Hey Los Angeles, You're on Indian Land!

You know that sayin' "You're on Indian land?? Well, we all are, even here in LA. If you look at where So Cal's cities are today, and where the villages (the Spanish called them Rancharias) were back when, it's pretty much the same spot - wherever there was water and farmable land. Some of the old names, like Tujunga, are still in use, but most have been renamed. By the way, $ contributions for Tongva culture would be most appreciated by http://www.keepersofindigenousways.org

 

Tongva Villages in So Cal

Now this whole thing got me thinking about how repetitious and boring the street names are in L.A. - you folks in Pasadena who have to deal with "Villa," "Sierra Madre," Sierra Madre Villa" and all really feel the pain. So I'm gonna suggest to all you real estate developers that instead of reusing all the old SoCal cliches, that you mix it up a bit with some good ol' Tongva names. Like "Junubabit Street" or "Sibanga Court." To this end, I grabbed this list out of an old mission book, and I think you oughta keep this handy at namin' time.

SAN GABRIEL INDIAN RANCHERIAS

 

Ajuibit Ajuinga Acuxabit Acnrabit Acuranga Amupubit Atababit Achochobit Amuscopiabit Asuesabit Ajuimiabit Acatabranga Batequitos Bonoquin Cabuepet Chaubit Cacayibit Cucamobit Cupsabit Ohibanga Comurabit Comicrabit Chaguayabit Choquayabit Corobonabit Coyubit Guapiabit Guinibit Gebit

Guibabit Guijabepet Geverobit Guaipet Guachpet Guibanga Gorumuga Gonopeapa Guanchia Juiubit Jaibepet Jaisobit Jntucabit laisobit Jajamobit Japchibit Jayabit Jajobiahit Jautbit Jaibenga Juiunga Jutucunga Jeberobit Jurupe Junubabit Jaiocopeabit Judamobit Julagunot Lomquin

Mairobit Mamaita Mujimam Maromabit Mapitbit Naasin Nosabit Nonobit Najayabit Ojiibit Pafbenga Pi mub it Paparabit Pububit Pimocabit Pajbepet Pomoqnin Peotopa Pimicha Pamaibit Picubit Piamubit Paboeoya Pachechero Quisaobit Quinquibit Quinibit Sibapet Seobit

Sapchibit Satucubit Sotaibit Soabit Sibanga Tobpet Topisabit Tucubit Totabit Toibepet Tochonabit Tibajabit Tusicabit Tobanbepet Tameobit Tochajana Toibina Tobimobit Timijahit Tobonga Tobizcanga Taisobit Tomecupna Tujubit Uchubit Ttucubit Vabit