Land Veritas, a California-based mitigation bank owner, is donating the land to the Tataviam Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization formed by the tribe in 2018. Tribe officials said the donation marks the first time in more than a century that they will regain ownership and stewardship over a portion of their original territory.
The conservancy will explore ways to further preserve the land, which is adjacent to an environmental mitigation bank, including a permanent conservation easement. A small portion of the acreage includes unpaved roads and a building pad that the tribe plans to use for educational instruction.
“We are deeply grateful to Land Veritas and (Land Veritas President) Tracey Brownfield for reconnecting us to our ancestral territory,” Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians President Rudy Ortega Jr. said in a statement. “The significance of this donation goes beyond property ownership. It’s a restoration of heritage and a commitment to environmental stewardship.”
The tribe’s homeland once spanned more than 1.5 million acres, extending from the Antelope Valley to the Pacific Ocean. By 1900, however, tribe officials say they were rendered “landless” through “unjust land dispossession.”
“Protecting this land and preserving its natural splendor from development have been personal priorities for me,” Brownfield said. “I firmly believe there’s no better steward or protector of this land than the tribe. Their profound respect for the environment and cultural legacy makes them the most deserving custodians of this cherished landscape.”
More information about specific plans and uses for the land will be shared by The Tataviam Land Conservancy and the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians at a later date as part of their 2024 planning. The recent announcement builds on the tribe’s recent agreement with California State Parks to formalize cooperation within the tribe’s ancestral lands.
The Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians is a native sovereign nation of northern Los Angeles County composed of a coalition of lineages originating in the Santa Clarita, Simi, San Fernando and Antelope valleys.
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Steve Petzold says
Native Sovereign Nation is a status for tribes that have received official recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Paul says
Now the native will sell the land to Newhall ranch for $$$$$
Lily says
There are some wonderful videos about the history of the Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians; maps, boundaries and history, quite fascinating.
Elisa Frias says
Wonderful. Hopefully they will help us all become better stewards of the land.
Sovereign says
“The Fernandeno Tataviam Band of Mission Indians is a native sovereign nation…”
They are not native.
Louis Leakey says
Nor are you, but by archaeological and cultural standards they were first, so their claim is valid.
Nancy Miller says
Where is this land located?
Tim Scott says
Land Veritas owns the Petersen Ranch Mitigation (land held in undeveloped state as a preserve). That’s the only place I would guess they could come up with 500 acres in one lump, so probably part of that. It’s 4000 acres of mostly ridge land between Leona Valley and AV proper.
I wonder if there are any legal bindings on this donation to prevent the tribe building a casino. They may have a “profound respect for the environment and cultural legacy” now, but that is no guarantee that they always will.
Lynnell Parker says
I live in Elizabeth Lake and I read another article that it adds to the 4000 acre Petersen property for a total of 4500 acres. It could be the property across from the Elizabeth Lake golf course that’s defunct next to the Catholic Church.
Tim Scott says
Huh. Good on Land Veritas if that’s what it is. Donating 500 acres that they already have is one thing, acquiring the land just to donate it is a bigger thing.
Duh says
I don’t care. Just make sure it doesn’t cut off my off roading trails.