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Julia Bogany
Born July 16, 1948
Santa Monica, California
Died March 28, 2021
Occupation Tongva elder, community leader, educator, cultural advisor

Julia Louise Bogany (born July 16, 1948 – died March 28, 2021) was an important American community leader. She was a respected elder of the Tongva people, a teacher, and an expert on their culture.

Her Early Life

Julia Bogany was born in Santa Monica, California.

Her Work and Contributions

Julia Bogany spent 35 years teaching preschool. She loved helping young children learn and grow.

From 2000 to 2021, Julia was a cultural leader for the Gabrieleño-Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. In this role, she shared her knowledge of Tongva culture with many people. She taught classes on the Tongva language, beading, and basket-weaving. She also led special workshops about Tongva traditions all over southern California.

Julia was also a leader in several non-profit groups. These groups work to help communities without making money. She was:

  • The first president of Kuruvungna Sacred Springs.
  • President of Residential Motivators.
  • Vice-president of Keepers of Indigenous Ways.

She also worked with important groups like the Children Court L.A. Round Table and the California Native American College Board. She was an "Elder in Residence" at Pitzer College and Pomona College. This meant she shared her wisdom and cultural knowledge with college students.

Awards and Recognition

Julia Bogany received many awards for her important work:

  • In 2010, she got the Heritage Award from the Aquarium of the Pacific.
  • In 2019, the National Indian Child Welfare Association called her a "Champion for Native Children."
  • In 2020, she received the Spirit of Tradition Award from the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission.
  • In 2021, she was given the Chairman's Award by the California Missions Foundation.

Her Legacy in Art and Books

Julia Bogany wrote a children's book called Tongva Women Inspiring the Future. She also helped create a dictionary for the Tongva language.

Her image is part of several artworks:

  • At California State University Dominguez Hills, there is a mural by artist iris yirei hu that shows Julia under an oak tree.
  • She was featured on a billboard as part of artist Erin Yoshi's "Land of We" art project.
  • A mural by Audrey Chan at the Little Tokyo/Arts District metro station in Los Angeles shows Julia with her great-granddaughters.

Her Family Life

Julia Bogany had four children. Later in her life, she married Andrew Bogany. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 72, after having a stroke.

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