Hahamog'na facts for kids
The Hahamog'na (say it: hah-hah-MONG-gah) were a group of Tongva people who lived in California. Their language, called Tongva language, was part of the larger Uto-Aztecan language family. Sometimes, people called them Hahamongna.
A Look Back: The Hahamog'na Story
The Hahamog'na people lived in what is now Los Angeles County, California. Their homes were near the Verdugo Mountains and San Rafael Hills. They also lived around the Arroyo Seco area. This is where cities like Pasadena and Altadena are today. They also lived near Glendale, north of the Los Angeles River.
The Hahamog'na had at least two main settlements. The name Hahamog'na was also the name of their chief. Because of this, the tribe and their home area were also called Hahamog'na.
Meeting the Spanish Explorers
In 1770, a Spanish explorer named Gaspar de Portolá met the Hahamog'na. The Spanish then began to teach their religion and new ways of life to the native people. This was part of a plan called the Indian Reductions.
The Hahamog'na chief was given the Christian name "Pascual." Because of this, his tribe became known as the Pascualite Indians. This name was used before the Mexican land grant called Rancho San Pascual was created in 1843. Rancho San Pascual included parts of what are now Pasadena, San Marino, and South Pasadena.
Today, the name Hahamongna is still used. You can find Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena. This park is an important place where one of the old Hahamongna settlements was located. It is also a popular spot for recreation and enjoying nature.
Other Tongva Family Groups
Other family groups of the Tongva people lived in different parts of the San Gabriel Valley and San Fernando Valley. When the Spanish built Mission San Gabriel Arcángel in 1771 and Mission San Fernando Rey de España in 1797, many Tongva groups gathered there.
At the missions, they learned new skills. These included farming, raising cattle, and making things like leather and soap. Once they became Christians, they usually could not go back to their old village lives. The Spanish called these groups Gabrieleños and Fernandeños.
You might recognize other Tongva names in the Southland area today. These include Cahueg-na (which is now Cahuenga), Topag-na (now Topanga), and Azuksag-na (now Azusa).
