After the Mission s were secularized by Mexico , approximately 50 surviving Fernandeño leaders successfully submitted Petitions for land in the San Fernando Valley. In total, the Fernandeños petitioned for, and received, approximately 18,000 acres of land grants from the Mexican government. According to American Law, the land was meant to be preserved under the 1848 Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo, which was weakly implemented. By 1890, the Fernandeños lost all of their land holdings and grants. The Special Attorney for Mission Indians pursued a solution for them through the length of his tenure until 1897 and was publicly and actively engaged in securing the land rights of the Fernandeños, but to no avail.
Federally-commissioned attorneys G. Wiley Wells and Frank Lewis represented the Fernandeños. In October of 1892, when Lewis wrote to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, he made an address to the Lake Mohonk Conference of Friends of the Indians. Reporting on the work of the Smiley Commission, charged with carrying out the terms of the Mission Indian Act of 1891, he acknowledged that despite the Commission’s good work,
Federal recognition was forthcoming or already in place for the Indians occupying all the other lands that Lewis mentioned above, either through federal executive orders or the purchase allowed under the Mission Indian Relief Act of 1891.
Of all the tracts mentioned, however, only the San Fernando Ranch was in the heart of a major land boom, making acquisition of land for a reservation prohibitively expensive.
In 1995, the Tribe submitted its letter of intent to petition for federal acknowledgement. In 2009, the Tribe submitted a petition under the federal acknowledgement regulations of 1994. The Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior began reviewing the petition in 2015, after the Tribe had elected to move forward with review under the revised regulations.
The Tribe had elected to move forward with review for federal acknowledgement under the revised 2015 regulations. This afforded the Tribe an opportunity to submit a supplement to their 2009 petition.
Tribes in the process of Federal Acknowledgement are required by federal regulations to prove they descend from a historical Indian community that pre-dates 1900. In response to the Tribe’s 2009 Petition, the Office of Federal Acknowledgement confirmed the existence of a Fernandeño historical Indian tribe between 1835 and 1847.The Tribe elected to withdraw its petition in order to clarify its claims. The Tribe submitted a new concise petition in July of 2023.
Locations of the Historic Fernandeño Tribe
Note: population images below are for visual representation only and not scaled to size.
ANCESTOR POPULATION BEFORE COLONIZATION
Thousands of Ancestors
The Native Americans of today’s Los Angeles County encompassed four ethnolinguistic geographical areas of Simi, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys. They lived at autonomous villages that were interconnected through trade, marriage, ceremony, and dispute resolution.
Spain moved to secure its claim to Alta California and established Mission San Fernando, which drastically changed the daily lives of the Native Americans who would be called Fernandeños. The Natives were removed from their villages by the Spanish to the Mission to reorganize their economy, government, religion, and political loyalties. The missionaries believed that relocated Natives would be more accepting of Christianity, take up farming, and become members of the government as subjects of the Spanish government. However, documentation by the missionaries show that the Natives were resistant and continued their traditional organization patterns under the guise of Catholicism.
Spain moved to secure its claim to Alta California and established Mission San Fernando, which drastically changed the daily lives of the Native Americans who would be called Fernandeños. The Natives were removed from their villages by the Spanish to the Mission to reorganize their economy, government, religion, and political loyalties. The missionaries believed that relocated Natives would be more accepting of Christianity, take up farming, and become members of the government as subjects of the Spanish government. However, documentation by the missionaries show that the Natives were resistant and continued their traditional organization patterns under the guise of Catholicism.
MEXICANS SECULARIZE THE SPANISH MISSIONS
475+ Fernandeños
The Mission San Fernando began to decline as a result of Mexican secularization, the discovery of gold in the San Fernando Valley, and an increase in migration to the region. Upon secularization, many, if not a majority of the Fernandeños, returned to their original village locations. In 1843, the Fernandeños petitioned the Mexican governor for land, which became known as Mexican land grants or holdings, and were located on or near ancestral villages. The Fernandeños received over 18,000 acres of land.
