The All-new ‘ammatka Cafe Opens November 22 at The Lawrence!

Have you ever had an Ohlone salad? Soon visitors to The Lawrence can try one, as well as an Ohlone brownie, sandwich, and other family-friendly fare in our all-new cafe! The ‘ammatka Cafe is the latest venture from Cafe Ohlone co-founders and ‘ottoy Initiative leaders Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, further infusing The Lawrence with Ohlone culture and tradition. We’re excited to fuel curious minds at the ‘ammatka Cafe starting Saturday, November 22!

‘ammatka means “the dining hall” in Chochenyo, the first language spoken in the East Bay. The cafe offers a variety of options to satisfy different tastes. Our menu features beverages, snacks, and entrees inspired by traditional Ohlone flavors and ingredients. Try a brownie made from pattih (pah-tee, chia) flour or a salad with šalkiič (sahl-keech, watercress). Young scientists can also enjoy Ohlone tater tots, “dino bites” (chicken nuggets), and more kid-friendly options. 

The ‘ammatka Cafe is the newest manifestation of the ‘ottoy Initiative, a UC Berkeley-wide initiative housed at The Lawrence. ‘ottoy is a Chochenyo word meaning “repair.” The initiative aims to repair the relationship between the university and East Bay Ohlone people. ‘ottoy is being achieved through education and collaboration with departments across UC Berkeley on a variety of projects, including student engagement, facilities and landscape development, and more.

Vincent and Louis also serve Ohlone cuisine on campus at the seasonal ‘oṭṭoytak–The Place of Repair–on the plaza adjacent to the Hearst Museum of Anthropology. Guests experience a traditional Ohlone meal surrounded by native gardens and the sounds of birdsong, spoken Chochenyo, and nostalgic music curated by Ohlone elders.

The ‘ottoy Initiative has transformed our science center as we continue to integrate Ohlone knowledge and culture into our exhibits and programs. Current Ohlone representation at The Lawrence includes:

• Land acknowledgements at the entrances to The Lawrence and to the Outdoor Nature Lab
• Vincent & Louis featured as “food heroes” in our Future of Food exhibit, sharing Ohlone knowledge and tradition around oysters in ‘ommu, the San Francisco Bay
• California native plants in the Outdoor Nature Lab, with the opportunity to learn about their names in Chochenyo (the language of the East Bay Ohlone people) and the plants’ traditional uses and personalities
• Nature discovery through an Ohlone lens for our youngest visitors in Curiosity Corner / Esquina Curiosa, exploring Ohlone ways of knowing and being

This is only the beginning, with plans to incorporate Chochenyo signage and Ohlone science in every major exhibit moving forward at The Lawrence. Future exhibits will include new mixed reality experiences developed by Ohlone youth in participatory design workshops as part of tappenekšekma, the Ohlone Science Diplomats program.

“We’re working together in partnership to uplift the oldest traditions of the East Bay in an Ohlone-led way with our allies at The Lawrence,” said Vincent Medina. “Every day we see more restoration and repair happening around us. This is change happening before our eyes.”

We can’t wait to share this new amenity with our valued members and visitors. Join us soon to try these delicious foods and explore Ohlone science and culture at ‘ammatka and throughout The Lawrence!