Hot Springs during the sunset, Feb. 26, 2021. Photo by Natalie Malins.
FEATURE · PERSPECTIVES ON PUVUNGNA
PERSPECTIVES ON
PUVUNGNA STORY BY
KELSEY BROWN
PHOTOS BY
AHTZIRI AGUILAR
Members of the Acjachemen Nation explain the historical and spiritual importance to Native people of the sacred 22 acres of land that remains of Puvungna.
T
he hill where California State University, Long Beach now stands used to be a plentiful village. Surrounding the hill, the city of Long Beach was marsh and wetlands. But here, on this raised land, was a freshwater spring, so Native people settled and made it home. For members of the Acjachemen Nation, or the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, who are the native peoples of Orange County, and the Tongva Nation or Gabrieleno, the Native peoples of Los Angeles County, this
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