Attachment 1
April 23, 2025
Department of the Interior
Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs
Attention: Office of Federal Acknowledgement
Mail Stop 4071 MIB
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
RE: Support for Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians Petition for Federal Acknowledgment
Dear Assistant Secretary Newland,
On behalf of the City of Burbank, we are proud to support the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (FTBMI) in its pursuit of federal acknowledgement. The FTBMI is currently under review by the Department under the Code of Federal Regulations - Procedures for Federal Acknowledgment of Indian Tribes (25 CRF Part 83) in Petition No . 403.
The FTBMI’s ancestry pre-dates the establishment of the State of California and traces back to Antelope, Santa Clarita, San Fernando, and Simi Valleys. Despite the profound challenges of colonization and displacement, the FTBMI people have preserved their cultural traditions, oral histories, and sacred sites, and continue to actively contribute to the civic and cultural life of our region. Headquartered in San Fernando, the FTBMI adopted by-laws in 1953 and has since adopted a Tribal constitution. The Tribe oversees Pukuu Cultural Community Services, a non - profit established in 1971 that operates numerous programs to strengthen Indian identity, promote self-sufficiency, and nurture healthy family interactions. Additionally, the Tribe oversees the Tataviam La nd Conservancy, a non - profits organization focused on protecting the traditional territory of the Fernandeño Tataviam people through protective land management, cooperative agreements, and innovative cultural an educational programming.
The FTBMI has maintained partnerships with local governments, educational institutions, and cultural organizations to enrich the Los Angeles area’s understanding of its indigenous heritage and promote responsible land stewardship and community exclusivity. The Tribe’s leadership demonstrates a commitment to cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, public education, and indigenous youth development, which benefits the entire region.
The City of Burbank collaborates regularly with the FTBMI on land-use decisions, cultural resource protection, and Native American monitoring during development projects to ensure that tribal cultural resources are protected.
The City of Burbank acknowledges the FTBMI and strongly supports the Tribe as they seek federal recognition. We hope that the Department moves forward to extend federal acknowledgement to the Tribe.
Sincerely,
Burbank City Council
Cc: Chris Kearney, The Ferguson Group