Thread started by JB at 12.11.08 - 12:17 pm

Those of you with some free time Saturday afternoon might find this worth biking over to...

December 11, 2008
Contact: Nate Kaplan-(213) 473-7011

GABRIELINo TONGVA remains TO BE REBURIED
THIS WEEKEND AT PLAYA VISTA

Who: Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl
Members of the Gabrielino Tongva Indians of CA
Members of the San Gabrielle Band of Mission Indians
Members of the Carmelo Group
Members of the Candelaria Group

When: 2:30 p.m. - Remarks by Rosendahl and tribal leaders
2:45 p.m. - Inter-tribal March
Saturday, December 13, 2008
*Rain or Shine

Where: 13160 Bluff Creek Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90094

What: Marking an end to years of controversy, an historic congregation of Native American tribes will gather Saturday to celebrate the reburial of ancestors whose remains were disturbed during construction of Playa Vista.

In private ceremonies, Native Americans representing many tribes will witness the reburial of the remains of 1200-1400 Gabrielino Tongva Indians. The solemn ceremonies will be followed by a public inter-tribal procession, including offerings, songs and prayers at the burial mound.

The reburial comes after years of disputes among developers, various tribes, archeologists, and government agencies over the handling of the remains, and the timing and the location of their reburial. Saturday’s ceremonies are being organized by Robert Dorame, who was designated the “Most Likely Descendent” by the California Native American Heritage Commission.

“This will be a beautiful ceremony to commemorate that our ancestors’ journey has finally come to an end,” Dorame said. “Rather than sitting on shelves in cardboard boxes, they will be at rest, at home, in sacred ground.”

After being discovered during construction of Phase I of the Playa Vista project, the remains of Dorame’s ancestors had been in storage, under the supervision of the developer’s archeologists, for several years. After years of controversy, City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl helped Dorame broker an agreement that expedited the reburial, which might not have occurred until 2011.

Dorame chose a reburial site on a plot of Playa Vista land at the base of the Westchester Bluffs, beneath Loyola Marymount University. It is land where the Gabrielino Tongva lived, hunted and fished from 3,500 BC until the 1820s.

Saturday morning, Native American Indians from all over California will congregate at the site to for the reburial and several private ceremonies and prayers. At 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to join an open program that will include remarks from tribal leaders and Rosendahl, as well as procession of various tribes to the burial mound for final prayers and offerings.

Rosendahl said he was pleased to help the Gabrielino Tongva finally find a permanent resting place for their ancestors.

“I have said consistently that I would not rest until the ancestors are at rest.” Rosendahl said. “We must respect the dead, and our obligations to them are sacred. I want to thank Playa Vista and each tribe involved for their cooperation. At long last, the remains of those who walked these grounds before us are finally at peace.”

Note: Photography and cellphone use will be forbidden during a portion of public ceremonies closest to the sacred burial mound.


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H'mm, sounds interesting.

To think that all those years ago, Native Americans were living traditionally where all this modern development now stands.

Same goes for pretty much, all other metro-areas within the country.

This is basically why I'm liking smaller, desert towns more and more.

They just never seem to have lost touch with the past.



bentstrider
12.11.08 - 1:53 pm

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This sounds pretty good. I'm going to try to make this.

Looks like the remains are good for at least 100 years. Then they'll be dug up again due to encroachment.



User1
12.11.08 - 9:56 pm

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If only an actual curse befell those that actually disturbed hallowed ground.

I mean,why is it that sites of this type of significance are still barren and/or protected out in Plains states, but everything was so easily plowed over out here?

Sometimes, the "Fear of God" tends to make people want to lave shit better off alone.



bentstrider
12.11.08 - 11:02 pm

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I WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER SET FOOT IN A WALMART!!
Many reasons, but THIS ONE SEALED THE DEAL:

Wartmart 'removed' a Native American burial mound just off the 101, in San Lius Obispo, so that people, in their CARS, could see the Wartmart from the highway!!

THAT, IS FUCKING SICK! WHAT THE FUCK IS IN THE DRINKING WATER THERE IN BENTONVILLE AK??
Some other moves by Wartmart:
http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/05/27/news/story4.html

http://somenamedia.blogspot.com/2005/12/prog-bloggers-we-need-your-help.html




Gern
12.12.08 - 3:05 pm

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THEY HAVE CRACK IN THE DRINKING WATER THERE IN BENTONVILLE AK??




Debut213
12.12.08 - 6:23 pm

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