FIRST CA GOVERNOR CALLS FOR EXTERMINATION OF INDIANS
After the United States took control of California, it was on a mission to eradicate Indigenous nations. In the era of California’s State and Federally funded Genocide and campaign to exterminate California Native American people, Fernandeños lacked U.S. citizenship and yet, fought to defend their lands in local state courts for several decades to no avail.
Under the 1851 Land Claims Act, Americans filed for Fernandeño lands and waters, and were granted them over the protests of Fernandeño ancestors who could not read or write English. Several Fernandeños had cases heard in the Los Angeles Superior Court [for example, see Porter et al v. Cota et al.] but courts didn’t recognize the Fernandeño ancestors’ claims to the land, making it impossible for the San Fernando Mission Indian defendants to affirm rights to land that would have formed the foundation for a reservation.
FIRST CA GOVERNOR CALLS FOR EXTERMINATION OF INDIANS
After the United States took control of California, it was on a mission to eradicate Indigenous nations. In the era of California’s State and Federally funded Genocide and campaign to exterminate California Native American people, Fernandeños lacked U.S. citizenship and yet, fought to defend their lands in local state courts for several decades to no avail.
Under the 1851 Land Claims Act, Americans filed for Fernandeño lands and waters, and were granted them over the protests of Fernandeño ancestors who could not read or write English. Several Fernandeños had cases heard in the Los Angeles Superior Court [for example, see Porter et al v. Cota et al.] but courts didn’t recognize the Fernandeño ancestors’ claims to the land, making it impossible for the San Fernando Mission Indian defendants to affirm rights to land that would have formed the foundation for a reservation.
PANDEMICS & STATE & FEDERALLY FUNDED GENOCIDE
105+ Fernandeños
Many Fernandeños perished from genocide and new diseases. After being kicked off their own lands, some entered into dangerous jobs in the gold rush or ranching, and some Fernandeños endured indentured servitude.
FERNANDEÑOS FIGHT FOR LAND RIGHTS IN COURT
The 1870 census was taken after a decade of turmoil caused the declining rancho industry and the Civil War. The smallpox pandemic desecrated the Fernandeños, who had no previous exposure or immunity to the foreign diseases.
FERNANDEÑOS FIGHT FOR LAND RIGHTS IN COURT
The 1870 census was taken after a decade of turmoil caused the declining rancho industry and the Civil War. The smallpox pandemic desecrated the Fernandeños, who had no previous exposure or immunity to the foreign diseases.
17+ Fernandeños
Following two eviction cases against the Fernandeños by ex-California Senator Charles Maclay, the Fernandeños became homeless refugees on their own homelands. Land was also becoming more desirable due to the available water resources and strategic location along planned transportation routes, thus making it impossible for the Fernandeños to resist the influence of better-financed landowners.
SURVIVORS OF GENOCIDE, PANDEMICS, AND ENSLAVEMENT
The 1900 US Census records the surviving community of Fernandeños. Only 5 Fernandeños families are documented into the 20th Century.
SURVIVORS OF GENOCIDE, PANDEMICS, AND ENSLAVEMENT
The 1900 US Census records the surviving community of Fernandeños. Only 5 Fernandeños families are documented into the 20th Century.
Note: population images below are for visual representation only and not scaled to size.
Due to rumors of Native Americans being stolen and relocated to Indian Reservations, the Tribe organized in the privacy of their homes. Tribal Citizens continued to live in their traditional homelands, many of whom lived down the street from one another. During military service in World War I, Tribal Citizens were enlisted and listed their ethnicity as “Fernandeño.”
FERNANDEÑOS GAIN U.S. CITIZENSHIP
The oldest generations of those who grew up on the 19th century Ranchos continued to oversee their Fernandeño families. Many Fernandeños sought wage work far from the San Fernando Valley to sustain their families during the Depression.
FERNANDEÑOS RETURN FROM U.S. ARMED FORCES
~106 Fernandeños
Many Fernandeños returned to the San Fernando Valley after service in the U.S. Armed Forces abroad. After Captain Antonio Maria Ortega’s death, Rudy Ortega Sr., his grandson, was traditionally appointed as the Captain of his lineage. Upon Ortega Sr.’s return from the war, he organized regular meetings with other lineage leaders.
