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 homela...
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