The Lawrence Hall of Science
The public science center of the University of California, Berkeley.
Open Wed-Sun 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Open Daily for Spring Break View Additional Hours >
We’ll bring our science programs to you.
We partner with school districts to support science learning. We offer district-wide elementary, middle, and high school programs, either virtually or in-person.
We collaborate with a range of partners to innovate in science education. Together, we go further.
View All >
Search
'
The Lawrence Hall of Science is the home of UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative. The ‘ottoy Initiative aims to foster understanding of and respect for Ohlone people and culture and to repair and improve UC Berkeley’s relationship with the Ohlone community. Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, co-founders of mak-‘amham/Cafe Ohlone, lead the initiative through their roles at The Lawrence and in collaboration with UC Berkeley’s Native American Thriving Initiatives (NATI), Government & Community Relations, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, and Berkeley Dining.
'ottoy
a Chochenyo word describing a philosophy and intention of repair and mending
Donate to help UC Berkeley recognize the permanence of the resilient Ohlone people
‘oṭṭoy—to repair or to mend—is being accomplished by means of integrated and sustained education and consultation through campus initiatives, community outreach, and elegant meals. Campus collaborations include academic research across departments; student engagement through student housing and dining programs; and facilities and landscape development—more collaborations are in the works. Public events take place across the UC Berkeley campus but are most often hosted in ‘oṭṭoytak–The Place of Repair– on the patio adjacent to the Hearst Museum of Anthropology. This intentionally designed space is filled with native gardens lush and fragrant with plants selected by Ohlone elders, and the sounds of Chochenyo (the spoken language of the East Bay Ohlone people), native birdsong, and nostalgic music curated by Ohlone elders. ‘ottoy leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino also offer specialized dining experiences, including seasonal Ohlone food and traditional tea, paired with an honest, poignant narrative of the experiences of the East Bay Ohlone people and education about the content of the menu.
‘ottoy leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino offer engaging sessions where they share Ohlone culture with groups of all ages through a combination of stories, activities, and conversation. Educational experiences are tailored to participants’ interests and may be enhanced with Ohlone tea and brownies using traditional recipes provided by Cafe Ohlone. Sessions are usually offered at ‘oṭṭoytak—The Place of Repair—the name of the patio adjacent to the Hearst Museum of Anthropology. However, we can also tailor our program offerings to other locations throughout campus or at your school, community location, or organization, to accomplish program needs and enhance cross-campus collaborations. For more information, please contact Deirdre Greene, ‘ottoy Initiative Manager, at Deirdregreene@berkeley.edu.
Cafe Ohlone grew to prominence as the world’s first—and only—restaurant serving the traditional foods of the Ohlone people. The ‘ottoy dining experience, developed by the mak-‘amham/Cafe Ohlone team, takes place in the ‘oṭṭoytak–The Place of Repair—on the patio adjacent to the Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
This project, funded by a National Science Foundation grant, is co-developing a set of three mixed-reality (augmented and virtual reality technologies) exhibits for The Lawrence with Ohlone youth and their families. The exhibits aim to center the Ohlone cultural experience and perspective of the East Bay landscape. The Supporting Rightful Presence team includes exhibit designers, educators, and researchers from The Lawrence and the UC Berkeley School of Information. ‘ottoy leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino are an integral part of this team.
Learn More
Ohlone knowledge and language have been integrated into several spaces around the Lawrence Hall of Science, center most notably.In the Robert and Elizabeth Karplus Outdoor Nature Lab, where museumgoers are encouraged to learn about and forge a connection with the natural world. ‘ottoy leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino advised on the design of this space.; today, visitors to the outdoor exhibit are greeted by a land acknowledgment in Chochenyo—the first language spoken in the East Bay. Additional signage shares the Chochenyo words and traditional uses for various native plants in our pollinator garden.
Join mailing list
General inquiries: ottoy@berkeley.edu
Media inquiries: uc_berkeley_spokespeople@lists.berkeley.edu
Donate Now