Yaangna 24 1

Vive! an altar by Kelly Caballero (Tongva), Joel Garcia (Huichol), and River Tikwi Garza (Tongva)

22 3 Yaangna Vive! an altar by Kelly Caballero (Tongva), Joel Garcia (Huichol), and River Tikwi Garza (Tongva) GLENDALE

Many thanks to the Tongva families who’ve entrusted the memory of their ancestors to us for commemoration on this altar. Thanks to our elders, families, loved ones and peers for guidance. We also acknowledge the lives of the man other beings on this altar who we consider our relatives in this world, the sages, the hawks, the bears, coastal flowers, the oaks and all the others who provide food and sustanance for us and who in partnership with took care of these lands known as Yaangna (Los Angeles) and Tovaangar (LA County).2 23

The creation of this altar is generously supported by

Additional support by

@meztliprojects

Tovaangar Woolly Blue Curl (Trichostema lanatum)

Tovaangar (world), home of the Tongva people. • Purple flowers Numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the Tongva had many villages throughout what we MEDICINAL USES now call the Los Angeles Basin, including the Woolly Blue Curl flowers can used to brew teas southern Chanel islands. for their anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as a treatment to sooth a cold, flu, The Tongva, caretakers of this land, had strong headaches and even nose bleeds symptoms. spiritual beliefs and relations with all the plant Tea made from sprigs of Woolly Blue Curls is also and animal relatives long before Spanish came extremely tasty, with a soothing, calming eect. and forced Catholic rule. The Mission system led to genocide of the Tongva people and “I ask this little plant to keep growing with its little assimilation into Spanish, Mexican, and green leaves and its juicy stems, so that it can American culture was the only way for survivors keep giving medicine to many people, so that to carry their stories and traditions. But through with this they can cure their ailments. There are 3 4 plants for many types of diseases: for high 21 it all the people remain. Still here tending to the land, watching over our waterways, holding fevers, for colds, for the stomach, for the back, ceremonies and practicing their traditions. for pains in the waist, for many problems we Honoring all of those who came before and know of there are very good herbs. With these thinking of the generations to come. we cured ourselves in the past; I still use them”

—Teodora Cuero(Kumiai) quoted in Mike Wilken’s “Teodora Cuero, the General of La Huerta,” published in News from Native California, Summer 2008 Tovaangar and the spirits of our Ancestors are still here. It is in every cool breeze, every burst of rain, every leaf floating to the ground. It is in the sun shining over the ocean, it is the vivid blue sky on a clear day, it is the hawk (pakiishar) watching from the light post. It is nature, wherever it can be found.

We honor and give thanks to all our relatives and relations. Our Family, our ancestors, to all the native plants and animals of this land, thank you for all that you have given, I am grateful. I pray for the strength from my ancestors to continue to carry our ways, to care for this land and for our 23 20 people. May we always walk in dignity and love.5

Neschun Achama

From the heart.

Bush Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)

• Yellow flowers

MEDICINAL USES The crushed leaves of the Monkey Flower can be placed on sores and burns to helping heal these wounds. The roots can be made into teas to treat fever, colds, coughs, flus, dysentery, diarrhea, and to minimize hemorrhaging.

FOOD The stalks and leaves of this plants can be used for salads accompanied by berries from Toyon and Manzanita plants.

21 18 RECIPROCITY PARTNERSHIPS 7 Bees and hummingbirds love these plants and help pollinate them. The Yaanga Vive! altar is made up of California native plants with medicinal properties used by many of the Tribal Nations of California as black bear: píyah hónaht remedies. acorn: kwaar An unbroken California Native tradition, acorn gathering and preparation is the foundation of many California ancestral diets and cultures. Once the acorns are completely dried and shelled, they are ground into flour and prepared using various techniques that leach out all the tannic acid. The resulting acorn meal is then used by California Native cooks to make every manner of delicacy: pure acorn mush, high-pro- 6 tein muns, pancakes, cookies, tamales, soups,19 and many other dishes.

oak: wiit

coyote: ‘iitar

deer: shukaat

rabbit: shu’iit

hawk: pakiishar

Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea)

• Red flowers

MEDICINAL USES Hummingbird Sage has many other medicinal uses (including infections, poison oak remedy) – the leaves or flowers make a pleasing tea used for decongestant and is good for sore throats. It contains antimicrobial properties as well.

A warm bath with the leaves is used for rheuma- tism and other joint pains. You can chew on the leaves on a hot day to make you feel less thirsty.

RECIPROCITY PARTNERSHIPS 8 Hummingbird Sage has a strong relationship 17 with oak trees and coastal scrub such as sage and chaparral. It grows best under the share of oaks drawing polinators such as bees and birds. Kasili (Tongva plant name) White Sage (Salvia apiana)

• White flowers with lavender tips

Kasili is one of the most important plants in Tongva culture as it is used in many ceremonies.

MEDICINAL USES White sage has many medicinal uses and can be made into teas to combat colds, tonsillitis, and sore throats. It can also be used as an antiperspirant and as a repellant for mosquitoes.

19 16 California Tribal Nation burn white sage for 9 cleansing and purification. Although this has become extremely popular it has led to the over harvesting of this plant relative causing damage to other plants it grows alongside it. We ask that at this time alternatives to smudging are used.

Fall is the growing season for sage. Harvesting sage during this time is harmful to the plant. Collecting plants on public lands, is prohibited. (Regulation 36 CFR 261)

‘Aapo’ (Tongva name) Abalone Huukat (Tongva name) 17 14 Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) 11 Abalone is the gem of the sea for California Native people. Not only are they a powerful food Wherever elderberry grows, people use the source rich in protein and essential nutrients, flowers to reduce fever, the bark also helps heal but the shells are also used in tool making, open wounds and sores. Gatherers pick the jewelry and decoration, and of course as bowls abundant berries in early summer—but never for sacred medicine to burn within. eat them fresh, as they cause nausea—and cook them down for jams and syrups. Abalone are suering from changing climate and rising ocean tempatures puting them at risk. The sound of rattles and clappers is the sound of Commercial fishing has also endangered them music in Native California. Nearly everyone uses and is extremely ristricted at this time. clapper sticks made from the split stems of the hollow elderberry wood. 9 10 15

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