Give Honor to Whom Honor is Due Tongva Monument Unveiled at Abalone Cove Park

By Steve Tabor

Longtime Peninsula resident, Tom Steers, takes daily walks along the bluffs above Portuguese Bend, Abalone Cove, and the Point Vincente Interpretive Center. Along the way Steers notices a collection plaques and sculptures had been installed honoring individuals and various forms of sea life. During one such walk, it suddenly occurred to him that there was nothing honoring the Peninsula’s first inhabitants, the Gabrieleno (Tongva) Native Americans.

The Tongva history reaches back over 4,500 years and prior to the Spanish exploration, their territory included parts of Orange County, the Los Angeles basin from the mountains to the sea and the Channels Islands of Santa Barbara (Tehu nash), Santa Catalina (Pi mu), San Clemente (Kin ki), and San Nicholas (Ha rash). They traveled between the mainland and the islands using plank canoes, known as tiats, constructed of pine planks and driftwood, twelve to sixteen feet in length. The planks were lashed together using a type of rope woven from native plants. Tar found on the local beaches filled the holes and gaps between the planks to “waterproof” the canoes.

Spanish explorers arrived in Santa Catalina and San Pedro and were met by the Tongva. Sabastian Vizcaino’s log documents his meeting with the Tongva and describes the meal he shared featuring native foods.

As the Spanish colonization began, missionaries attempted to establish a mission in the San Gabriel area, but they met with opposition from the Tongva and had to change their plans and established the mission near the Tongva village of Sibangna, which is in the current day City of San Gabriel. Mission life nearly brought an end to the Tongva. The Spanish referred to the Tongva as “neophytes” meaning having no previous names or history. Rather than attempting to refer to their individual village names, the native groups were collectively referred to as Gabrielenos. (The Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians maintains the moniker out of respect to their ancestors.)

Throughout the colonization period the Tongva were considered a peasant class by the Spanish. In their apartheid society they were the laborers at the missions and rancheros. Others escaped and fled to various parts of California from Monterey to San Diego often living with other native groups in the remote interior. Many fell victim to a variety of European diseases. By 1840, the last remaining Tongva village was destroyed. In 1852, the Governor of newly formed State of California, issued a bounty to “kill or eradicate Native American men, women, and children.” This forced any remaining portion of the Tongva population into seclusion.

From 1900 to the 1940’s C. Hart Merriam and A.L. Kroeber followed by J.P. Harrington and Constance DuBois, attempted to document and preserve the songs and culture of the Tongva. The Tongva chiefdom continued with Chief Salvador and a center maintaining the Tongva culture was established near the San Gabriel Mission.

In 1994 both the City of San Gabriel and California Legislature pass resolutions recognizing the "Gabrieleno-Tongva Nation" as the indigenous peoples of the Los Angeles Basin with a continuous unbroken history.

Through his research and his community contacts, Steers realized the Peninsula, referred to as Shwaanga by the Tongva, was home to at least fifteen Tongva villages. Steers felt that the Abalone Cove Park would be an appropriate location for the monument, but he realized that in order for this undertaking not only to succeed, but to truly give honor to the Tongva, he need to develop a cadre of individuals from the Tongva community, Rancho Palos Verdes community members and other stakeholders to make this vision a reality.

During his walks, Steers had noticed the Long Family Foundation (Foundation) underwrote some of the plaques and sculptures along the way, most notable was the whale sculpture at the Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center. Hoping to acquire financial support for this undertaking, Steers contacted the Foundation to determine their level of interest in supporting the endeavor.

Along with funding, one of the most important aspects of this project was securing the blessing of the Tongva community. In addition to attending Pow Wows and other cultural events, Steers to turned his Facebook contacts to establish viable contacts in the Tongva community. One of his contacts with Tongva heritage suggested he contact Ms. Julia Bogany. Bogany, a well-respected member of the Tongva community, an Elder on the Tribal Council of the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, and Elder in Residence at Pitzer College, who worked tirelessly to gain recognition for the Tongva and counteract the “eraser” that the colonialization systems have brought to the Tongva community.

