# Ancestral Guard

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancestral_Guard
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> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Ancestral Guard** is a [nonprofit organization](/source/Nonprofit_organization) in [California](/source/California) that teaches [fishing](/source/Fishing) and [farming](/source/Farming) methods to [indigenous](/source/Indigenous_peoples) youth.

## Background

[Sammy Gensaw](/source/Sammy_Gensaw) became involved in [community organizing](/source/Community_organizing) to remove four [hydroelectric dams](/source/Hydroelectric_dam) from the [Klamath River](/source/Klamath_River) in 2008, when he was 14. Three years later, he and his younger brother Jon Luke Gensaw began teaching local children traditional [Yurok](/source/Yurok) techniques for catching and cooking [salmon](/source/Salmon) from the river, calling the project the Ancestral Guard.[1] The Ancestral Guard is directed by Sammy Gensaw and was [incorporated](/source/Incorporation_(business)) as a [nonprofit organization](/source/Nonprofit_organization) in 2015.[2]

## Activity

The Ancestral Guard teach traditional techniques for catching and cooking salmon,[1] as well as methods for [farming](/source/Farming).[2] They additionally work with other [indigenous](/source/Indigenous_peoples) groups around the world[3] and educate people about the Yurok tribe's historical [foodways](/source/Foodways).[4]

In 2020, during the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), Ancestral Guard began a five-year program focused on [food sovereignty](/source/Food_sovereignty). The program began with the Victorious Gardens Initiative, involving the creation of a [community garden](/source/Community_garden) as well as 30 [garden boxes](/source/Garden_box) at residences on the [Yurok Indian Reservation](/source/Yurok_Indian_Reservation) and in nearby [Crescent City](/source/Crescent_City,_California) and Klamath.[2] The organization additionally organized food deliveries to [elderly people](/source/Old_age) and others who were heavily impacted by COVID-19.[4]

## Recognition

The 2020 documentary film [*Gather*](/source/Gather_(film)) highlighted the work of the Ancestral Guard along with other people and groups such as [Twila Cassadore](/source/Twila_Cassadore) and [Café Gozhóó](/source/Caf%C3%A9_Gozh%C3%B3%C3%B3).[3]

## References

1. Smith, Heather (2017-08-13). ["Two Yurok Brothers, Four Dams, and a Lot of Salmon"](https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2017-5-september-october/act/two-yurok-brothers-four-dams-and-lot-salmon). *[Sierra Club](/source/Sierra_Club)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170829034720/http://www.sierraclub.org:80/sierra/2017-5-september-october/act/two-yurok-brothers-four-dams-and-lot-salmon) 2017-08-29 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

1. Wilkes, Mackenzie (2021-08-04). ["California's Yurok Tribe grows solutions in soil of crises"](https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/08/04/yurok-tribe-in-northern-california-grows-solutions-in-soil-of-crises/). *[Cronkite News](/source/Cronkite_News)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210804162344/https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2021/08/04/yurok-tribe-in-northern-california-grows-solutions-in-soil-of-crises/) 2021-08-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-10-08.

1. Schloredt, Valerie (November 25, 2020). ["In 'Gather,' Indigenous Food Sovereignty Is on the Menu"](https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2020/11/25/movie-indigenous-food-sovereignty). *[YES! Magazine](/source/Yes!_(U.S._magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201125191955/https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2020/11/25/movie-indigenous-food-sovereignty/) 2020-11-25 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 8, 2021.

1. Begay, Jade (2020-10-14). ["'Gather' Centers Efforts to Heal and Rebuild Indigenous Traditions and Foodways"](https://civileats.com/2020/10/14/gather-centers-efforts-to-heal-and-rebuild-indigenous-traditions-and-foodways/). *[Civil Eats](/source/Civil_Eats)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201027185818/https://civileats.com/2020/10/14/gather-centers-efforts-to-heal-and-rebuild-indigenous-traditions-and-foodways/) 2020-10-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ancestral Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancestral_Guard) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancestral_Guard?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.