New Video: Presbytery of San Gabriel returns ancestral land to Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council
Last month's gathering celebrated reparative justice
LOS ANGELES — On Saturday August 2, the Presbytery of San Gabriel and the Gabrieleno-Tongva Band of Mission Indians gathered to celebrate a groundbreaking act of reparative justice.
The Presbytery of San Gabriel officially returned land previously used as the Presbytery’s La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, led by the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council under Chief Anthony Morales. This marks the first-ever land back transfer by a church in California to an established tribal government, and the first of its kind in California and Los Angeles County.
"It was both an honor and a blessing to join the Stated Clerk to witness the Tongva people receive one portion of their ancestral lands back from the Presbytery of San Gabriel as the caretakers of Tongvar," said the Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of the Center for the Repair of Historic Harms.
"The emotional response I witnessed from San Gabriel Mayor Denise Menchaca and Council Member John Wu on that gorgeous sunlight day blessed with white sage offerings reminded me that when we follow the direction the Spirit is leading us toward God’s wholeness, we can rest assured that we will soon discover we are not the only ones who the Spirit intends to move!"
Watch the video below to hear from members of the Gabrieleno-Tongva Band of Mission Indians and continue below to view images from the historic moment.
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Seth Johnson of the Gabrieleno-Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians prepares for the gathering hymn. -
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Rev. Wendy Tajima, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of San Gabriel offers a land acknowledgement. -
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On August 2, 2025, the Presbytery of San Gabriel officially returned land previously used as the Presbytery’s La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center to the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, led by the Gabrieleno Tongva Tribal Council. -
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During the worship service, the Rev. Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of the Center for the Repair of Historic Harms, led the Prayer of Confession adapted from The Rev. Canon Deborah J. Royals of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe -
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Members of of the La Casa de San Gabriel Administrative Commission received blankets as gifts from the Gabrieleno-Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. -
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The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly and Executive Director of the Interim Unified Agency, offered a sermon where she reflected on the day’s historic event. -
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Michael Lizárraga, grandson of La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center founders Rev. César and Angelita Lizárraga embraces Chief Anthony Morales. -
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Andy Morales of the Gabrieleno-Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians offers a Four Directions prayer. -
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Andy Morales of the Gabrieleno-Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians offers a Four Directions prayer. -
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The Rev. Jihyun Oh (left) and Chief Anthony Morales offer a benediction to close worship.
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