Tongva

The Tongva People

The Tongva are an indigenous people of California from the Los Angeles Basin and the Southern Channel Islands. Long ago, they lived in many villages in a big area of Southern California. Their land reached from near Topanga and Malibu all the way south to Aliso Creek in Orange County.

When Spanish explorers first arrived, they met the Tongva. The Spanish later built missions, which changed life for the Tongva people. Even though times became difficult, the Tongva descendants kept their culture alive. Today, groups of Tongva work to honor their history and protect their heritage. They also try to bring back some of their traditional lands.

The Tongva lived near the ocean and used special boats called te’aat to travel between the mainland and islands like Catalina Island. These boats were very important for trading. They gathered food from nature, like acorns, fish, and fruits, and shared it in their villages. The Tongva made many useful things from natural materials, such as baskets and tools.

Many places in Southern California have names from the Tongva people. Some of these places are Pacoima, Tujunga, Topanga, and Rancho Cucamonga. The Tongva have worked hard to protect important spots to them, like Tongva Sacred Springs in West Los Angeles and Puvungna in Long Beach. These places remember their history and culture.