To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: LUKE SMUDE, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
TITLE
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AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE GABRIELEÑO SAN GABRIEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS’ PURSUIT OF FEDERAL RECOGNITION
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Gabrieleño San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians has requested a letter of support from the City in their pursuit of federal recognition. In October, Gabrieleño representatives met with the Mayor and City staff to discuss their history in the region and their efforts to obtain federal recognition. The San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians was recognized by the State of California in 1994. On November 10, 2026, the City recognized the tribe through a proclamation acknowledging its cultural and historical significance in the region.
BACKGROUND
The Gabrieleño San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians traces its ancestry to the Indigenous peoples of the Los Angeles Basin and surrounding areas and asserts a continuous tribal presence despite the significant impacts of Spanish colonization, missionization, statehood, and subsequent displacement. Tribal representatives maintain that historical records, enrollment documentation, participation in federal Indian claims proceedings, and longstanding community organization demonstrate continuity of the tribal community through the present day.
Federal recognition for the Gabrieleño San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians would formally acknowledge the tribe's sovereign status and eligibility for federal programs and protections. The proposed letter would express the City's support for the tribe's efforts to obtain federal recognition.
The tribe has been acknowledged by various state and local agencies, has participated in Native American cultural resource consultation efforts, and continues to maintain cultural, ceremonial, and governmental functions. Federal recognition would help provide formal acknowledgement of the tribe's longstanding connection to its ancestral homeland, which included important sites in the City of Redondo Beach.
Federal recognition is viewed as a means of preserving cultural heritage, strengthening tribal self-governance, and acknowledging the continued presence of the Indigenous people native to the Los Angeles region.
COORDINATION
This item was prepared in coordination with the Mayor and the City Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with authorizing the Mayor to sign a letter of support. The staff work required to produce the letter is funded as part of the annual budget for the City Manager’s Office.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Letter of Support for Federal Recognition of the Gabrieleño San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians