The Gabrieleno Tongva Native Americans occupied the entire Los Angeles basin dating back to 2500 BCE. Their culture and territorial expansion peaked about 1200 CE. When Cabrillo arrived in 1542 Tongva Natives rowed the Ti'ats (plank canoes) to meet him at San Pedro. The Gabrieleno Tongva tribes have lived in harmony with the plants and environment in this area for centuries. Claremont was known as Torojoatngna. With the assistance of Mark Acuna, a Tongva EthnoBotanist, we have identified twenty three plants that are seen as the most significant for the tribe in this coastal sage scrub ecosystem. The plants have medicinal, spiritual, edible and other daily uses for dyes, construction, and basketry. The walking tour emphasizes the medicinal uses of the plants. This web site has a more complete listing of the various uses these plants provided the Tongva.
Please enjoy a glimpse into the treasures that surround us.
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The Tongva Garden has been created over many years and with the help of many people Special thanks are given to the late Professor John Rodman for the initial design and planting of the garden. Mark Acuna, Tongva EthnoBotanist, has been generous with his time and advice regarding the garden and the selection of plants to be included in this tour. He has done some wonderful tours for many classes and provided background information both on the Gabrieleno Tongva people as well as their uses for these plants. Joe Clements, Director of the Arboretum, has done the photography and compilation of the information about the plants. He, too, has catalogued, tagged and labeled as well as maintained the plants in the garden. The Pitzer Aesthetics Committee (2005-6) took this project on as its special project for the year. Campus Life Committee has provided funding for the brochure and labels. The Program in Cross-Cultural Health and Healing, through the initiative of Professor Mario Maldonado has provided an academic context and furthered the study that can be seen on the link above. Environmental Studies faculty Paul Faulstich, Melinda Herrold-Menzies and Sheryl Miller (Anthropology) have used these gardens for classes over the years and supported its development. Many students have worked on this garden as well. Professor Sharon Snowiss with the help of Sudatip Pramuanmetha (CGU) has edited and produced the brochure and web site.
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