LOS ANGELES — On Saturday, the Presbytery of San Gabriel and the Gabrieleno-Tongva Band of Mission Indians gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking act of reparative justice.

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The Presbytery of San Gabriel officially returned land previously used as the Presbytery’s La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, led by the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council under Chief Anthony Morales. This marks the first-ever land back transfer by a church in California to an established tribal government, and the first of its kind in California and Los Angeles County.

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The land, located within a mile of the historic San Gabriel Mission, the fourth mission built in California, is part of the ancestral village of Siban'gna, a sacred site for the Tongva people. For decades, the historic tribe of Los Angeles, led by the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council, has operated its tribal office on this land in partnership with La Casa, maintaining cultural continuity and stewardship despite centuries of displacement. La Casa de San Gabriel, founded by Presbyterian pastor the Rev. César Lizárraga and his wife Angelita, provided varied services for the community, especially the Latino community, for almost 80 years as a mission of the presbytery.

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Referring to the return of the site, Chief Morales said, “This is more than a gift; it’s a recognition of truth, history and healing. To receive land back on our ancestral village, near the very mission that symbolizes our people’s colonization, is a powerful act of justice.”

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Saturday’s events included a Presbyterian worship service followed by a Gabrieleno-Tongva celebration.

During the worship service, the Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of the Center for the Repair of Historic Harms, led the Prayer of Confession adapted from The Rev. Canon Deborah J. Royals of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, offered a sermon where she reflected on the day’s historic event.

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The service concluded with an exchange of symbolic gifts between the presbytery’s administrative commission that implemented the transfer of the land and members of the Gabrieleno-Tongva Tribal Council, led by Chief Anthony Redblood Morales. The moderator of the administrative commission is the Rev. Dr. N’Yisrela Watts-Afriyie, and the commission includes Elder Mona Morales Recalde, a ruling elder of La Verne Heights Presbyterian Church, an elected commissioner with the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission, and an enrolled member of the Gabrieleno-Tongva Band of Mission Indians.

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Rev. N’Yisrela Watts-Afriyie, Moderator of the La Casa de San Gabriel Administrative Commission, receives a blanket from Samantha Morales Johnson Yang, Cultural Preservation Officer with the Gabrieleno-Tongva Band of Mission Indians. (Photo by Kristen Gaydos)

Following the worship service, Chief Morales led a Tongva celebration that included a prayer in Four Directions, remarks from local dignitaries, and celebratory dances from the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Dancers, a group that was organized to honor and preserve the tribe’s traditions.

The presbytery’s decision to transfer the land comes at a time when Los Angeles is seeking hope and reconciliation amid severe challenges, including the Eaton Fire in January in nearby Altadena and the illegal ICE raids against immigrants. This land back initiative is a direct action of reparation for past harms inflicted during the missionization and colonization of Native peoples in California. It reflects a growing movement among faith communities to confront their historical roles and make material steps toward restoration.

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“The Earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it,” said the Rev. Wendy Tajima, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of San Gabriel. “We are honored to return this land to its original stewards and to stand in solidarity with the Tongva people in their journey of healing and sovereignty.”

The site will continue to serve as a hub for tribal governance, cultural education and community and ceremonial gatherings. Its proximity to the San Gabriel Mission underscores the historical significance of this return, offering a tangible step toward reconciliation between Indigenous communities and religious institutions.

 

Andy Morales of the Gabrieleno-Tongva Band of Mission Indians offers a Four Directions prayer. (Photo by Kristen Gaydos)

This historic transfer sets a precedent for churches and organizations across California and beyond to engage in land back efforts and reparative justice, acknowledging the enduring presence and rights of Native peoples.

The Presbytery of San Gabriel is a regional body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), committed to discipleship, justice, reconciliation and community engagement. It serves congregations across San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County with a focus on spiritual growth and social responsibility. Learn more here.

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The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, led by the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council, has maintained community on their ancestral territory since time immemorial. They focus on cultural preservation, education and visibility.