Fernando Librado

, more commonly known as Fernando Librado (c. August 20, 1839 – June 19, 1915), was a Chumash elder, master tomol builder, craft specialist, and storyteller. He was born at Mission San Buenaventura in 1839 as the son of two Chumash parents from the island of Limuw.

He is most notable for his knowledge of Chumash culture and language (especially of the Ventureño, Cruzeño, and Purisimeño), Indigenous experiences at Spanish mission in California, particularly in the post-mission period, and for his recording of a song of Juana Maria on a wax cylinder.

Early life His parents, Mamerto Yaguiahuit and Juana Alfonsa, They were not married until May 3, 1830.

His father was killed a year after his birth on October 28, 1840, from blows to the head by an unknown assailant. At the age of fourteen, he ran away from Ventura with another boy by the name Simplicio Pico. boats that he referred to as the “house of the sea." This was a functional wooden plank canoe that was constructed with knowledge he acquired through earlier instruction from Konoyo. He also recorded much knowledge on the craft specialist group Brotherhood of the Canoe and information on Chumash watercraft.

In 1913, he sang Juana Maria's song known as Toki Toki for a wax cylinder recording. Librado had learned this song from Melquiades, a Chumash man who had first heard Maria sing the song in 1853.