Chokishgna facts for kids

Chokishgna (also known as Chokisgna or Chibugna) was once a village of the Tongva people. The Tongva are a Native American group who lived in what is now Southern California. This village was located in the area we now call Bell Gardens, California.

What Was Chokishgna?

Chokishgna was a home for many Tongva people. They lived in this area for thousands of years. The Tongva people had a rich culture and deep connection to the land. They gathered food, hunted, and built their homes in villages like Chokishgna.

The Impact of Mission San Gabriel

The village of Chokishgna began to change when Mission San Gabriel grew nearby. The mission was established in 1776. It was built close to another Tongva village called Toviscanga. The growth of the mission had a big effect on the Tongva way of life. Many Tongva people were brought to live and work at the mission. This led to the decline of traditional villages like Chokishgna.

Chokishgna's Legacy in Bell Gardens

The original site of Chokishgna later became a place of new activity. In 1832, a man named Lemuel Carpenter built a jabonería there. A jabonería is a Spanish word for a soap factory. This factory was an early business in the area. Today, this historic site is part of the modern city of Bell Gardens. It reminds us of the long history of the land and the people who lived there.