01/11/11, Tuesday, on American Indian Airwaves
�A Call to Action: Defending the Tovgna Nation from Religious Dogma�
Today on American Indian Airwaves we will speak live with Cindi Alvitre (Tongva Naton), Desiree Martinez (Tongva Nation), and Wendy Teeter, Curator of Archaeology for the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History) on the recent desecration of at least 100 and more Tongva Nation ancestors at the construction site of the LA Plaza de Cultura y Aretes Cultural Center at Yangna (downtown Los Angeles, CA on 501 Main St.), how the La Plaza De Cultura Y Artes (www.lapca.org) propaganda supports denying there are Indigenous ancestors being desecrated , and how the La Placita Church (http://www.laplacita.org/) is employing the doctrine of divine sovereignty by claiming all the ancestors are part of the church and therefore its property. Both the La Placita Church and the La Plaza De Cultura Y Artes are denying, contrary to church and other agency documents, there are no Indigenous ancestors at Yangna. Tune in for much more.American Indian Airwaves regularly broadcast every Tuesday from 8pm to 9pm (PCT) on KPFK FM 90.7 Los Angles,93.7 North San Diego, FM 98.7 Santa Barbara, FM 99.5 China Lake, or http://www.kpfk.org and every Tuesday from 9pm to 10pm (ECT) on WCRS 98.3/102.1 Columbus, OH.
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SPECIAL NOTICE: weekly shows can now be heard on the KPFK web site (http://www.kpfk.org) under "audio archives" located on the top of the KPFK webpage
SPECIAL NOTICE: weekly shows can now be heard on the KPFK web site (http://www.kpfk.org) under "audio archives" located on the top of the KPFK webpage
Contact:
La Placita Church (http://www.laplacita.org/)
535 N. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
placita@pacbell.net
(213) 629-3101
La Plaza De Cultura Y Artes (www.lapca.org)
501 North Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(888) 488-8083
TO: Members of the Los Angeles Community
FROM: Members of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Community
DATE: January 5, 2010
RE: Removal of 90+ Historic Human Burials at the La Plaza de Arte and
Cultura, 501 North Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Background
“LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes at El Pueblo Historic Monument is a multi-million dollar museum
dedicated to showcasing and preserving the history of Mexicans and
Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles. The museum is housed within the
historic Vickry-Brunswig and Plaza House Buildings next to Our Lady
Queen of the Angels Church (commonly known as "La Placita")...(Molina
2011)” LA Plaza is scheduled to open on April 15, 2011 (Painter
2010). This project is the pet project of Los Angeles County
Supervisor Gloria Molina, First District.
The LA Plaza (see http://www.lapca.org/) is located at 501 North Main
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and is within Los Angeles's first
consecrated cemetery (LA Cultural Monument #26). The cemetery contains
the remains of not only early Spanish and Mexican settlers but also
the Native Americans to whom they were intermarried. The cemetery
opened in 1822 and closed in 1844 when it was determined that the lot
was too small. According to the Los Angeles Archdiocese and other
documents, the remains were to have been removed and re-interred at
Calvary Cemetery.
In 2004, Los Angeles County approved LA Plaza's Final Environmental
Impact Report prepared to comply with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). Project refinements were proposed thus an Addendum
to the Final Environmental Impact Report was prepared and approved by
the County on September 28, 2010 (Sapphos 2010).
The Facts
In late October of 2010 while beginning work for the Campo Santo
Memorial Garden, human remains were uncovered (Painter 2010). Over 40
sets of remains were initially removed and “bagged” while trenching
with a backhoe for a fountain, a fountain that is to celebrate the
history of the Mexican-American people.
As remains continued to be encountered, an archaeologist was brought
on-site to continue with the removal with contextual and
archaeological information inadequately collected and/or destroyed.
Over 90+ remains have been removed to date.
On Dec 29, 2010, an archaeologist employed by the Sanberg Group
notified the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) of the
discovery of possible Native American remains. The remains were
interred with beads and a obsidian “biface” (Letter, Meyers to
Hernandez, January 4, 2010). The NAHC has attempted to investigate the
discovery but has yet to get a response from the responsible parties.
