Fernandeño Tataviam Tribe Reaches Major Milestone Toward Federal Recognition After Decades-Long Effort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (FTBMI), a Tribal Nation with deep roots across the San Fernando Valley and surrounding regions, announced today that it has reached a major milestone in its decades-long effort to secure federal recognition.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgment (OFA) has issued a Positive Phase I Proposed Finding, advancing the Tribe into the next stage of the federal recognition process.

“This is a historic moment not only for our Tribe, but for the entire region we have called home since time immemorial,” said Rudy Ortega, Jr., President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. “For generations, our families have carried this effort forward. This milestone honors their perseverance and affirms the enduring presence of our people in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.”

The Fernandeño Tataviam people are the original inhabitants of a large portion of what is now northern Los Angeles County, including the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Simi, and Antelope Valleys. Despite displacement during the Mission era and the loss of land in the late 1800s, the Tribe has maintained its identity, governance, and community ties to the region.

The Phase I decision confirms that the Tribe meets four foundational federal criteria, including documented descent from a historical Tribal community connected to Mission San Fernando and surrounding homelands. With this determination, the Tribe now advances to Phase II, where federal reviewers will evaluate evidence of community continuity, identity, and governance.

Federal acknowledgment is a rigorous, multi-year process requiring extensive historical, genealogical, and governmental documentation. A final determination has not yet been made, but today’s decision marks a critical step forward.

“For Los Angeles County, this recognition process highlights a truth many are only beginning to understand—that our Tribal Nation has always been here and continues to thrive,” Ortega added. “We are proud to continue this journey on behalf of our citizens, our ancestors, and future generations.”

The Tribe will continue working with the Office of Federal Acknowledgment as the process moves forward.

Phase I – Positive Proposed Finding

Media Contact:
Office of the President
president@tataviam-nsn.us | 818-837-0794