Honoring Native American Heritage Month

November 1, 2023

Dear Campus Community,

Tongva tribal elder Julia Bogany was crushed to hear her great-granddaughter Marissa say she felt invisible as a Tongva woman.   

 Julia — a proud Tongva cultural educator, appointed advisor of the Gabrielino/Tongva tribe and counselor to many institutions of the greater San Gabriel Valley — wanted her great-granddaughter to be seen. To understand the rich history of their people and feel empowered by her ancestry.  

So, Julia wrote a book, “Tongva Women Inspiring the Future”, to share the power of Tongva women, their rich history, their triumphs through struggles, and how their experiences shape our world today. 

Julia exemplifies what it means to honor one’s own heritage. Her steadfast determination to center on the gifts and lessons passed down from her ancestors made her and her granddaughter’s future stronger — and emboldens us to center ourselves in the wisdom and traditions of our own families and cultures. Even though she is no longer with us, Julia continues to change the world she loved.   

Many of the names that define our region — Topanga, Cahuenga, Cucamonga — are rooted in the Tongva people and woven into the tapestry of history and experiences that define this land.  

 Today, Cal Poly Pomona is responsible for making visible the many tribes with ties to this area on which we carry out our educational mission. These include the Tongva and Tataavium people, who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar, as well as the Kizh, Serrano, Cahuilla, Rumsen Ohlone and Luiseno people, who have historically also shared and cared over this land.    

Native American Heritage Month allows us to intentionally reflect on and celebrate the contributions, histories and traditions of American Indians/Native Americans as valued members of our campus, communities and nation.   

I encourage you to connect with our American Indian/Native American community here on campus by engaging with our Native American Student Center, visiting BioTrek’s Ethnobotany Learning Center, as well as by participating in the events and programs taking place at Cal Poly Pomona this month — and all year round.  

 By following the example Julia set, we too can find and share the beauty, lessons and power in each other’s and our own histories to make our world a better place for all people. 

Sincerely,

Soraya M. Coley, Ph.D.
President