CAHUENGA TONGVA ENCAMPMENT

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

I've been told that "gna" is an ancient Tongva word meaning village. The Tongva, sometime referred to as Mission Indians, Fernandiños or Gabrieliños spoke a Uto-Aztecan language.  Since the pre-European Tongva were hunter-gatherers, their villages appear to be temporary or seasonal gathering places. 

Temporary gna or gathering place of the Cahuenga Tongva people at the Hollywood entrance of the Caheunga Pass (date unknown). Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Michel Stevens 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)