Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

Sovereign Indian Nation of Northern Los Angeles County

Tribal Administration Office
1019 2nd Street
San Fernando, CA 91340
Tele: 818-837-0794
Fax: 818-837-0796
Administration@tataviam-nsn.us
www.tataviam-nsn.us

Hamiinat (HAH-MEE-NAHT)! Ava’aqa (AVAH-AKAH)! Hello!

The distinct community of the present-day Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (“the Tribe”) originated in the lineages, villages and cultures of the period preceding the establishment of Mission San Fernando (“Mission SFR”), from which the natives received the name Fernandeño. Mission SFR was established on September 8, 1797 at the village of Achoicominga and, for years following, enslaved Native Americans from the lineages in the geographically surrounding areas, ranging from present-day Simi Valley, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and Antelope Valley. Today, the Tribe consists of a voluntary coalition of those lineages and the historical Fernandeño Indian Tribe bound together by a Tribal constitution. The Tribe is headquartered in San Fernando, California across from City of San Fernando’s City Hall, and serves over 900 citizens – the majority of whom live within our traditional homelands of northern Los Angeles County.

Traditionally, there was no collective tribal entity above the lineage. Before the founding of Mission SFR, each lineage was autonomous and self-governing, living within villages that were associated with regional areas, or territories, defined culturally by a regional group. Each lineage held territory and maintained political and economic sovereignty over its local area, but was also linked through social exchange to neighboring villages and lineages. The Fernandeños exercised power over territory, self-government, a judicial system, and upheld a network of social, economic, and political ties to other lineages over an extensive area. The lineage system continued as the major form of social and political organization through the Spanish period, and is the primary form of indigenous organization among the present-day Fernandeños.

Under Mexican rule, the Tribe’s ancestors owned and maintained several land grants that were held in trust by the Mexican government, including Rancho Escorpion (Chatsworth), Rancho Encino (Encino), Rancho Cahuenga (Burbank), Rancho Tujunga (Tujunga), which were meant to be preserved in the American period. However, land in northern Los Angeles County, particularly areas with natural water sources, became extraordinarily valuable, and the local state courts were against our ancestors’ claims to the land, which made it impossible for the San Fernando Mission Indian defendants to affirm rights to land that would have formed the foundation for a reservation.

Today, the Tribe represents the continuity of the regional pattern of politically independent lineages related through selected intermarriage and regional ceremonial participation. This coalition consists of three principle lineages traditionally known as Siutcabit, Tujubit, and Kavwevit. As the lineage members were forced to speak English in the late 19th Century, they adopted the surname of their lineage leader. Today, these three lineages are known as the Ortega lineage (representing ancestor Maria Rita Alipas Ortega), the Garcia lineage (representing ancestor Josephine Leyvas Garcia), and the Ortiz lineage (representing ancestor Joseph Ortiz).

 

Tribal Jurisdiction

Map of area in Los Angeles, Ventura and Kern counties showing locations of several dozen historical villages. Text box below map shows traditional brush house and seal of the tribe, which depicts a bear and an eagle and the sun behind a mountain. Text: Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Historical Tribal Ancestral Territory: Tribal boundary depicted is based on the villages from which registered Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians’ (FTBMI) tribal citizens descend. Due to the complex kinship and social exchange networks of our ancestors, the tribal boundary does not include all of the abundant locations associated with our peoples. The yellow shaded area depicts tribal lands that are significant to the FTBMI, but are culturally shared with neighboring Tribal governments due to the natural mobility of ancetral and contemporary FTBMI people.

