Tovaangar (Tongva: "the world") refers to the Tongva world or homelands. It includes the greater area of the Los Angeles Basin, including the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, northern Orange County, parts of San Bernardino County and Riverside County, and the southern Channel Islands, including San Nicholas, Santa Catalina, Santa Barbara, and San Clemente. The homelands of the Chumash are to the northwest, the Tataviam to the north, the Serrano and Cahuilla to the east, and the Acjachemen and Payómkawichum to the south.
Travel
Prior to European colonialism, land travel through Tovaangar largely occurred through an extensive network of trails traveled by Indigenous peoples throughout the region. Although not often recognized by name, many of these trails became roads and highways that are now used for automobile travel. One of the most significant was the Mohave trail, which connected Tovaangar to nations in the east along what the Spanish referred to as the Colorado River.
Travel over water mainly occurred through tule reed boats for local travel through waterways. For ocean travel, particularly between the mainland and the villages on Pimuu'nga, Kinkipar, and Haraasnga, te'aats or ti'ats were common. These are wooden plank boats built by the Tongva currently in the Ti'at Society that are made air tight with a mixture of asphaltum and hold up to twelve people. A similar boat is the Chumash tomol. The Tongva and Chumash are unique in being the only two nations in the region with plank canoes of this kind.
Land After the establishment of Spanish missions in California and the California genocide, all of Tovaangar has been taken out of the Tongva's stewardship. The Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy has been established for the rematriation of Tongva homelands. In 2022, a was returned to the conservancy in Altadena, which marked the first time the Tongva had land under their stewardship in Los Angeles County in nearly two-hundred years.
Villages
Los Angeles County
San Fernando Valley
Achooykomenga Ashaawanga Cahuenga Ceegenga Momonga Muhunga Okowvinjha Pakoinga Pasheeknga Pimocagna Puntitavjatngna Quapa Saway-yanga Sheshiikuanungna Siutcanga Totonga Tuyunga
Outskirts
Jucjauynga Juyunga Najabatanga Puninga Wikangna
San Gabriel Valley
Alyeupkigna Awigna Azucsagna Hahamongna Isanthcogna Jajamonga Momwahomomutngna Pemookangna Shevaanga Sibanga Sonagna Tooypinga Torojoatngna Toviscanga Uchibit Weniinga
Outskirts
Haramoknga Joatngna
Westside/Central
Comicranga Geveronga Guashna Kuruvungna Maugna Ongobehangna Otsungna Topanga Yaanga
Gateway Cities
Chokishgna Houtngna Huutngna Juyubit Nacaugna Puvunga Sejat Seobit Suangna Tajauta Tibagna
South Bay
Aataveanga Chowigna Engvangna Huachongna Kiinkenga Moniikanga Ongovanga Suangna Toovemonga Tsauvinga Unavnga Xuuxonga
Orange County
Genga Hutuknga Lupukngna Motuucheyngna Moyongna Pajbenga Pamajam Puhú Totpavit
San Bernardino County
Homhoangna Horuuvnga Kaawchama Kuukamonga Pasinogna Wa'atsngna Wapijanga
Riverside County
Horuuvngna Pahavgna Paxauxa Shiishongna
Channel Islands
Haraasnga Xaraashnga Kinkipar Guinguina Pimuu'nga Naayxoxar Pipiimar Tchunashngna
References