Birch Aquarium Hosts Indigenous Ocean Day 2025
A celebration of Indigenous people and ocean culture brings together local communities for the second year.
Photo by @wonderstruck_kehaulani
La Jolla, CA (September 30, 2025)—This November, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography will host the second annual Indigenous Ocean Day on Saturday, November 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event centers and celebrates Indigenous people and Indigenous ocean knowledge with the original peoples of Southern California, Baja California and from across Turtle Island.
"Indigenous Ocean Day will honor and center Indigenous people and ocean culture," said Dr. Nan Renner, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships. “This is an opportunity for us to learn together so we can better understand and protect our ocean planet."
This year’s Indigenous Ocean Day invites guests to dive into a rich tapestry of tradition and knowledge through immersive, hands-on experiences. Activities include Bird Singing performances, ocean-centered storytelling by Native voices and the sharing of Indigenous history and culture. Guests can explore the art of tule boat making, discover the significance of native plants and seaweeds in ethnobotany and engage directly with Indigenous cultural and educational organizations.
"We had such great energy and positivity last year in our tribal communities and in the greater community,” said Priscilla Ortiz (Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel and descendant of Rincon), Kumeyaay Community College. “Indigenous Ocean Day sparked a lot of curiosity and good relationships. I’m excited to invite people back to celebrate community and center our ocean.”
Indigenous Ocean Day is open to the public and all activities are included with aquarium admission.
Birch Aquarium opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing hours varying by day. Purchase tickets online in advance for the best pricing or buy an annual membership to visit the aquarium all year. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for details including the Daily Schedule.
About Birch Aquarium at Scripps
Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. Perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Birch Aquarium features the groundbreaking work of Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego scientists as well as conservation breeding programs and interactive exhibits. Birch Aquarium’s mission is to connect understanding to protecting our ocean planet, which it achieves through engaging hands-on learning opportunities for more than 500,000 guests and 40,000-plus pre-K-12 students each year. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information.