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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion and, if Desired, Adoption of the Proposed Statement of Land Acknowledgement Recommended by the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC), or a Different Statement of Land Acknowledgement; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: September 23, 2024
Contact Person/Dept.: Shelly Wolfberg / City Manager’s Office
Michelle Hamilton / Human Resources
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
(310) 253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (09/17/2024), EHRAC, Los Angeles County List of Tribal Contacts (09/18/2024).
Department Approval: Dana Anderson, Human Resources Director (09/11/2024); John Nachbar, City Manager (09/17/2024)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) discuss, and, if desired, adopt the proposed Statement of Land Acknowledgement recommended by the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC), or a different Statement of Land Acknowledgement; and (2) provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
According to the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian, “a land acknowledgement is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native nations and communities. Today, land acknowledgements are used by Native Peoples and non-Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live.”
City staff conducted research on the history of Indigenous People in Culver City. According to the Culver City Historical Society, in 1769, King Carlos III of Spain mandated colonization of California. Further, in 1771, Mission San Gabriel was established, and, at this time, local Native Americans are known as the Tongva, Gabrielinos, due to their proximity to the mission, or more recently the Kizh.
On August 26, 1994, Governor Pete Wilson signed Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 96. As written, “this measure would recognize the Gabrielinos as the aboriginal Tribe of the Los Angeles Basin and would memorialize the President and Congress to give similar recognition to the Gabrielinos.”
At the March 27, 2023 City Council Meeting, then-Vice Mayor McMorrin received City Council consensus from Council Members O’Brien and Puza to agendize consideration of making a formal land acknowledgement to the original Gabrieleño Tongva Indians at the beginning of each City Council meeting.
At the December 11, 2023, City Council Meeting, staff presented examples of Land Acknowledgement Statements from the County of Los Angeles and the cities of Sacramento and West Hollywood for consideration, as well as proposed the below City of Culver City Land Acknowledgement Statement (Attachment 1):
“We acknowledge that Culver City is included in the region of the ancestral and traditional lands of the Gabrieleño Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, who historically inhabited present day Culver City and the region. We honor their connection to this region and give thanks for the opportunity to live, work and learn on their traditional homeland.”
The City Council expressed appreciation for the work done by staff, but also the feeling that additional work was still needed to ensure that the original inhabitants are being properly honored, including community engagement, outreach to tribal organizations for feedback, examination of verbiage, and review by and recommendation from EHRAC.
Additional discussion ensued between staff and Council Members regarding allowing time for feedback from EHRAC, as well as for outreach to and meaningful engagement with the Native and Indigenous peoples. The City Council unanimously adopted a motion to bring the item back for consideration after discussion with interested parties (Attachment 2).
Separately, on December 19, 2023, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) introduced House Resolution (H.R.) 6859, the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation Recognition Act, to federally recognize the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation whose villages were located in the Los Angeles Basin for thousands of years.
Research Performed by the EHRAC Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee
At its February 27, 2024, meeting, EHRAC discussed the proposed Land Acknowledgement Statement that was prepared and presented to the City Council on December 11, 2023. EHRAC initially recommended a Statement of Land Acknowledgement that recognized the role the Tongva people played in this region based on an EHRAC Member’s discussion with an individual who is part Native American and had served as a Board Member of the Gabrielino/Tongva Springs Foundation, a nonprofit organization with the mission of preserving the ancient village of Kuruvungna, including its renowned springs.
In accordance with the City Council’s direction, to gather feedback and conduct outreach, staff emailed EHRAC’s first draft of the Statement of Land Acknowledgment, as approved by EHRAC at its meeting on February 27, 2024, to the following list of Tribes that are listed on the Los Angeles County Native American Heritage Commission Native American Contact List:
• Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians - Kizh Nation
• Gabrieleno / Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians
• Gabrielino / Tongva Nation
• Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council
• Gabrielino Tongva Tribe
Staff received a response from the chairperson of the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians - Kizh Nation. On March 26, 2024, in an effort to generate more feedback and expand outreach efforts, staff sent invitations to the Tribal Representatives listed on the Los Angeles County Native American Heritage Commission Native American Contact List to participate in public comment/e-comment on this item at EHRAC’s April 23, 2024, meeting.
On April 23, 2024, EHRAC heard feedback regarding its draft Statement of Land Acknowledgement from Chairwoman Goad of the Gabrielino Tongva Nation and was given correspondence to review from Chairperson Salas of the Kizh Nation Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians. Based on the public comment and input received, EHRAC voted to create a Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee. The Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee was implemented to explore further opportunities to garner feedback from the Los Angeles County Area Indigenous bands, missions, communities and/or tribes and make recommendations for revisions, edits and/or updates to the draft Statement of Land Acknowledgement.
At the May 28, 2024, EHRAC meeting, the Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee shared its report and findings with EHRAC to explore further opportunities to garner feedback from the Los Angeles County Area Indigenous bands, missions, communities and/or tribes, and make recommendations for revisions, edits, and/or updates to the draft Statement of Land Acknowledgement. The EHRAC Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee requested that staff approach the City Manager’s Office to request additional time to properly conduct outreach to Culver City local Indigenous communities.
At the July 23, 2024, EHRAC meeting, the Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee requested and was provided the responses to previous inquiries requesting clarification and the contact information for the tribes referenced in communications.
EHRAC Recommendation to City Council
At its August 27, 2024, meeting, EHRAC unanimously approved the following proposed Statement of Land Acknowledgement presented by the Land Acknowledgement Ad Hoc Subcommittee for transmittal and recommendation to City Council:
“The City of Culver City formally acknowledges that the land we inhabit today is the ancestral land of Indigenous peoples who have lived here for millennia. The tribes who have historically inhabited, and continue to inhabit, this region include the Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians - Kizh Nation, the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California, the Gabrielino Tongva/San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation, and the Gabrielino Tongva Tribe.
This region holds profound historical and cultural significance for these tribes, who called it home long before the arrival of settlers.
Members of the area’s Tongva tribes refer to this land as Tovangaar, acknowledging it as the original homeland of the Gabrieleño-Tongva people. The Kizh Nation refers to this area as Saangna, meaning ‘the place of the pitch tar,’ and identifies it as the ancestral home of the Gabrieleño people, who were named after the San Gabriel Mission.
The City of Culver City honors the Gabrieleño people-past, present, and future-and recognizes their enduring connection to this land as its original caretakers. We are committed to supporting and uplifting the Gabrieleño people and to fostering a deeper understanding of the histories and identities of all Indigenous peoples in this region. We encourage all residents and visitors to join us in respecting and caring for this land. The City affirms its support for the rights of these Indigenous communities and for the preservation of their cultural legacies.”
The City Council is invited to discuss and consider adopting EHRAC’s proposed Statement of Land Acknowledgment. Alternatively, City Council may discuss and consider the adoption of a different Statement of Land Acknowledgement. If adopted, the selected Statement of Land Acknowledgement would be read at the beginning of every City Council Meeting.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact for the City Council to discuss and/or adopt a Statement of Land Acknowledgement, nor is there a fiscal impact for a Statement of Land Acknowledgement to be read at the beginning of City Council Meetings.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024-09-23_ATT1_CC Staff Report Land Acknowledgement_2023-12-11
2. 2024-09-23_ATT2_CC Approved Meeting Minutes_2023-12-11
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Discuss and, if desired, adopt EHRAC’s proposed Statement of Land Acknowledgement, or a different Statement of Land Acknowledgement; and
2. Provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.