An informant on site stated that the project is “being rushed”, and
that the rest of the remains need to be removed within ten days. This
is a directive that is being given by Daniel Mendoza the on-site
foreman and ultimately coming from Gloria Molina's office and the Los
Angeles Archdiocese. Mr. Mendoza is acting as community contact and
incidentally, also happens to be the brother-in-Law of Gloria Molina.
The Issue
Once human remains were encountered, possible descendants should have
contacted in order create a plan for appropriate removal and reburial.
The Los Angeles Archdiocese has a list of those that were interred at
the cemetery. This did not happen.
Additionally with the discovery of possible Native American remains,
the NAHC should have been contacted by the project proponent, as per
the California Health and Safety Code § 7050.5, so that a Native
American Most Likely Descendant could be designated. This did not
happen.
The Irony
This museum is supposed to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments
and contributions of the Mexican and Mexican-American communities to
the development of Los Angeles. However, the fact that these early
settler burials, the very people the Museum is supposed to be
honoring, are being removed in secret is ironic. The excavation of
this cemetery in a rushed, haphazard and unscientific way, without
community involvement, is a travesty.
Additionally, the possibility that Native American remains are being
removed without participation of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Nation is
illegal under California law. Although the LA Plaza opening on April
15, 2011 is imminent, this is no reason to desecrate burials or
inadequately document this important part of history. Not only is the
Mexican and Native American pasts being destroyed, but also the past
of all Los Angeles's citizens.
Who You Can Do
Please contact the following people, offices and public entities to
ask why these burials are being hurriedly removed, why the most likely
descendants have not been contacted regarding the removal, why the
archaeological information is not being properly documented, why those
who are doing the work are not professionally trained archaeologists
with experience removing human burials. Tell them if they really want
to celebrate the accomplishments of the Mexican and Mexican-American
people, they need to do right by the early settlers and Native
American ancestors interred in the cemetery.
City of Los Angeles
Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor
200 North Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 485-2121
Fax: (213) 978-0750
mayor@lacity.org
County of Los Angeles
Dawn McDivitt, Chief Executive Office-Capital Projects
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Gloria Molina
Los Angeles County Supervisor, First District
Hall of Administration Office
856 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 974-4111
Fax: (213) 613-1739
gmolina@bos.lacounty.gov
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation
Miguel Angel Corzo, President and CEO
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation
1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800
Los Angeles, Ca 90017
(323) 260-3412
Daniel Mendoza
1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800
Los Angeles, Ca 90017
(323) 260-3412
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Bishop Edward W. Clark
Our Lady of the Angeles Pastoral Region
3424 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2202
(213) 637-7000
info@la-archdiocese.org
La Placita Church (http://www.laplacita.org/)
535 N. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
placita@pacbell.net
(213) 629-3101
La Plaza De Cultura Y Artes (www.lapca.org)
501 North Main St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(888) 488-8083
TO: Members of the Los Angeles Community
FROM: Members of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Community
DATE: January 5, 2010
RE: Removal of 90+ Historic Human Burials at the La Plaza de Arte and
Cultura, 501 North Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Background
“LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes at El Pueblo Historic Monument is a multi-million dollar museum
dedicated to showcasing and preserving the history of Mexicans and
Mexican-Americans in Los Angeles. The museum is housed within the
historic Vickry-Brunswig and Plaza House Buildings next to Our Lady
Queen of the Angels Church (commonly known as "La Placita")...(Molina
2011)” LA Plaza is scheduled to open on April 15, 2011 (Painter
2010). This project is the pet project of Los Angeles County
Supervisor Gloria Molina, First District.
The LA Plaza (see http://www.lapca.org/) is located at 501 North Main
Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 and is within Los Angeles's first
consecrated cemetery (LA Cultural Monument #26). The cemetery contains
the remains of not only early Spanish and Mexican settlers but also
the Native Americans to whom they were intermarried. The cemetery
opened in 1822 and closed in 1844 when it was determined that the lot
was too small. According to the Los Angeles Archdiocese and other
documents, the remains were to have been removed and re-interred at
Calvary Cemetery.
