A land donation to the Tataviam Land Conservancy (TLC)  marks a historic return of hundreds of acres of ancestral land back to Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (Tribe).

The land donation of over 500 acres from Land Veritas, marks a historic moment for the Tribe, regaining ownership and stewardship of a portion of its original territory for the first time in over a century. 

“We are deeply grateful to Land Veritas and Tracey Brownfield for reconnecting us to our ancestral territory,” said Rudy Ortega, Jr., President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. “The significance of this donation goes beyond property ownership. It’s a restoration of heritage and a commitment to environmental stewardship.”

The Tataviam tribe’s history is notably intertwined with Santa Clarita, with the original territory spanning 1.5 million acres extending from the Antelope Valley to the coastal city of Malibu. Through land dispossession, the Tribe’s territory was reduced to nothing by 1900, according to the TLC.

The land is currently in an unannounced portion of northern Los Angeles County and adjacent to an existing environmental mitigation bank. A small portion of the acreage includes unpaved roads and a building pad. The Tribe announced intentions to use a portion of the unpaved roads and building pad for educational instruction.

“Protecting this land and preserving its natural splendor from development have been personal priorities for me,” said Tracey Brownfield, President of Land Veritas. “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.”  

The land donation follows a recent historic agreement with California State Parks to formalize cooperation and collaboration in the management and protection of natural and cultural resources and interpretation for state parks within the Tribe’s ancestral lands.

Future announcements can be found here. 

Who are the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians?

The Fernandeño 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. Today, the Tribal Administration Office is in San Fernando, CA. FTBMI was originally recognized in 1892, when a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney recommended that the federal government take action for Fernandeño land rights under the Mission Indian Relief Act of 1891. For more information, visit the FTBMI’s website.

Tataviam Land Conservancy?

The Tataviam Land Conservancy is a non-profit organization focused on protecting the traditional territory of the Fernandeno Tataviam people through protective land management, cooperative agreements, and innovative cultural and educational programming.

The citizens of the Tataviam tribe were the first inhabitants of the northeast San Fernando Valley and, like other native people in the Los Angeles basin, were the first people of Los Angeles, the builders of the missions, and the builders of Pueblo Los Angeles. The rich culture and history of Los Angeles County begins with Tataviam tribal ancestors.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.