Steers recalls that Bogany and he met numerous times over a six-year period discussing the idea of the monument and the intention of honoring the Tongva community. Eventually, the conversation included finding an artist to create the monument. Both felt it was important to have a person of Tongva descent to create the monument. Has it happened, Bogany suggested her cousin renowned artist and sculptor, Geri Jimenez-Gould. Not only has Jimenez-Gould created a number of pieces honoring Native Americans, but some of her other creations have been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, British Museum, and the Vatican Treasury Collection. During his visits with Ms. Jimenez-Gould at her studio in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Steers and she began to turn the vision into a reality. They settled on a design that would reflect life at a village along the Abalone Cove coastline. The rendition contains Tongva homes constructed of bent willow branches (kies), a plank canoe (tiat) and villagers going about their daily lives.

Back on the Peninsula, Steers sought the approval of a variety of community resources. Steers recalls sitting at a table at community event with Council Member, Ken Dyda, who was President of the Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society. After listening to Steers outline the idea and learn of his support from the Tongva community, Dyda lent his support. Steers also secured the support from the Los Serenos de Point Vincente volunteer organization.

With the support of the community organizations, Steers found an eager pair of supporters at the RPV City Hall, Cory Linder, Director of the RPV Parks and Recreation Dept., and Daniel Trautner, Deputy Director of the RPV Parks and Recreation Dept. Steers shares, “Both individuals were extremely excited and very supportive of moving the project forward, and seeking the approval of the city council.”

With the assistance of Linder and Trautner, Steers was able to move the project through the RPV City Council (Council). During the initial meeting, Steers was armed with renderings of the monument and an outline of his plan. At Steers final meeting with the Council, he received the Council’s approval to proceed with the project.

According to Steers, “With the blessings from Tongva and key members of RPV, the final step to making the vision a reality was acquiring the necessary funding for the construction.” In order to collect donations, Steers needed a non-profit 501-C-3 organization who could oversee the collection and distribution of the funds. Steers contacted several non-profit organizations in the community, but none of the organizations he contacted were interested in assisting him. Finally, Steers approached members of the St. Peter’s by the Sea Presbyterian Church non-profit organization. They agreed to assist Steers with the project.

After reviewing Steers’ proposal, the Foundation contacted Steers with some anxiously awaited news. Marilyn Long, co-founder of the Foundation, notified Steers that the Foundation would fund, approximately half of the amount needed towards the creation and construction of the monument.

According to Long, “The Foundation was 100% behind the project. Jimenez-Gould is the perfect person to undertake this project! She is a talented artist and her Tongva heritage provides an excellent insight into the Tongva culture and history. Over time we have learned that Abalone Cove was an important place for the Tongva and placing the monument at Abalone Cove properly honors the first inhabitants of the Peninsula.”

After receiving word from the Foundation, Steers quickly set about raising the remaining funds by contacting his friends and family. “Some gave a small amount and others were very generous with their donations. We were able to meet our financial goal with the assistance of fifty-three donors.”

Sadly, prior to the unveiling of monument, Bogany passed away. Fortunately, Kimberly Morales, also a respected member of the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, assumed Bogany’s role in completing the project.

During the unveiling ceremony, Steers acknowledged that this project was not possible without a vision that was made a reality by a convergence involving the RPV City Council and other City agencies, community non-profit organizations, the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, individuals, and monument donors. Steers concludes, “It’s through this amazing convergence that we are able to provide the recognition and honor those to whom it was long overdue.”

Along with Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, RPV Mayor, Eric Alegria, Mayor Pro-Tem David L. Bradley, and City Council Members, the ceremony included Chief Anthony ‘Red Blood’ Morales, and a special tribute to Julia Bogany from her granddaughters. Members of the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians performed tribal songs and ceremonies in honor of their ancestors and the event.

Other Tongva Tributes

The Gabrieleno (Tongva) San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians’ website indicates several tributes to the Tongva. Replica villages are located at Heritage Park in the City of Santa Fe Springs, Mt. Badly at the forest ranger station, and Rancho Santa Anita Arboretum. Other tributes and murals are in the cities of Baldwin Park, San Dimas, El Monte, Santa Fe Springs, San Gabriel, and Long Beach. One of the more unique tributes is a Gold Line Station near the City of Arcadia on the 210 Freeway which incorporated a woven basket design which was created with the input of Tongva basketweavers.

Resources:

https://www.gabrieleno-nsn.us/

Steve Tabor Bio

This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.

Watch for Steve Tabor Images on the worldwide web.