Julia Bogany facts for kids

Julia Louise Bogany (July 16, 1948 – March 28, 2021) was an American community leader. She was a Tongva elder, educator, and cultural consultant.

Early life

Bogany was born in Santa Monica, California.

Career

Bogany taught preschool for 35 years. From 2000 to 2021, Bogany was cultural affairs officer of the Gabrieleño-Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians. She taught Tongva language, beading, and basket-weaving classes, and conducted cultural workshops throughout southern California. She was founding president of Kuruvungna Sacred Springs, president of Residential Motivators, and vice-president of Keepers of Indigenous Ways, all non-profit organizations. She was active in the Children Court L.A. Round Table, the Santa Monica Conservancy 21st Century Task Force, and the California Native American College Board. She was Elder in Residence at Pitzer College and Pomona College.

Bogany received the Heritage Award from the Aquarium of the Pacific in 2010. The National Indian Child Welfare Association named her Champion for Native Children in 2019. Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission recognized her with the Spirit of Tradition Award in 2020. In 2021, she received the California Missions Foundation's Chairman's Award.

Bogany wrote a children's book, Tongva Women Inspiring the Future, and contributed to the compilation of a Tongva dictionary. At California State University Dominguez Hills, there is a mural depicting Bogany under an oak tree, by artist iris yirei hu. Bogany was also featured on a billboard as part of artist Erin Yoshi's "Land of We" installation, and is depicted with her great-granddaughters in a mural by Audrey Chan, at the Little Tokyo/Arts District metro station in Los Angeles.

Personal life

She had four children. When her children were grown, she married Andrew Bogany. Bogany died in 2021, after a stroke; she was 72 years old.