2022 Gabrielino/Tongva and Autry Collaboration

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Topics: Native Communities, Collections, Exhibitions

group of people posed for a photo in a garden

Collaborative Exhibitions Work


three women sit on the floor painting a design on a wooden pole

Imagined Wests
The upcoming renovation of the Autry’s long-term gallery will include a major collaboration with Tongva community members Craig Torres, Cindi Alvitre, Weshoyot Alvitre, Wallace Cleaves, and others. In conversation with the stories that diverse filmmakers, artists, and others have told about the West and Southern California, we will be including four ancestor poles honoring Tongva women Toypurina, Juana Maria, Victoria Reid, and Narcisa Rosemyre.


graphic of a native american indiviual with a circular patterned disk on back standing on a similar circular design and water waves behind

Investigating Griffith Park 
Investigating Griffith Park honors the Griffith Park landscape as Gabrielino/Tongva land and a public park for Los Angeles, highlighting the history and lesser-known facts about the landscape. This exhibition includes a collaboration with Tongva community members Craig Torres and the late Julia Bogany and Barbara Drake.  The Autry recently acquired artwork by Tongva artist Weshoyot Alvitre to incorporate into the upcoming changes to the exhibit.


a man in a jacket and beanie stands beside a collage artwork

Waterways
Opened Dec 2022, the exhibition highlights the importance and impacts of traveling the waterways using the Tule, Ti’aat and Tomol vessels, as well as important waterway resources Abalone and Tule. This was a multi-year project that included collaborative efforts with members of the Tongva, Chumash, Acjachemen and Tataviam communities. The Tongva contributors included Cindi Alvitre, Craig Torres, Desiree Martinez, Barbara Drake, River Garza, and a stunning portrait of Weshoyot Alvitre  by Cara Romero.


Community Visits 
We had many visits to our collections at the Autry Resources Center in Burbank including Gabrielino/Tongva visitors Robert Dorame, Mercedes Dorame, Sandone Goad, San Dunlap, Anthony Morales, Andy Morales, Desriee Martinez, Weshoyot Alvitre, River Garza, Doreena O’Neil, and Wallace Cleaves.

Community announcements

  • ATALM Conference presentation on the MOU partnership between the Tongva cultural educators and the Autry Museum
  • Ongoing conversations regarding the harvesting of elderberry, cherry, and other plant materials on both Autry campuses 
  • Ongoing Tongva community and Autry Musuem Collections work
  • Inaugural year of Ti’aat Society and Chia Café Collective presence at the Autry’s Native American Market Place 

Land Acknowledgment

The Autry Museum of the American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

The Autry Museum in Griffith Park

4700 Western Heritage Way

Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Located northeast of downtown, across from the Los Angeles Zoo.
Map and Directions

Free parking for Autry visitors.


MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

DINING
Food Trucks are available on select days, contact us for details at 323.495.4252.
The cafe is temporarily closed until further notice.