Descendants of the first people to live in the Santa Clarita Valley have begun the process to buy back some of their ancestral land.

The Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians has established the Tataviam Land Conservancy, which primary purpose is to conserve lands within the tribe’s traditional territory for cultural enrichment and educational uses.

The Fernandeño-Tataviam tribe consists of family members who trace their lineage to the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Simi and Antelope valleys prior to the arrival of Europeans in 1769.

President Rudy Ortega Jr. said land conservancies such as the one his tribe has established do two things: bring land back to the tribe that was once historically Indian land; and allow indigenous people to use the designated spaces for ceremonial practices.

Ortega said establishing the conservancy is the first step in what could be a long process.

“We haven’t finalized any agreements,” Ortega said. “We are in the very early stages. But it’s essential for us to try and acquire ancestral village areas or significant sacred sites so we can continue to practice cultural ceremonies and activities with the tribe itself.”

The tribe has a joint partnership with the city of San Fernando where two acres are designated for Tataviam ceremonial purposes. The tribe also has a cultural center off of Highway 2 in the Angeles National Forest called Haramongna.

The conservancy has been actively looking at certain properties in the Angeles National Forest as well in the Simi, Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys. The lands include a 1,100-acre property west of the Chatsworth Reservoir that the tribe has been eyeing for 18 years, as well as 40-50 acres in the Castaic area.

The conservancy’s criteria for land acquisitions include accessibility and cultural significance, Ortega said.

Some sites, such as a more contemporary property in Encino, might have areas used for ceremonies of any type. This particular site has an adobe, which Ortega said has some cultural significance to his family personally: great, great grandfather was one of the individuals who lived there and helped build some of the adobes on the property.

The conservancy also has set its sights on the more prominent San Fernando Mission because of its sentimental value and historical significance; more specifically, the clash between colonists and Ortega’s ancestors, who were forcibly removed from the mission lands.

Peace and Dignity Ceremony 2016 below Ruiz Cemetery. Photo : Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

“Our ancestors’ hands went into that mission to be built,” Ortega said. “It was reconstructed later in time but it was the hands, the sweat, the labor of my ancestors who built that foundation. And that’s why we see its value. And on top of that, it sits on an ancestral village.”

Ortega said it’s difficult to quantify the dollar amount the organization will need to acquire land, as the extent has not yet been determined. The organization is currently revisiting a strategic plan that includes its agreement with the city of San Fernando. Now that the tribe has established the land conservancy, Ortega said it must determine how to transfer the two acres in San Fernando into it. The organization is pursuing funding opportunities by reaching out to other agencies, landowners and individuals for contributions.

“We are looking aggressively at some donors and foundations to funnel some dollars our way,” Ortega said. “We’re also looking at federal and state grants that can provide our organization with a means to protect and preserve the lands.”

Ortega emphasized that the size of the land is not a primary concern for the tribe. What is vital is the accessibility for tribal citizens to carry on their religious and cultural traditions, which can include smoking tobacco – a practice that can present a problem, especially in California where smoking is generally prohibited in public and open spaces.

“That is a religious practice of our tribe,” Ortega said. “But you have a state law that trumps our religious freedom. That’s why we’re so adamant about the conservancy and have reached out to other Native American organizations and conservancies throughout California. We want to have these dialogues and see who’s willing to come on board and help us achieve this objective. And that objective is to preserve the stories and traditions of our people.”

For more information on the Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, visit https://www.tataviam-nsn.us.