In 2004, Los Angeles County approved LA Plaza's Final Environmental
Impact Report prepared to comply with the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA). Project refinements were proposed thus an Addendum
to the Final Environmental Impact Report was prepared and approved by
the County on September 28, 2010 (Sapphos 2010).
The Facts
In late October of 2010 while beginning work for the Campo Santo
Memorial Garden, human remains were uncovered (Painter 2010). Over 40
sets of remains were initially removed and “bagged” while trenching
with a backhoe for a fountain, a fountain that is to celebrate the
history of the Mexican-American people.
As remains continued to be encountered, an archaeologist was brought
on-site to continue with the removal with contextual and
archaeological information inadequately collected and/or destroyed.
Over 90+ remains have been removed to date.
On Dec 29, 2010, an archaeologist employed by the Sanberg Group
notified the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) of the
discovery of possible Native American remains. The remains were
interred with beads and a obsidian “biface” (Letter, Meyers to
Hernandez, January 4, 2010). The NAHC has attempted to investigate the
discovery but has yet to get a response from the responsible parties.
An informant on site stated that the project is “being rushed”, and
that the rest of the remains need to be removed within ten days. This
is a directive that is being given by Daniel Mendoza the on-site
foreman and ultimately coming from Gloria Molina's office and the Los
Angeles Archdiocese. Mr. Mendoza is acting as community contact and
incidentally, also happens to be the brother-in-Law of Gloria Molina.
The Issue
Once human remains were encountered, possible descendants should have
contacted in order create a plan for appropriate removal and reburial.
The Los Angeles Archdiocese has a list of those that were interred at
the cemetery. This did not happen.
Additionally with the discovery of possible Native American remains,
the NAHC should have been contacted by the project proponent, as per
the California Health and Safety Code § 7050.5, so that a Native
American Most Likely Descendant could be designated. This did not
happen.
The Irony
This museum is supposed to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments
and contributions of the Mexican and Mexican-American communities to
the development of Los Angeles. However, the fact that these early
settler burials, the very people the Museum is supposed to be
honoring, are being removed in secret is ironic. The excavation of
this cemetery in a rushed, haphazard and unscientific way, without
community involvement, is a travesty.
Additionally, the possibility that Native American remains are being
removed without participation of the Gabrielino (Tongva) Nation is
illegal under California law. Although the LA Plaza opening on April
15, 2011 is imminent, this is no reason to desecrate burials or
inadequately document this important part of history. Not only is the
Mexican and Native American pasts being destroyed, but also the past
of all Los Angeles's citizens.
Who You Can Do
Please contact the following people, offices and public entities to
ask why these burials are being hurriedly removed, why the most likely
descendants have not been contacted regarding the removal, why the
archaeological information is not being properly documented, why those
who are doing the work are not professionally trained archaeologists
with experience removing human burials. Tell them if they really want
to celebrate the accomplishments of the Mexican and Mexican-American
people, they need to do right by the early settlers and Native
American ancestors interred in the cemetery.
City of Los Angeles
Antonio Villaraigosa, Mayor
200 North Spring St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 485-2121
Fax: (213) 978-0750
mayor@lacity.org
County of Los Angeles
Dawn McDivitt, Chief Executive Office-Capital Projects
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Gloria Molina
Los Angeles County Supervisor, First District
Hall of Administration Office
856 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 974-4111
Fax: (213) 613-1739
gmolina@bos.lacounty.gov
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation
Miguel Angel Corzo, President and CEO
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation
1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800
Los Angeles, Ca 90017
(323) 260-3412
Daniel Mendoza
1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800
Los Angeles, Ca 90017
(323) 260-3412
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Bishop Edward W. Clark
Our Lady of the Angeles Pastoral Region
3424 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2202
(213) 637-7000
info@la-archdiocese.org
