Celebrating Native American Communities
Celebrating the rich and thriving Native American and Indigenous communities in L.A.
Celebrating Native American Culture and Heritage
The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County are proud to join the nationwide celebration of Native American Heritage Month in November. During this month, and throughout the year, we will share stories recognizing the thriving and diverse Native American community calling Los Angeles home.
Join the conversation on social media by sharing your own stories about Native American culture by using #NHMLA and #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.
Los Angeles County Proclamation and Land Acknowledgement
On November 1, 2022, Los Angeles County adopted a motion proclaiming November 2022 as Native American Heritage Month and a formal land acknowledgment below. It will be used at NHMLAC’s three sites and adapted for use at events at our museums. This is part of NHMLAC’s ongoing work to build relationships and conduct programs with our partners in Native American communities.
The County of Los Angeles recognizes that we occupy land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh, and Chumash Peoples. We honor and pay respect to their elders and descendants─past, present, and emerging─as they continue their stewardship of these lands and waters. We acknowledge that settler colonization resulted in land seizure, disease, subjugation, slavery, relocation, broken promises, genocide, and multigenerational trauma. This acknowledgment demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to truth, healing, and reconciliation and to elevating the stories, culture, and community of the original inhabitants of Los Angeles County. We are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these ancestral lands. We are dedicated to growing and sustaining relationships with Native peoples and local tribal governments, including (in no particular order) the:
- Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
- Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council
- Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians
- Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians – Kizh Nation
- San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
- San Fernando Band of Mission Indians
