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Together we preserve our ancestry and educate our neighbors
All enrolled tribal citizens/members have direct lineages from historic San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians (SGBMI) Gabrieleno verified by certified genealogist and church records as directed SGBMI Indian lineal descendants on the California Judgement Fund Rolls (CJFR) of 1953 and 1972 and/or have Certificates of Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
We are the only and original San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, led by the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council, which has been in continuous community and governance since time immemorial. As the original Most Likely Descendants in Los Angeles and Orange County, listed on the Native American Heritage Commission since 1978.
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The "San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians"
was exclusively recognized by the State of California in 1994. We have remained an integral part of the Southern California community. Our presence is well documented. Our existence is preserved in records of the three local Catholic Missions and in the records of localcities throughout the Los Angeles and Orange Counties as well as the Southern Channel Islands. We have cultural and historic sites located throughout the County. Our office still remains near the San Gabriel Mission.
WHY DO WE KEEP GABRIELENO?
Although Gabrieleno is the original name given to us by the Spaniards that colonized our land, it is important to recognize that that is what our ancestors identified as for more than a century. To erase the name "Gabrieleno" is to erase the identity of our ancestors that helped us find our way back to our culture and eventually back to the name "Tongva". We have ancestors buried at the San Gabriel Mission who only knew themselves as Gabrieleno, who carried on our language and traditions and proudly called themselves Gabrieleno. Although we are happy to have found our original name in our language, we could not in good conscience erase the name that our ancestors prided themselves in.
WE ARE THE SAN GABRIEL
BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
Our heritage stretches back beyond the California missions, tracing origins to the village sites of what is now Los Angeles and Orange County. We were colonized through the San Gabriel Mission, where our ancestors are interred. We continue to honor this connection with the San Gabriel Mission as a tribute to our ancestors.The first part of our name, "Gabrieleno," originates from the term the Spaniards used during our time at the San Gabriel Mission. "Tongva," from our native language, means "people of the earth." We use the term "Indian", acknowledging its historical usage and its documentation in government and church records. We are the original Angelenos, and we are here today!
WHAT WE DO
Preserving our cultures and traditions and passing them down to the younger generations of our community is the top priority of our tribe. As an integrated part of the culture of LA, we enjoy performing our dances and educating about our history as the First People of Los Angeles.
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"We learned from our elders to respect life, to respect Mother Earth, to respect the part of our lives that give us life."
- Chief Red Blood Anthony Morales -
