Episode 1. The Indigenous People of the Harbor Area

This episode is about the indigenous people of the Harbor Area and the Los Angeles region - the Tongva. In the first part of the episode, I present some very light research on the subject area. In the second part of the episode, I interview Isaac Michael Ybarra - a local artist, historian, and member of the Tongva community.

Transcript

Hey folks, welcome to the Harbor Area Podcast. I’m your host, Joel Torrez. This podcast is all about the Harbor Area here in Los Angeles, California.

I moved to San Pedro in 2022, and I’ve been so fascinated by the Harbor Area that I decided to create a podcast to share what I’ve learned with awesome listeners like you. Much of what I present here comes from books, research, and the internet, and I’m excited to bring it to you.

At the end of each episode, I’ll share the podcast email address so you can write in with any suggestions for future episodes — I’d love to hear from you.

Today’s episode focuses on the original people of this area — the Tongva.

Before we begin, I want to share a land acknowledgment that I adapted from one I found on the Cal State Dominguez Hills website:

I acknowledge that the land on which I live today is the home and traditional land belonging to the Tongva Nation. I come with respect and gratitude for the Tongva people, who remain caretakers of this land. It is through their example that I am reminded of our greater responsibility to care for Mother Earth — and to care for each other.

Now, forgive me in advance if I mispronounce some of the words of the first people, but here goes.

The Tongva are Indigenous people of California who define their world as Tovaangar. Their territory stretched from Palos Verdes to San Bernardino and from the Saddleback Mountains in Orange County to the San Fernando Valley.

One village, Puvungna (in present-day East Long Beach), is said to be the place of emergence — where the Tongva believe their world and their lives began. It is a sacred site to their people, now marked by California State University, Long Beach.

While I won’t attempt to pronounce every village name here, know that they were spread throughout the Harbor Area.

Let’s take a moment to imagine the Harbor Area before industrialization:

Picture beautiful blue waters along our coastline, so clear you could see coral reefs glowing with neon colors beneath the waves. Abalone was plentiful, and fish swam in abundance. Smoke from fish being preserved over open fires drifted through the air. Citrus groves and oak trees stretched across the county.

There were no buildings — only ki (the Tongva word for their dwellings) — and mountains and trees as far as the eye could see. Animals roamed freely: bears, deer, jackrabbits, quail, coyotes, owls, nighthawks. Birds filled the skies by day; stars and the moon lit the nights.

There was no downtown Los Angeles, no port with massive container ships and mechanical cranes. The air was crisp and free of pollutants, and people traveled by foot or horseback. Essentials were plentiful, and no one went hungry.

Imagine plucking fruit from a tree, saying a prayer to thank Mother Earth for nourishing you. Imagine drinking fresh water straight from the Los Angeles River, spear in hand, ready to catch trout — offering a blessing before you strike.

Life moved slower. People appreciated the earth, the air, the water, and fire.

Many Tongva villages existed in wetlands — where the river meets the sea. Wetlands, such as swamps and marshes, were rich ecosystems. Before the modern era, Tongva people traveled regularly to Santa Catalina Island — known to them as Pimu.

The year 1542 is important: Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed into the Harbor Area, where he was greeted by people in a canoe. The next day, Cabrillo and his men entered a large bay and named it Bahía de los Fumos — “Bay of Smoke” — for the many fires they saw. These were the Tongva smoking fish for preservation. That bay is believed to be modern-day San Pedro Bay, now home to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

By the early 1900s, the Tongva identity had suffered greatly. Many publicly identified as Mexican, learned Spanish, and adopted Catholicism while keeping their heritage secret. Students were punished in schools for saying they were Indian. Attempts to create a reservation in 1907 failed, and in 1925, officials declared the Tongva “extinct.”

But that was — and is — untrue. The Tongva continue to exist, thrive, and live among us.

In the next segment, I interview Isaac Michael Ybarra, who identifies as Tongva, Chumash, and Chicano. We talk about his worldview, his love for the area, and the stories handed down through generations of his family and community.

[INTERVIEW SEGMENT — condensed for clarity but keeping dialogue natural]

Joel: Isaac, welcome to the Harbor Area Podcast.

Isaac: What’s up, everybody? My name is Isaac Michael Ybarra. I am Tongva, Chumash, and Chicano. We’re here in San Pedro, and I’m excited to get into it.

Joel: I met you through my full-time work with the Los Angeles County Youth Climate Commission, where you represent the youth of our county. How did you get involved?

Isaac: The program was brand new, and friends encouraged me to apply. I wanted to protect the land, address pollution, and represent the youth in our area.

Joel: Would you consider yourself a historian of Indigenous history?

Isaac: As a Native American, you end up being a little bit of everything — historian, scientist, teacher. I’ve learned my culture through family stories, especially from my grandmother, and by reconnecting with community members who have kept traditions alive.

Joel: What ceremonies are important to you?

Isaac: We follow the sun, moon, seasons, equinoxes, and eclipses. These aren’t just spiritual — they’re practical for farming and maintaining balance with the land.

Joel: What’s an example of your cultural heritage being rekindled?

Isaac: Cultural burns — small, controlled fires used to maintain healthy landscapes and prevent wildfires. These practices go back thousands of years and are starting to return.

Joel: When you picture the Harbor Area before development, what do you see?

Isaac: I imagine vibrant trade between villages here and on Pimu (Catalina Island), massive flocks of seabirds casting shadows, thriving wetlands, whales, dolphins — everything alive and interconnected.

Joel: What does reciprocity mean to you?

Isaac: It’s the cycle of giving and receiving with the land. When you tend it, it sustains you. When you neglect it, you see erosion, landslides, wildfires, and loss of biodiversity.

Joel: What key issues face Native communities today?

Isaac: Missing and murdered Indigenous people is a huge crisis. Recognition is another — the Tongva are recognized by the state but not the federal government, which ties into stolen lands and historical erasure.

Joel: How does storytelling help?

Isaac: Storytelling heals. It brings people together, helps resolve conflict, and keeps history alive.

Joel: What are your favorite places in San Pedro?

Isaac: White Point (Palm Beach), Point Fermin, Angel’s Gate, Cabrillo Beach, and Averill Park — anywhere you can see Pimu.

Joel: Are there sacred Indigenous sites here?

Isaac: Yes. San Pedro as a whole is sacred. There were burial sites and cultural areas that are now under buildings or pavement, but the spirit of the place remains.

Joel: Isaac, thank you for your time and for sharing your stories.

Isaac: I’m glad we connected. I hope these conversations create connections, heal the land, and bring people together.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, please follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. You can email me at harborareapodcast@yahoo.com — no spaces — to share your ideas or stories. Subscribers get priority for having their stories told here on the Harbor Area Podcast.

Until next time — have a great day, drive safe, and please treat each other kindly.