A New Name Rooted in Hope
After years of growth and deepening Tribal leadership, we are honored to share an important evolution.
California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project – the Tribally-guided nonprofit you’ve supported as CHIRP – is now publicly known as HUṠWEJ (pronounced HOOSH-way), a Nisenan word meaning “wish.”
This moment marks more than a name change. It reflects who we are today – and the future we’re actively building together.
Why The Name Change
CHIRP began as a research initiative, and while archival work and historic research remain foundational to our mission, over time the scope of our work has expanded significantly.
Today, our Tribally-guided nonprofit advances land rematriation, Cultural revitalization, Tribal Youth and Community Wellness programming, Tribally-led land stewardship, archival preservation, public education, and visibility through art.
We have grown beyond the boundaries of what the title “research project” can hold.
The name HUṠWEJ reflects this evolution – aligning our public identity with the full scope of our work and the vision of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe.
This transition is also part of a broader commitment to language revitalization and Indigenous self-determination. Centering a Nisenan word in our public identity is not symbolic – it is intentional. It affirms that Nisenan language, worldview, and sovereignty are alive and present.
The Meaning Behind HUṠWEJ
HUṠWEJ means “wish” or “prayer” in the Nisenan language.
It embodies the collective hopes, dreams, and responsibilities of the Nisenan People – rooted in Cultural continuity, stewardship of Ancestral Homelands, and the enduring presence and visibility of the Tribe.
For generations, the Tribe’s wishes were constrained by colonization, erasure, and displacement. While the Tribe continues to navigate colonial structural barriers, the rematriation of Yulića has created a profound turning point – returning land to Tribal care has created sacred space for the Tribal community to gather, reconnect, and collectively dream, vision, and build a thriving future.
HUṠWEJ represents that collective wish.
As a Tribally-guided nonprofit, HUṠWEJ functions as a “wish fulfillment vehicle” – a support structure that transforms intention into action through land stewardship, Cultural programming, education, youth development, and community wellness initiatives.
Through HUṠWEJ , we honor the past, carry responsibility in the present, and build the foundations for the future.
What Is Changing – and What Is Not
While our public-facing name is evolving to more clearly reflect the scope of our Tribally-guided work and the Tribe’s vision for the future, the foundation of our organization remains steady.
We continue to operate legally at California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project, a Tribally-guided 501(c)(3). Our leadership, governance, mission, partnerships, and programs remain unchanged. There is no change to our nonprofit status, EIN, or organizational structure.
What is changing is our public-facing identity. You will begin seeing the name HUṠWEJ across our communications, website, and visual identity. Our primary web and email domain is now huṡwej.org and our former website (chirpca.org) will redirect to this new home.
This is not a departure from our history. It is an expansion of it.
Explore the New Website
The launch of HUṠWEJ includes a fully redesigned website – a significant step in this transition.
At www.huswej.org you’ll find:
A deeper exploration of the meaning behind HUṠWEJ
Pronunciation guidance and audio recording
Expanded program information
Updated learning materials and educational resources
New visual identity and logo
Clear pathways to support and engage
This website reflects the growth of our work and serves as a central hub for Cultural visibility, education, and connection.
We invite you to visit, explore, and share.
Join Us in This Next Chapter
This transition to HUṠWEJ reflects a shared commitment to Cultural continuity, reciprocity, and a future rooted in respect for the Nisenan People and their Ancestral Homelands.
Thank you for walking alongside us. Your support helps transform these Nisenan wishes into lived reality.
Estom Yanim, the Sacred Mountain in Nisenan Cosmology