Tongva Cultural Site Field Experience: Mainland Tongva Cultural Location: Santa Fe Springs Heritage Park - Tongva Exhibit

#2 - Tongva Cultural Site Field Experience

Mainland Tongva Cultural Location: Santa Fe Springs Heritage Park - Tongva Exhibit

04/02/22 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm [Weather: Overcast; 67F
12100 Mora Drive, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 (2.1 miles from my house)



Heritage Park - Tongva Exhibit is home to one of California's largest traditional Pow Wow held annually in the first week of November in its twenty-third year. I've attended the last twenty years as an active participant and know the park well.

The Exhibit is a reproduction of what a village may have looked like as their were Tongva villages nearby. The village here named " Chokiishingva" Chokiish for short would have been a village located in the nearby hot springs of now the City of Santa Fe Springs adjacent to the now named San Gabriel River would have bene an ideal location.


Upon entering the entrance to the village guest are greeted by a large willow tree with a thick trunk that splits into two at about five feet braching out to thick branches and various subbranches. The branches then branch out to small branches and long green leaves about half an inch long and 1/4 inch wide. The smaller branches and leaves whisper and wave in the light breeze as a gentle and kind welcome to visitors. Behind the willow tree is a stream winding its way down toward the village giving off a tranquil sound of streaming water going over rocks and crevices delighting the listener.

Waling along a concrete path about ten feet past the willow is the entrance to the village winding its way down gradually about five feet. The view opens up to the village with a circle of tree stumps that make up the ceremonial dance area called a "Harochot" with an entrance and an exit covered at the circle edges with fragrant trees waving in the breeze, again welcoming its guest. One can imagine this circle being used daily for ceremonial dances where the elders teach the young and with joyful passing of stories occurring. To the right of the circle is the large living quarters of a hut called a " Kiche" covered by locally gathered reeds. The kiche stands about ten feet tall and oval shape with enough room to house over twenty people with room. The reed roof keeps the inside cool and aerated.

Beyond the circle harochot and behind the kiche stands a made and ready ta'itreed boat used in rivers with the redwood version used for seafaring to Pimu (Catalina Island). Also present is a "sehiech" sweat lodge and "kwar kiche" storage granary for acorns all covered in local river reeds.

I have had the pleasure to be here during a Native American pow wow that fills this village with spirit. One can hear the ancestors welcoming guest with good felling and fellowship. I take off my shoes to ground myself with mother earth for the first time in the village. However, the ground is more of a replica than actual native ground as it is course with sharp tiny stones so i put my shoes back on but the thought was good. I sit on top of a two terrace amphitheater structure that curves it way in the corner of the village giving its visitors a good overview of the village. With the trees whispering in the wind, birds chirping in joy, and the squirrel looking for an easy handout, it easy to imagine what life was like before the arrival of the Europeans. A time where humans, animals and plants were in harmony and balanced. As a life long camper and naturalist, I yearn for the days of old where daily life was spent on food, sustenance and fulfilling basic needs. The City of Santa Fe Springs has paid great respect to first nation people by this exhibit, many do the contrary. I also reflect on the duality of my heritage, Native American Apache (Arizona) and Spanish who arrive here in 1769. More specifically, my two ancestors, Antonio and Andres Cota father and son team of Spanish soldiers who escorted Father Sierra, Father Crespo and members of the Portola Expedition where in Father Crespo's journal made a notation of having arrive at the foot of the now San Gabriel River about two miles where I stand. I thank my native grandfather for mentoring me and instilling the values and virtues of being Native without which I would have not, perhaps, have had a deep appreciation for all Natives, especially the Tongva today.

Gary Mendez, CA Naturalist

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