Shevaanga facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sibagna
Former settlement
Sibagna Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles County
Elevation	430 ft (131 m)

Sibagna, also known as Shevaanga or Sibanga, was a village where the Tongva people lived a long time ago. It was located in the area that is now San Gabriel, California. The village was about 430 feet (131 meters) above sea level. It was close to another village called Toviscanga. Sibagna was also near the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel and the Whittier Narrows in the San Gabriel Valley.

About Sibagna Village

In the Tongva culture, the leader of a village was called a chief. The chief of Sibagna was known as Sibavie. This was a common practice: the chief would take the village's name and add -ie to it. For example, the chief of Asucsagna was called Asucsagnie. The people who lived in Sibagna were known as Sibapet.

The Mission's Arrival

In 1771, the first San Gabriel Mission was built right where Sibagna village was located. However, a flood later destroyed this mission. So, in 1776, the mission was rebuilt in a nearby village called Toviscanga. As the mission grew and expanded, the original village of Sibagna slowly became smaller and eventually disappeared.

A Story of Resistance

A man named Nicolás Josè was born in Sibagna village. The Spanish considered him an early convert to their ways. However, he secretly continued to practice traditional Tongva dances and activities. In 1779, he took part in a small uprising against the missions. Later, in 1785, he played a key role in a larger rebellion involving eight villages. He worked with a woman named Toypurina in this effort. Josè explained that he joined the rebellion because the Spanish had banned traditional dances in their villages, which was something he and his people could not accept.