Which Indigenous Tribe Owns the Land Beneath Billie Eilish’s $3 Million Home — And Why They’re Pushing for Federal Recognition and a Reservation

The traditions and background of the tribe that reacted to Billie Eilish’s Grammys remarks have come to light following accusations of inconsistency directed at the singer. The 24-year-old took home the ‘Song of the Year’ Grammy for her track ‘Wildflower,’ sharing the stage with her brother and frequent collaborator Finneas.

During her acceptance speech, Eilish expressed thanks for the honor while slipping in a pointed comment about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), declaring: “I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land. ”The statement referred to the European settlement of the Americas from the 15th to 17th centuries, as she continued: “It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter. ”“And f**k ICE, that’s all I’m gonna say. Sorry!” she finished, delivering a strong political statement. Nevertheless, certain observers pointed to what they saw as hypocrisy in the ‘bad guy’ singer’s remarks. Members of the Tongva community performed at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony Members of the Tongva community performed at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony A spokesperson for the Tongva people noted that Eilish’s reported $3 million (£2. 1 million) family residence in Los Angeles’ Highland Park neighborhood stands on territory historically held by their tribe.

A law firm has since publicly offered to remove the artist from the property amid the varied public reactions to her speech. The Tongva have responded directly to the comments, with a representative telling MailOnline: “As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land. “Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when Public Figures provide visibility to the true history of this country. ”While expressing ‘appreciation’ for her Grammys remarks, they encouraged her and other prominent voices to specifically name their nation whenever addressing issues related to the United States. They expressed hope that ‘the tribe can explicitly be referenced,’ noting that ‘the greater Los Angeles basin remains Gabrielino Tongva territory’. Who are the Tongva? The Tongva, also referred to as Gabrielino-Tongva, are the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles Basin and the Southern Channel Islands in California.

They have occupied this roughly 4,000-square-mile region for approximately 3,500 years, maintaining deep cultural connections to both the land and the ocean. According to the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation, more than 700 members currently reside throughout the city and county of Los Angeles; unlike many other Native American groups in the U. S. , they do not possess a federally designated reservation. The Tongva acknowledged Eilish’s positive intentions even while noting that she resides on their ancestral territory The Tongva acknowledged Eilish’s positive intentions even while noting that she resides on their ancestral territory Per the Los Angeles Times, the Tongva traditionally referred to their homeland as Tovaangar, meaning ‘the world. ’It once encompassed about 5,000 people living in roughly 100 villages and stretched from Palos Verdes to San Bernardino, and from Saddleback Mountain to the San Fernando Valley.

The Tongva also consider four Southern Channel Islands, including Santa Catalina and San Clemente, part of their traditional territory. Britannica notes that they ranked among the most prosperous and technologically sophisticated tribes in the area. They constructed homes from poles covered with tule-reed mats and sustained themselves primarily through gathering acorns and wild plants, supplemented by fishing and hunting. Originally known as the San Gabriel Indians or Gabrieleño — a name derived from the Spanish mission where many were relocated during colonization — the group officially adopted the name Gabrielino/Tongva Nation in 2007. They are actively working toward federal recognition, having already received acknowledgment from the State of California, the California General Assembly, and the Los Angeles City Council. On their website they state: “Without Federal recognition, we cannot claim and repatriate our ancestors’ remains. We cannot participate in scholarships for Native Americans. We cannot practice our religious traditions with full freedoms. ”