The Material / Image Research Lab (MIRL) at UC Santa Barbara acknowledges that we work, learn, and create on the unceded homelands of the Chumash people, who have stewarded this land since time immemorial. We recognize the ongoing presence and leadership of Chumash communities in the Central Coast and honor their continued connection to this place, despite histories of displacement and settler-colonial violence.
As a research lab dedicated to studying materials and images, we are committed to ethical practices that respect Indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, and sovereignty. We strive to uphold Indigenous data sovereignty principles, ensuring that Native communities retain authority over their cultural materials and narratives. Our work seeks to amplify Native voices, support Indigenous artists, and engage in meaningful collaboration with Chumash and other Native communities.
We invite all who engage with the lab to reflect on their relationship to this land and to actively support Indigenous-led efforts for land return, cultural preservation, and justice.