Native Americans

Gabrielino/Tongva
by Lujain H.

(Excerpts of report)

The Gabrielino/Tongva are native Americans who lived around the present day Los Angeles area. They were called the Gabrielino in reference to Mission San Gabriel Arcangel. Many Tongva people prefer not to be called Gabrielino as this is the name Europeans gave them and not their true name.

Before European explorers arrived in California, the American Indians lived in thousands of groups called bands. Most bands contained between fifty and five hundred people. Each band had its own language customs, and traditions. Each also had its own native name and its own territory.

Each band of people lived in a village group. A village group was made up of one or more large villages, surrounded by small villages. Although the people of most village groups had similar ways of life, there were still important differences among them. Some bands lived along the coast, and others inland. Territories were large and included fishing, hunting, and gathering spots.

The groups living along the coast include the Chumash, the coast Miwok, the Gabrielino/Tongva, the Ohlone, the Pomo, and the Salian people.  This report describes the lives of the Gabrielino people as they lived before European explorers arrived to settle California in the 1700's.

The Gabrielino/Tongva language belonged to the Uto-Aztcan language family but they often spoke their own dialects, or versions of the language. The Gabrielino/Tongva language is known today simply as Gabrielino.

The Tongva people lived in tule thatched houses which were hemispherical, or shaped like cones. They had a open smoke hole for ventilation and light at the top. Some were 15 to 50 ft. in diameter and could be homes for one family or more depending on the size.

The Gabrielino knew where to find animals that would provide their families with meat and other important materials. In summer, they traveled to their inland territories to hunt a variety of animals, including elk, deer, antelope, rabbits, raccoons, and squirrels. Inland bands also traveled to the coast to hunt sea otters, sea lions, and other sea mammals. For luck, some hunters didn't eat certain foods for  a few days before a hunt. They also knew the best fishing locations and returned to them every year. Many people caught salmon and trout from rivers, streams, and creeks. Some fished from canoes and rafts with hooks and nets, traps, or spears. People also knew where to collect plants they needed for food. They gathered acorns, berries, seeds, bulbs, and roots, as well as bark, grasses, and plant fibers.

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