Local Maritime Cultures Celebrated at Moompetam, the Aquarium’s Fifteenth Annual Native American Festival

August 7, 2019

Various tribes in our region have maintained strong connections to the ocean for hundreds of years and into modern times. Learn more about Southern California’s native cultures at the Aquarium of the Pacific’s annual Native American festival, Moompetam: Gathering of the Salt Water People. The fifteenth annual Moompetam festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22, 2019. This event will feature traditional music, dance, storytelling, cultural craft demonstrations, and educational programs. Families will be able to participate in arts and crafts for all ages and other activities inspired by local indigenous maritime cultures. Native American artists will present cultural materials, such as basketry, items of adornment, and artifacts of daily life.

Moompetam (pronounced \’mohm peh tahm), meaning “People of the Ocean,” is derived from the word for saltwater in the Tongva language. For the local, coastal, and island indigenous people of Southern California, the ocean has always been a sacred entity. The maritime native peoples that inhabited ocean waters for thousands of years, including the Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen, Costanoan, Luiseno, and Kumeyaay, deeply respected the ocean. The ocean environment is reflected in all aspects of their cultures.

When: Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Cost: Moompetam is included with general admission–$34.95 adult (12+), $31.95 senior (62+), $24.95 child (3-11), and free for children under age 3 and Aquarium members

Info: (562) 590-3100 or event page

Sponsor: Courtyard Marriott

The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific is a community gathering place where diverse cultures and the arts are celebrated and where important challenges facing our planet are explored by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders in search of sustainable solutions. The Aquarium is dedicated to conserving and building nature and nature’s services by building the interactions between and among peoples. Home to more than 12,000 animals, Aquarium exhibits include the new Pacific Visions wing, Ocean Science Center, Molina Animal Care Center, and the Tentacles and Ink and FROGS: Dazzling & Disappearing exhibits. Beyond its animal exhibits, the Aquarium offers educational programs for people of all ages, from hands-on activities to lectures by leading scientists. Field trips for schoolchildren are offered at a heavily discounted rate, from $7 to $8.50 per student. The Aquarium offers memberships with unlimited FREE admission for 12 months, VIP Entrance, and other special benefits. Convenient parking is available for $8 with Aquarium validation.