“If I could shape these lands, I would create a designated place of gathering for my family to camp, hike, and pass down our knowledge. A place we belong.” -FTBMI Tribal Citizen
For the Fernandeño Tataviam people, all land is sacred. From the deserts of the Antelope Valley, to the chapparal of the Santa Clarita and Simi Valleys, to the urban/suburban sprawl of the San Fernando Valley, FTBMI Tribal Citizens have cultivated relationships to the land for many thousands of years– relationships that continue to this day.
In a recent Community Planning Day hosted by the Tataviam Land Conservancy, FTBMI members opened up about their multifaceted connections to land. “The village areas of Piinga, Chaguayanga, Passenga, and Tujunga,” shared one participant, “these are the cities that my family has many fond memories of visiting, living and feeling mostly belonging to. In this, memor[ies] were passed down to feel proud of where we all felt at home.” While reflecting on their homelands, many participants shared words such as “sanctuary, home, family.” They described the foothills, elderberry trees, birds, mountains, sage, hawks, snakes, coyotes, and water skeeters embedded in the landscape.
Because of the persistent effects of colonization, Tribal people have been denied access to many cultural spaces that their ancestors enjoyed throughout Tataveaveat (“Tataviam Country”). One Tribal elder expressed this deep sense of loss, saying: “There is a cistern where we would go and get water; it’s still there, and it is so beautiful that our ancestors built that, but it is closed now, and we can no longer access it.” Financial burdens, cultural displacement, and a colonial system of land ownership has prevented many from accessing and enjoying safe spaces to practice their culture.
Today, TLC is working to regain that access and protect important cultural spaces. As the organization evolves, one thing remains clear: land rematriation is the only way for both the natural and human environments to heal from the effects of colonization.
Have a land donation opportunity in northern Los Angeles County? Check out our Contact Form to get directed to the right team member.
