WHEREAS, during National Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the rich tapestry of Indigenous peoples and honor their sacrifices, which we recognize as inextricably woven into the history of this country; and WHEREAS, in 1990, President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month; and WHEREAS, Native Americans are descendants of the original indigenous inhabitants of what is now the United States; and WHEREAS, Native Americans have moving stories of tragedy, triumph, and perseverance that need to be shared with future generations; and WHEREAS, the people indigenous to the area currently known as the City of Costa Mesa were part of a group of American Natives who crossed over the western mountain range from the “Great Basin” of Nevada, Utah, and Western Oregon; and WHEREAS, Costa Mesa’s first inhabitants were the Tongva Native Americans who settled on the mesa near the banks of the Santa Ana River; and WHEREAS, artifacts found on the mesa indicate that this site was a part of the village the Tongva people knew as Lukup; and WHEREAS, as “Keepers of Mother Earth,” the Tongva Native Americans considered themselves stewards of the environment and were hunter-gatherers and dependent on their surroundings, using what was readily available in nature for food, clothing, and shelter; and WHEREAS, today, the descendants of the indigenous people of this area still live throughout Orange County; and WHEREAS, during the month of November, the City of Costa Mesa honors our native people and recognizes their continued contributions to strengthening the diversity of our society.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa, do hereby proclaim November 2022 as Native American Heritage Month and encourage all residents to learn more about the Native Americans who first called this City home and work with leaders for a greater future for all Costa Mesans.
PRESENTED this 1st day of November 2022.
_____________________________________________
John B. Stephens, Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa