GABRIELENO/TONGVA
Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribal Council of San Gabriel

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The peoples now referred to as "Tongva" once lived a peaceful and civilized life on their Ancestral Lands, which stretch from what is now Topanga Canyon through Aliso Creek in Laguna Beach. Their giant canoes plied the local coast and islands, peacefully trading with each other, with the Chumash to the North, and the Acjachemen to the South. The many rivers and springs in the rich Southern California Coastal Region provided abundant food, water and materials for shelter, contrary to the myth that "this is a desert". Some Tongva names are
Tujunga, Cucamonga, Topanga, Maliwuw, Puvungna.

 
Quiet, peaceful, serene

 
Impresses all

 
A feeling of communion with the ages

Puvungna: Sacred Gathering place, located at the once rich village now occupied by Cal State Long Beach. An island of peace and tranquility in the midst of modern chaos, sacred to the lawgiver, Chun-gich-nish, and his people who still survive and thrive.

The story of Puvungna continues. Cal State wanted to make it into a strip mall, but the then-78 year old Lillian Robles, an elder and "most likely descendant" of the Acjachemen ("Juaneno"), with relatives on both the Spanish and Tongva side, literally slept on the land for two weeks, out-facing the police, university officials, developers, bulldozers revved up in her face, lack of facilities, etc., and saved the sacred site for us and for the future.

Unceasing vigilance is required: each week on Monday at 5 P.M., a meeting is held to re-inforce the importance of the sacred site, and to discuss issues such as the "artifacts" which were dug up during construction of CSULB.
     
Other sites of importance:

Ballona Wetlands in Los Angeles. Once the delta of the Los Angeles River, in the time when there was bountiful living for all, the last remains of the former wetlands are under attack by the Playa Vista developers.

Former Hellman Estate in Seal Beach. The Mesa area reputedly contains many ancient graves of Ancestors overlooking and protecting the wetlands at the delta of the San Gabriel River which were mostly filled in 1960. The ancient burial grounds were typically on dry, well-appointed gentle slopes facing the setting sun. As late as 1959, you could float a small boat or kayak on the wetlands all the way to the housing tract which was built on the heights. Just over Seal Beach Boulevard, there was a powerful village located where the Naval Weapons Station water tower now stands. To the South, 1000 acres of wetlands on Alamitos Bay form the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, blending in to wetlands leading thru Huntington Harbour to the Bolsa Chica wetland complex.

Bolsa Chica Mesa in Huntington Beach. One visit to this peaceful, gentle site gives you a feeling that you must preserve it from the threatened 1235 homes. It too was likely an ancient village.

Back Bay Newport Beach. The wetlands are safe, forming a 700-acre ecological preserve, the heights were criss-crossed by trails and lookout perches for ancient villages. The current "Shellmaker Island" has a Tongva memorial.

ORA-64. Just behind the Back Bay wetlands, there was no development west of Jamboree road. Suddenly, a developer built hundreds of condos where none were before. In the course of construction, 650-800 graves up to 9000 years old were uncovered, which would, by the law, have required the developer to stop activities. Speeding past compliance, the developer "dumped" the bones of the Ancestors in some other place. When the Bear Dancers traversed these sites last year, they could not dance because the "spirits were too angry to be placated".

San Juan Creek, and the "Trestles" surf spot. The steelhead trout has been discovered in San Juan Creek, somehow surviving against all odds. This and other factors have delayed and perhaps stopped forever the toll road which was planned to rip apart this peaceful scene, also threatening an ancient Acjachemen village site.

Pange', ancient Acjachemen village on Pendleton.

ORA-149. On the Coast in Huntington Beach, many artifacts were found, but then reburied.

ORA-86. 16 houses were built on this site on the Bolsa Chica Mesa, bones were found at 16 sites.

ORA-83. Many gravesites documented on this area of the Bolsa Chica Mesa, where a high-density development is planned.

Malibu Wetlands.

Palos Verdes.

The Tongva Council and people care deeply about the health of their ancestral lands and the sacred sites which hold their heritage.

Please check with the Council concerning its position on land.