BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – A visit to the Lawrence Hall of Science this Monday could include Ohlone astronomy, a traditional stick-dice game and a chance to taste Ohlone cuisine — all with a connection to the people behind Berkeley’s Cafe Ohlone.
The Berkeley science center will host a family-friendly Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration on Monday, October 12, from noon to 4 p.m. Organizers say the afternoon will center on Ohlone knowledge, Indigenous science, environmental stewardship, storytelling and community connection.
Leading the activities are Vincent Medina and Louis Trevino, the co-founders of mak-‘amham/Cafe Ohlone. They also lead UC Berkeley’s ‘ottoy Initiative, which is based at the Lawrence Hall of Science.
That makes the food connection especially interesting. The celebration brings together the pair’s cultural and educational work with the museum’s own Ohlone-focused cafe.
A culinary connection worth exploring
According to the event’s media alert, ‘ammatka Cafe will be open for meals during the celebration, serving family-friendly Ohlone cuisine. Special snack packs will also be available.
Visitors can sample traditional Ohlone teas, too. The museum’s event schedule lists tea tasting in the Outdoor Nature Lab throughout the afternoon.
The cafe is part of the ‘ottoy Initiative, and the museum describes its offerings as “Ohlone-forward.” Its website highlights chia flour brownies and an Ohlone spritz as examples, although organizers have not specified the celebration’s menu.
There is one practical detail to check before heading over for lunch: the cafe’s website currently says it is temporarily closed while its kitchen expands. The media alert specifically announces meal service for October 12, so visitors planning around the food should confirm event-day service with the museum.
The connection extends beyond the cafe. Medina and Trevino appear in the museum’s Future of Food exhibit, sharing Ohlone knowledge about oysters in San Francisco Bay. The Outdoor Nature Lab also introduces visitors to California native plants, their Chochenyo names and traditional uses.
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Stars, storytelling and a game for kids
The afternoon offers several ways to learn directly from Medina and Trevino:
- Noon to 4 p.m.: Learn tallik, a traditional Ohlone stick-dice game, in the Outdoor Nature Lab. Children can practice counting in Chochenyo, the language of the East Bay Ohlone people.
- 1:30 p.m.: Join the pair in the Planetarium for a program about Ohlone traditions connected to the sun, stars and sky.
- 2 p.m.: Meet in the lobby for a walking tour exploring Ohlone traditions connected to the natural world.
- 3 p.m.: Watch “Encapsulated Memory,” an episode of PBS’ California Climate series featuring Medina and Trevino, followed by a Q&A in C Level, Room I.
The larger effort has a fitting name: the museum explains that ‘ottoy is a Chochenyo word expressing an intention of repair and mending. The initiative works to strengthen understanding of Ohlone people and culture and improve UC Berkeley’s relationship with the Ohlone community.
Plan your visit
The Lawrence Hall of Science is at 1 Centennial Drive in Berkeley. The celebration runs noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, October 12, 2026.
The museum’s admission page lists general admission at $27 for adults and children ages 3 and older, with children 2 and under and members admitted free.
Regular Planetarium admission is listed at an additional $6. Check with the museum about whether that charge applies to the special astronomy program.
