GABRIELINO/TONGVA NATION
ABOUT US
We are the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation.
We are the aboriginal tribe of the Los Angeles Basin and the true First Angelenos. Our traditional homelands encompassed Los Angeles County and the islands of Santa Catalina, San Nicholas, San Clemente, and Santa Barbara, from Topanga Canyon to Laguna Beach and from the San Gabriel Mountains to the sea.
ABOUT USOUR STORY
"Our ancestors have nurtured our Los Angeles County homelands since time immemorial.
“Now is the time for federal recognition. We aren’t just part of the past, but a vibrant force today, fighting to be seen.”
— Sandonne Goad, Tribal Chairwoman
SOVEREIGNTYTRIBAL GOVERNMENT
Peo’tskome
Meet the guiding force of the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation: our Tribal Council.
Led by Chairwoman Sandonne Goad, our Tribal Council aims to strengthen and safeguard the legacy and future of the Tongva people.
Sandonne Goad
Adam Loya
Ed White
Joey Aguirre
Cody Blunt
Reuben Dominguez II
Patricia Neminski
Regina Murillo
TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS
The Gabrielino/Tongva Nation has deep-rooted traditions tied to the land and sea. Our ancestors were proficient hunters, gatherers, and fishermen, with a diet rich in local fauna and flora. Noted for our craftsmanship in basketry and pottery, we hold a profound respect for nature and the sea.
Today, we continue to preserve and revive our rich cultural heritage, passing traditions on to future generations.
HISTORY
The Gabrielino/Tongva Nation inhabited the Los Angeles Basin and four Southern Channel Islands from time immemorial. Our lands once consisted of more than 1.5 million acres. While we are more widely known by our connection to the San Gabriel Mission beginning in 1771, our existence pre-dates that enslavement and can be traced back as far as 6000 BC, when Quaoar created the world through song and dance. Over 2,000 archaeological sites identified in the Los Angeles County Basin attest to our longevity.
OUR TIME IS NOW
The Gabrielino/Tongva Nation has been recognized by the State of California, The California General Assembly, and the City Council of Los Angeles. It is long past time for us to be formally recognized by the Federal government of the United States.
As a federally recognized Tribe, the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation will have the right to self-government, and will be eligible to receive certain federal benefits, services, and protections including access to job training programs, social services, access to health care at Indian Clinics, and more. Importantly, we will also be able to rightfully claim and repatriate our ancestors’ remains, practice our religious traditions with full freedoms, and have economic self-determination for our community.