Free Educational Materials For Download

Text and image collage depicting a village of traditional dwellings, a young man in dance regalia, a gourd rattle, an abalone shell containing sage bundles, and images of Tribal ancestors Tujubit, Siutcabit, and Kavwevit. The lineages of the ancestors are shown converging in the seal of the Tribe used today. Upper text: The distinct community of the present-day Fernandeño-Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (“the Tribe”) originated in the lineages, villages and cultures of the period preceding the establishment of Mission San Fernando (“Mission SFR”), from which the natives received the name Fernandeño. Mission San Fernando was established on September 8, 1797 at the village of Achoicominga and, for years following, enslaved Native Americans from the lineages in the geographically surrounding areas, ranging from present-day Simi Valley, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and Antelope Valley. The Tribe uses Fernandeño as an all-encompassing term to represent the native people of diverse territories who were forced into indentured servitude by Mission SFR during the Spanish period. The distinct regional groups associated with Mission SFR are the Tataviam, Kaivitam, Sivavitam, Mohineyam, Chumash, Atsokajam, Amutskajam, Pipimaran and Akwakwajam. Middle text: Who are the Fernandeño-Tataviam? Today, the Tribe represents a continuity of a regional pattern of politically independent lineages related through selected intermarriage and regional ceremonial participation. The coalition consists of three principle lineages traditionally known as Siutcabit (Ortega), Tujubit (Garcia), and Kavwevit (Ortiz). Lower text: As the lineage members were forced to speak English in the late 19th century, they adopted the surname f their lineage leader. Today, these three lineages are known as: The Ortega lineage, representing ancestor Maria Rita Alipas Ortega; The Garcia lineage, representing ancestor Josephine Leyvas Garcia; and the Ortiz lineage, representing ancestor Joseph Ortiz.

 

Text and image collage depicting an adobe building, Tribal ancestors in 19th century dress, a map of the area around the San Fernando mission showing the location of Mexican land grants, and a traditional brush house. Text: Title: Hello/Hamiinat (HAH-MEE-NAHT)/Ava’aqa (AVAH-AKAH). Upper Text Box: Fernandeño Tataviam Land in Trust: Under Mexican rule, our ancestors owned and maintained several land grants that were held in trust by the Mexican government, including: Rancho Escorpion (Chatsworth), Rancho Encino (Encino), Rancho Cahuenga (Burbank), Rancho Tujunga (Tujunga), and Rancho Patzkunga (San Fernando). These lands were meant to be preserved in the American period under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. However, land with natural water sources in northern Los Angeles County became extraordinarily valuable. The local state courts were against our ancestors’ claims to the land, which made it impossible for the San Fernando Mission Indian defendants to affirm rights to land that would have formed the foundation for a reservation. Middle left text box: Places of the San Fernando Valley: Most people don’t know that many place names in the Los Angeles County are named based on ancient words from various tribal languages of the region. Kavwenga (KAH-WENG-NAH): “Place of the Hill”; Present day: Cahuenga. Pakoinga (PAH-KOY-NAH): “Place of the Entrance”; Present day: Pacoima. Paséki’nga (PAS-SE-KEY-NAH): “Place of San Fernando”; Present day: San Fernando. Siutcanga ( SEE-YOOT-KOON-GA) “Place of the Oaks”; Present day: Encino. Tujunga (TOO-WHOO-GA) “Place of the Old Woman”; Present day: Tujunga. Tupa’nga “Place where the mountains run out into the sea”; Present day: Topanga. Middle right text box: What did our ancestors live in? Takic speaking people lived in round or cone-shaped houses, made out of a wooden frame covered with reeds and brush. Itcam tcö-ki (EE_CHAM-CHUN-KEY) “Our House” Kitc (KEECH) “Brush house.” Lower text box: Tribal leadership: Fernandeño Native Rogerio Rocha was the Captain (leader) of the Fernandeño Tataviam people. He maintained ten acres at Rancho Patzkunga (San Fernando, CA) in the Mexican and American periods for the collective benefit of the Fernandeño Tataviam people until land developer Charles Maclay illegally evicted the tribe. By 1904, Rogerio Rocha passed away as a homeless refugee on his own land. Today, the Tribe homors Captain Rocha with Rudy Ortega Sr. Park, located on the original property in San Fernando. Captain Antonio Maria Ortega, known for joining Rogerio as a defendant in the historic land case of Maclay & Porter v. Cota et al. of 1876, which resulted in further Tribal land loss, is another recognized leader of the Tribe. His grandson Rudy Ortega Sr. was appointed by community consensus in the early 1950s. Today, his son Rudy Ortega Jr. is the elected president of the Tribe.

 

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