Revitalizing the Language of Tovaangar

The Rancho Los Alamitos presents an educational lecture with local experts. In this presentation, Tongva tribal members Virginia Carmelo and Citlali Arvizu will discuss their journey reawakening a language that has not been spoken in a hundred years—the language of the original inhabitants of the Los Angeles basin. This will be the first time they will share their experience with the general public.

Rancho Los Alamitos is located on the ancestral and unceded land of the Gabrielino/Tongva people, who cared for this land for thousands of years and continue to do so today. The Rancho sits atop the village of Puvuun’nga -- “the gathering place” -- the sacred site of creation for the Tongva/Gabrielino peoples. Learn more by visiting gabrielinotribe.org.

Virginia Carmelo (Gabrielino/Tongva) has dedicated her life to Indigenous activism, with focus on the preservation and revitalization of Tongva tribal song, dance, language, story, and regalia. Virginia served over a decade as a Tribal Council Member and Tribal Chairperson of the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation of the Los Angeles Basin.

Citlali Arvizu's (Gabrielino/Tongva, Diegeuño/Kumeyaay, Nahua) direct involvement with her community includes teaching and sharing traditional knowledge with focus on intergenerational cultural preservation. She is a member of the Gabrielino Tongva Language Committee, and an archival apprentice for the National Breath of Life Archival Institute for Indigenous Languages. Citlali is the daughter of Virginia Carmelo and Lázaro Arvizu, is mother to identical twin daughters, and was born and raised in Anaheim, CA where the Tongva village of Hotuuknga lies.

Doors will open at 5:30 pm and the lecture will start at 6 pm. Tickets are $10 per person with free onsite parking.

The Rancho sits atop the village of Puvuun’nga -- “the gathering place” -- the sacred site of creation for the Tongva/Gabrielino peoples. Learn more by visiting gabrielinotribe.org.