Native Tribes and the Church
A hopeful start to the next chapter in the relationship between Southern California’s ‘first peoples’ and the Church
“As your brother and as your friend, I pledge that we will defend and encourage your cultures and languages, your traditions and spirituality.”
-Archbishop José Gomez
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles acknowledges that the Native Americans of California are the First People of the Land and that the boundaries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are established on the traditional indigenous lands sacred to the people of four Native American Nations. These people were the builders of the historic missions that are today under the care of the church in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
The Archdiocese recognizes that these tribes hold a special relationship with these missions built by their ancestors – Mission San Gabriel, Mission San Buenaventura, Mission Santa Barbara, Mission San Fernando, and Mission Santa Ines, Mission San Juan Capistrano (now under the care of the Diocese of Orange), as well as with the sub-station mission church of Our Lady Queen of the Angels, Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Angeles (La Placita). For these reasons the Archdiocese honors a special relationship with the people of the Chumash, Tongva, Tataviam, and Acjachemen Nations.
Read the set of 17 protocols titled: Native American Protocols, Archdiocese of Los Angeles (PDF Version)
Archdiocese, LA native tribes mark a new beginning with protocols
A set of historic protocols promises a hopeful start to the next chapter in the relationship between Southern California’s ‘first peoples’ and the Church. The signing ceremony was attended by members of several tribes native to SoutheCalifornia, as well as four Los Angeles auxiliary bishops and several priests.
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