The California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) will move ahead with an investigation into the 2019 dumping of dirt and debris by California State University, Long Beach onto Puvungna land after a unanimous vote on Friday, July 30.
The move comes after Indigenous groups and the California Cultural Resource Preservation Alliance (CCRPA) filed a lawsuit in October 2019 following the dumping.
The lawsuit contends that CSULB violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when it dumped 6,400 cubic yards of construction dirt and debris at Puvungna without conducting an environmental review.
The 22-acre parcel of land at CSULB is culturally, historically, and spiritually significant for the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation-Belardes, the Gabrielino/Tongva people and other Native American groups in Southern California.
“This site is so so important to us,” said Acjachemen Tribal Culture Bearer Rebecca Robles during public comment. “We know that it’s our duty, our responsibility to preserve it for the next generations.”
The commission also voted to file an amicus brief in the ongoing litigation against the university over the dumping.
An amicus brief allows the NAHC to offer information, expertise or insight that the court may consider, according to Cornell Law School.
Over a dozen public comments were heard in support of the investigation and the amicus brief from the Indigenous community fighting to preserve the land and allies to their cause.
“We don’t have very many sacred sites left,” Christopher Tadai Diaz said during public comment. “Puvungna has been a focal point for natives of North America, South America, of all over the place.”
Diaz thanked the commission on behalf of his mother Susan Diaz, a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the university in the 90s to protect the land from planned development.
“I thank you for taking up this fight,” he said. “For standing behind those who are fighting for Puvungna.”
Updated August 6, 2021, 1:57 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect that Puvungna is also historically, and spiritually significant for the Gabrielino/Tongva people.
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I’m surprised that the Tongva are not mentioned as that site is Tongva traditional land and the site of the birthplace of the Tongva prophet Chingishnish, as well as the site of Creation. Leaving them out contributes to the data genocide that excludes them from important legislative and community decisions. Prior to colonization, the Tongva, along with the Chumash, were the largest and most influential of any tribal nation in Southern California.