Tongva (Gabrielino) Tribe Facts. Home region: San Fernando Valley east to the Los Angeles basin to near San Bernardino, Santa Catalina, San Nicolás and San Clemente Islands. Language group: Uto-Aztecan. Mission affiliations: San Gabriel Arcángel, San Fernando Rey de España.

There are over 3,000 Gabrielino-Tongva archaeological sites in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and the Channel Islands. This website is dedicated to finding and preserving the history of the Gabrielino-Tongva Native Americans of California. This site is an ongoing work in progress. Be sure and check back often for latest updates.

Gabrielino Tribe. Historians named the people of this region after the San Gabriel Mission. Nowadays, some Gabrielinos prefer to call themselves the Tongva, or “earth.” THE LEADER Normally, each small village had its own leader. However, when several small villages were grouped near a big one, one

The Tongva (Gabrielino) were considered one of the most wealthy, active, and prosperous tribes in southern California. They were also known as one of the most generous tribes in the region, often sharing their wealth with other less fortunate neighboring tribes. It is through the very act of generosity that would prove to be the tribe’s downfall.