horše ṭuuxi hemmenya — good day to you all

A message from Cafe Ohlone

horše ṭuuxi hemmenya — good day to you all.

We hope this message finds you well. 

During this difficult time of COVID-19 spreading quickly internationally, and in our local community, paired with immense uncertainty and global confusion about this new virus, we are taking the proactive step to close Cafe Ohlone and suspend all our meals for two weeks, effective today March 13th, 2020, through March 27th, 2020. We will make an informed decision based on the spread of the virus and facts from the World Health Organization and the State and municipal governments at the end of this two-week voluntary suspension to decide if we will reopen on March 28th or stay closed longer — all with the goal of keeping each one of us safe, especially the most vulnerable in our communities, including our respected elders.

The decision to close Cafe Ohlone and the powerful work being accomplished to share our cuisine and our story as Indigenous people is not one we made lightly; there has been no enforced closure of restaurants and businesses, nor mandatory quarantines imposed on the California population. However, we feel compelled to act. Historically, as a result of colonization, our community has lived through a series of harmful viruses that spread quickly that our people had no immunity for — measles, smallpox, influenza, and the Spanish flu in the early-twentieth century. While undeniably many good, innocent people perished from these diseases, exacerbated by social injustice and imposed poverty, we also acknowledge that many, many people survived and that allows us to exist today and continue to keep our identity strong. The wisdom of our elders tells us that in challenging times, we rise up for the common good — to look after one another, protect one another, and treat one another with dignity. This wisdom is reinforced in the current landscape we find ourselves in.

When there is misinformation coming from Washington, D.C. that emboldens racial divides and xenophobia and miscategorizes COVID-19 as a ‘foreign virus,’ strengthening division in an already polarized world, we know there is another way forward that is rational, preventative, and dignified. We acknowledge the facts shared by the World Health Organization that this new virus has the potential to affect people regardless of race, religion, or nationality and is now being spread through communities internally. During this time of hardship, we can all agree on the importance of being good to each other, showing decency, and taking protective measures to keep safe. We are planning to take this time to teach Chochenyo language digitally to our community members and go inward for a minimum of two weeks while this virus runs its course and we can responsibly evaluate what we are confronting. The only exception to this is to check on our elders, to make sure they are safe.

For all our guests and supporters, we express again our gratefulness for the constant love and gratitude you’ve shared with us. While we are uncertain about the immediate future, we know that this will pass, and we will get through this together as a community. We encourage these following steps to ensure we can get through this difficult time a little smoother.

1.    huk’ayṭ kam ‘iššuya — wash your hands for 20 seconds using antibacterial soap. If you need help, repeat this is Ohlone land 10 times!

2.    ‘inháaneṭ ruwwa — stay home if possible to avoid exposure and avoid leaving your house or apartment if you don’t have to.

3.    ‘uwwettoyṭ tawwa-sii — drink teas such as elderberry, nettles, yerba santa and rosehips. Non-Californian versions can be found at health food stores, but they do the trick! Rosehips and elderberry boost your immune system and share powerful vitamins; nettles help with respiratory health; and yerba santa is a powerful natural expectorant. Sage tea is calming in times of great stress.

4.    yuwwaṭ čaača kam-taamašikma — don’t touch your face!

5.    ‘uṭaspiyṭ miččišya —  check on your elders! Call them to ask how they are feeling and bring them food and medicine if necessary.

In Chochenyo language, we say nimi makkin ‘ukšeeresin himmetka, hemmenya horšesin ‘at kamyisin — if we work together, things will be good and well.

In community,

The team at Cafe Ohlone