FERNANDEÑOS REQUEST LAND RETURN
~189 Fernandeños
At the same time that Fernandeños were displaced from their traditional territory due to rising housing costs, they petitioned the U.S. government for the return of land back to the Tribe. At public meetings held around San Fernando, the Fernandeños revitalized cultural practices and raised money to provide services to their community.
RISING HOUSING PRICES DISPLACE FERNANDEÑOS
While Fernandeños were displaced farther from their previous locations due to rising housing costs, they also formalized their government and created an official Council and Constitution. The Tribal Citizen count began to increase as they formalized enrollment practices.
30% OF THE FERNANDEÑOS LIVE BELOW THE CA POVERTY THRESHOLD
~907+ Fernandeños
Traditionally, Fernandeños are enrolled in the Tribe by birth. Since a formal enrollment process was established, the recorded population of the Fernandeños skyrocketed. According to the 2010 Tribal Census, although the majority of the Fernandeños lived in their homelands, approximately 30% lived below the CA poverty index.
Descent from the Historic Fernandeño Tribe
Click images for original photo.
ANTONIO MARIA ORTEGA
72% of the Tribe descends from the Ortega progenitor, Maria Rita Alipaz. Pictured is her son, Antonio Maria Ortega.
JOSEPHINE LEYVA GARCIA
23% of the Tribe descends from the Garcia progenitor: Eugenia Mendez. Pictured is her granddaughter Josephine Leyva.
JOSEPH ORTIZ
5% of the Tribe descends from the Ortiz Progenitor: Jose Miguel Triunfo. Pictured is his grandson Joseph Ortiz.
Record of Support
Congressman Howard “Buck” McKeon, 25th District, California (2012)
Congressman Howard Berman, 28th District, California (2012)
Senator Caroline Menjivar, 20th Senate District, California (2023)
Senator Bob Archuleta, 30th Senate District, California (2023)
Senator Benjamin Allen, 26th Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Steven Bradford, 35th Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Susan Rubio, 22nd Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Holly J. Mitchell, 30th Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Scott Wilk, 21st Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Maria Elena Durazo, 24th Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Anthony J. Portantino, 25th Senate District, California (2020)
Senator Henry Stern, 27th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, 67th District, California (2023)
Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, 56th District, California (2023)
Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco, 64th District, California (2023)
Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager, 54th District (2021)
Assemblymember Richard Bloom, 50th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Autumn R. Burke, 62nd District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Ian C. Calderon, Majority Leader, 57th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Ed Chau, 49th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Laura Friedman, 43rd District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, 64th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Chris R. Holden, 41st District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Byron Jones-Sawyer Sr., 59th District (2020)
Assemblymember Tom Lackey, 36th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, 46th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Anthony Rendon, 63rd District (2020)
Assemblymember Luz M. Rivas, 39th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, 52nd District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Blanca E. Rubio, 48th District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, 53rd District, California (2020)
Assemblymember Christy Smith, 38th District, California (2020)
Los Angeles County Democratic Party (2020)
California Democratic Party Region 11 (2020)
Los Angeles County Young Democrats (2021)
California Department of Parks and Recreation (2016)
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band (2020)
San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians (2020)
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, 3rd District, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (2023)
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (2020)
Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission (2020)
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, 3rd District, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (2019)
Castaic Union School District (2020)
Los Angeles Community College District (2020)
Los Angeles Unified School District (2021)
Fowler Museum, University of California Los Angeles (2016)
President Kelly Gonez, Board District 6, Los Angeles Unified School District (2021)
City of Agoura Hills (2024)
Councilmember Imelda Padilla, 6th District, City of Los Angeles (2023)
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, 7th District, City of Los Angeles (2021)
City of Los Angeles (2020)
City of Glendale (2020)
City of Santa Clarita (2020)
City of Palmdale (2020)
City of Simi Valley (2020)
City of San Fernando (2020; 2016)
Los Angeles-Ventura Cultural Resource Alliance (2016)
Leon Worden, CEO SCVTV; Director Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society (2016)
