When Kimberly Morales Johnson gazes up toward the San Gabriel Mountains, she sees the story of her community, the Tongva, Los Angeles’ first people, written on the granite. Its canyons served as trading routes, connecting the flourishing communities of the Los Angeles Basin with Native communities from the Mojave desert. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)Without land ownership, carrying out ceremonial practices — such as solstice and equinox rituals, as well as mourning ceremonies for the community’s dead — has been difficult for the Tongva community. Los Angeles County is also looking to improve access for Indigenous people to perform rituals in wildland areas, such as the gathering of indigenous plants for ceremonies. Including legal fees and escrow fees, the Tongva community paid $20,000 for the parcel.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 11, 2022 00:28 UTC