survey tule occurrence in San Francisco with partners from ARO.
On June 18th we hosted a "Tule Boat Public Welcoming & Stewardship Celebration" at CAS. At the event we formally celbrated the ground breaking donation of an Ohlone/Bay Miwok tule boat from NaCRI and honored the ongoing partnership between NaCRI, ARO and CAS. The event featured remarks from Gregg, Bev, Laurie, Shannon and other staff at CAS who have helped to display the boat at Cal Academy.

(Left photo) Shannon presenting during the Tule Boat Public Welcoming & Stewardship Celebration at CAS. (Right photo) From left to right: Becky, Molly, Sarah, Shannon, Gregg, Mindy, and Jude conducting tule surveys in San Francisco.

May 2026: Starting on Friday May 15th the 2019 tule boat will be on display at Cal Academy, come visit and see the boat!

January 2026: Tule boat event on Alcatraz. The event included talks and discussions with tule boat builders, artists and researchers. On the same day:

The newly built 12-foot tule reed boat was transported to Alcatraz, where it is now on public display as part of the NPS's new exhibit, Welcome to Indian Land: Resistance, Resilience and Activism on Alcatraz.
Simultaneously, the historic 2019 tule boat, was successfully transported form Alcatraz to the California Academy of Sciences Anthropology Collections. This culturally significant boat will support future exhibition, research, and public programs, ensuring its teachings and history are respectfully preserved and shared.

(Left photo) Left to right: Aya Yamamoto (CAS), Gregg Castro (ARO & NaCRI), Shannon Tushingham (CAS), Becky Wilcox (CAS), Molly Michelson (CAS), and Shelly Davis-King (CAS), at the tule boat event. (Right photo) Newly built boat on display on Alcatraz.

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026: CAS joins with ARO and NaCRI to support building a tule reed boat for display on Alcatraz.

October 2025: Collaboration was featured on the Cal Academy American Heritage Month webpage.

Native California Culture Bearers and Academy scientists with bundled tules they gathered and processed for the making of a tule boat in the style of one depicted on the San Francisco Bay in 1806. Pictured left to right: Harrison Tushingham, Dr. Shannon Tushingham (Academy Curator of Anthropology), Gregg Castro (NaCRI Vice Chair and Co-Founder; Association of Ramaytush Ohlone Culture Director), Dr. Beverly Ortiz (NaCRI Board Chair and Co-Founder), Martin Castro (Ramaytush), and Dr. Rebecca Wilcox (Academy Research Scientist) with one of five tule boat bundles. Not shown: Laurie Morales (Coast Miwok/Southern Coastal Pomo, NaCRI Board Member and Its Tule Boat Project Co-Convenor with Dr. Ortiz).