Meanwhile roaming the beautful coastline and mountains of Los Angeles, I often encounter individuals who zealously boast about being an LA native. Although the title has a nice ring to it, I would often question the deeper meaning behind this notion. What does it mean to be an LA natve? is a question I would often ponder. Those who identify as an LA native will tell you that their families have resided in Los Angeles for a few generations. LA's immigrant communities have helped shape LA into a beautiful tapestry of diversity. Those who call LA their home are so fortunate to be exposed to so many different cultures and identities. But what about the families that called and continue to call the LA basin and it's surrounding regions their home for thousands of years now? Well people, I gotta break it to you, but the clear winners of the LA "native contest" are the Tongva (Gabrieleño). They are one of the original stuards and original peoples of this beautiful region. The Tongva have a rich history in the area that spans 3,500 years. They belong to the great Uto-Aztecan language family and originated in what is now the state of Nevada prior to their migration into coastal Southern California. It is important to note that the Tongva viewed humans as one strand in the web of life and not as the apex of creation. This belief system helped the Tongva live in perfect harmony with Mother Nature and engage in cultural practices, such as cultural burns (a traditional indigenous land management practice that involves the use of controlled fire to achieve specific cultural and environmental goals), which helped aid this concept of perfect harmony. Also, the Tongva were an advanced society which engaged in complex trade with far-away lands, produced very intricate and detailed basketry, were experts in canoe building, were experts in travel by sea, and they had a rich belief system, just to name a few.
Some of the ways I show my appreciation for the Tongva and their rich heritage is by frequenting sacred and historical Tongva sites, making traditional Tongva instruments, preserving various Tongva cultural practices, teaching people about their rich history, and engaging in photography.
Many of LA's city names and street names stand as a testament to the Tongva and have thankfully been preserved. Some of which include: Cahuenga Blvd, City of Topanga, City of Tujunga, City of Pacoima, City of Azusa, and City of Rancho Cucamonga. There are also important historical, sacred, and natural sites in the area which also bare Tongva names such as Hahamongna Watershed Park, Tongva Peak, Kuruvungna Springs, Puvungna Sacred Site, Yaanga Village Site, etc.
View of the LA basin, from one of Tongva Peak's many beautiful lookouts. To the right is the LA river, which was utilized by the Tongva for thousands of years as a travel route and as a source of sustenance. To the far distance is the beautiful Pacific coast, which provided the Tongva with fresh seafood and a link to their island communities on the Southern Channel Islands (Islands of Santa Catalina, San Clemente, Santa Barbara, and San Nicholas).
What many don't know is that the Tongva became a minority on their own ancestral lands as a result of genocide, colonization, missionization, and forced assimilation. The Gaspar de Portola expedition of 1769 marked the beginning of Spains colonial expansion into California. This greedy act of colonization changed California forever and resulted in the destruction of entire indigenous socities. Gaspar de Portola was a Spanish Army officer and a colonial administrator who was born in Spain and he was accompanied by the Franciscan padre Junipero Serra, who was also born in Spain. Within two years of the expedition, Junipero Serra established four missions in Alta California, which included Mission San Gabriel Arcangel (established in 1771 and rebuilt in 1774) and Mission San Fernando Rey de España (established in 1797). The Tongva were forced into the mission system, endoctrinated, enslaved, and forced to adopt the Spanish way of life. Tribal members who were ensalved at Mission San Gabriel were referred to as "Gabrieleños", meanwhile tribal members who were enslaved at mission San Fernando were referred to as Fernandeños.
Although Mission San Gabriel evokes a sense of romance and charm for it's many visitors, it stands as a result of slave labor. It serves as a reminder, that colonization and genocide played a major role in the formation of modern day Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, the plight of the Tongva doesnt end there. Once the Spanish were kicked out and the Mexican government moved in, they subjected the missions to secularization, thus forcing the missions indigenous inhabitants to seek lives outside the mission system. The Mexican rancheros soon inherited the Spaniards policies of ensalving the Tongva and overworked many of them to death with no pay. Eventually, the Mexican-American war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. This treaty meant that Alta California was now a part of the United States of America. Gold was discovered that same year in California, which resulted in the next wave of genocide and colonization. Americans swarmed the entire region in search of gold butchering any remaining Tongva that they encountered. The government would ultimately fund this act of genocide by paying colonists to carry out scalpings and butcher entire villages. "Kill the Indian, save the man" was the slogan which echoed throughout much of California's American communities during this awful era. Eventually, any Tongva that remained, were either absorbed into LA's Mexican communities or forced into Indian boarding school's. One prominent Indian school was "Sherman Indian school" in Riverside, California. Tongva youth were forcefully sent there to forget their heritage and adopt the American way of life, often being subjected to harsh conditions and cruelty.
My sketch of a Tongva woman sitting in her village, with the majestic Tongva Peak (Verdugo Mountain Range in Glendale, California) behind her.
I hope that this article helps you see the topic of "being a native of LA" from a difference lens. Although it is important to recognize and aknowledge the individuals and the diverse communities which have contributed to the development of Los Angeles, I believe that it is an obligation to also educate ourselves about the original people who inhabited and continue to inhabit this beautiful region for thousands of years. I would like to say "aweshkoneha" (thank you in the Tongva language) to the great and proud Tongva people, the original people of Tovaangar.
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