Okowvinjha facts for kids

Okowvinjha was a former Tongva (Fernandeño) Native American community in Los Angeles County, California. It was located close to the Mission San Fernando Rey de España in the San Fernando Valley.

What Was Okowvinjha?

Okowvinjha was a village where the Tongva people lived long ago. The Tongva are a group of Native Americans who have lived in the Los Angeles area for thousands of years. This village was in the San Fernando Valley, a large area in what is now Los Angeles County.

Different Ideas About Okowvinjha

Historians have different ideas about exactly what Okowvinjha was. One historian, Frederick Webb Hodge, thought that Okowvinjha might have been the same place as another community called Cahuenga.

However, another historian, Hubert Howe Bancroft, believed they were different. He thought Okowvinjha, Kowanga (which is another name for Cahuenga), and Saway-yanga were all separate groups or "clans" in the San Fernando area. A clan is like a large family group within a tribe.

Bancroft also said that the Mission San Fernando Rey de España itself was built on the land of another Tongva clan called Pasheeknga. After the mission was started in 1797, the people of Pasheeknga likely joined the mission community very quickly.

The Tongva People

The Tongva people are the original inhabitants of a large area of Southern California. Their traditional lands included what is now Los Angeles County, parts of Orange County, and some islands like Santa Catalina. They lived in many villages, each with its own leaders and traditions.

The Tongva were skilled at using the natural resources around them. They gathered plants for food and medicine, hunted animals, and fished in the ocean and rivers. They also traded with other Native American groups. Their culture was rich with stories, songs, and ceremonies.

Life Before the Missions

Before the Spanish missions were built, the Tongva lived in harmony with their environment. They built their homes from natural materials like reeds and wood. Their villages were often near water sources. They had a complex social structure and a deep understanding of their land.

Impact of the Missions

The arrival of the Spanish and the building of missions like Mission San Fernando Rey de España changed the lives of the Tongva people forever. Many Tongva were brought to the missions. Their traditional way of life was greatly impacted. The missions were founded to convert Native Americans to Christianity and to teach them Spanish ways of living.