In recent years, the County of Los Angeles has been active in both uplifting the true histories of what is now known as Los Angeles County and in prioritizing equity for its communities. On July 13, 2021, Supervisors Hilda L. Solis and Janice Hahn authored a motion to acknowledge and apologize for the historical mistreatment of California Native Americans by Los Angeles County. The motion stated that it is “critical that truth-telling begins with the First Peoples of what is now known as the County of Los Angeles, and that the histories and the people who have been intentionally erased are acknowledged and receive official apologies.”
The motion directed the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission (LANAIC), the Executive Director of Racial Equity, and other relevant County departments to work in collaboration with local Tribes to explore and examine the historical record and relationship between the County and California Native Americans, including the County’s policies, procedures, and practices that may have harmed California Native Americans and to develop a public statement that acknowledges, corrects, and disseminates the true historical record of the County and its respective departments including testimony from local tribal governments and impacted communities and with respectful collaboration and consultation with California Native Tribes.
Over a nine-month period in 2022, the LANAIC, in partnership with the Chief Sustainability Office and the Department of Arts and Culture, met with designated representatives from five local Tribes. A culminating report entitled “We Are Still Here,” A Report on Past, Present, and Ongoing Harms Against Local Tribes includes an accounting of the history of the First Peoples of the region. The report reflects the thoughts, wishes, needs, and recommendations of representatives from the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council, San Fernando Band of Mission Indians, and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The report was submitted on February 16, 2023 to the Board of Supervisors.
Last modified: March 15, 2023