In the Tongva economic system, food resources were managed by the village chief, who was given a portion of the yield of each day's hunting, fishing, or gathering to add to the communal food reserves. Individual families stored some food to be used in times of scarcity.

The Tongva were a friendly tribe, paddling out to greet the first Spanish ships with gifts of nuts, berries, acorns, and seafood. Conflict between villages over failure in gift-giving at ceremonies, abduction of women, poaching and trespassing, or hurtful sorcery sometimes resulted in war.

We fished for sheepshead, shark, barracuda, halibut and many more from our ti’ats (small plank canoe type boats) and the shore; we hunted seal and other ocean mammals; and we harvested abalone, muscles, and clams by diving and using tools to pry these creatures from the rocks.

Teaching the next generation to fish during the Tongva Annual Fishing Day at Shevaanga (Whittier/Whittier Narrows North Lake).

The Gabrielino/Tongva Nation has deep-rooted traditions tied to the land and sea. Our ancestors were proficient hunters, gatherers, and fishermen, with a diet rich in local fauna and flora. Noted for our craftsmanship in basketry and pottery, we hold a profound respect for nature and the sea.

Dec 9, 2024 · Fishing helped the Tongva trade goods like soapstone, abalone shells, and other items, extending their reach from the Channel Islands to the Colorado River, and even as far as the Mississippi River. Acorns were a main part of the …

“To Catch a Fish: Some Limitations on Prehistoric Fishing in Southern California with Special Reference to Native Plant Fiber Fishing Line.” Journal of Ethnobiology 9, no. 2 (1989): 173–99. Find at your local library .

Dec 9, 2024 · Hunting: Deer, rabbits, and small game were hunted using bows and arrows, traps, and snares. Gathering: Acorns from oak trees were a staple food, along with various berries, seeds, and plants. Fishing: Streams and rivers provided …

Nov 13, 2013 · The Tongva First Americans, also known as Gabrielinos, who populated the Ballona Wetlands area, arrived from the east when desertification made the formerly lush Great Basin a less hospitable place in which to live.

The Gabrieleno-Tongva were primarily hunter-gatherers who changed location within the seasons, while the communities on the islands and coastline used canoes, called Tiats, to go deep-sea fishing. Kiiy, the Gabrieleno-Tongva houses, were made of White Willow and Tule reeds on the mainland, while coastal Kiiy were made of whale bones and reeds.