Tongva Return the Land Fund

In 1851, the U.S. government signed and broke treaties with the Gabrieleno/Tongva promising 1.55 million acres (over ½ of LA County) of our 2.56 million acre ancestral territory. 171 years later, we launch the Return the Land Fund, to raise an initial and symbolic, $1.55 million for Tribal housing subsidies, land, plant, relative return, and cultural revitalization. $1 for every acre promised is meaningful and also so little; land has been commodified so much our own people can't afford to live in our ancestral land.

We can't collectively continue our culture or stewardship of the land if we can't afford to live here. We need to give Tribal members secure housing so we can come together on Tovaangar again. – Samantha Morales Johnson, Tongva Land Return Coordinator

Tongva Tribal Members steward less than .000001% of our ancestral territory.

For contributions over $1000, checks can be made to the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy, PO Box 608, Claremont, CA 91711. Please write “Return the Land Fund” in the Memo. If you'd like to discuss a significant contribution, contact Ian@tongva.land

Tongva people are and have been in Tovaangar / LA basin since time immemorial; many people now call this place home. For Tongva Tribal members to return to and steward this land, we need the support of tehoovet kuuyam / good guests who live here. Tongva Land has been made a place of dreams because of active care-taking by the hosts of this land. We enthusiastically invite you to reflect on your reciprocity by sharing land and resources with Tongva people who are still here for this generation and those to come.

The Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy is a Tongva-led 501c3 created to steward lands in Tovaangar, the greater LA basin. The Conservancy received land back this year for the first time in LA (see LA times article), is creating community and housing Native people, practicing ceremony, archiving, and rematriating the land. Our EIN is 87-1422866. All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you! Aweeshkone xaa!