California State University, Long Beach
Associated Students
Academic Year 2005-2006
Senate Resolution # 2006-xx
DRAFT
TITLE:
Protection of the Tongva and Acjacheman Sacred Land of Puvungna at California
State University, Long Beach
WHEREAS:
The
Tongva/Gabrielino and Acjacheman/Juaneno Indians were the first people who
inhabited the Los Angeles and Orange County areas and the islands of Santa
Catalina, San Nicholas, San Clemente, and Santa Barbara;
WHEREAS:
The
Tongva, or "People of the Earth," respected other peoples and
welcomed Spanish explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo off the shores of San Pedro
in 1542;
WHEREAS:
Historical
and archaeological evidence has proven that around 500AD, the Tongva people
established the village of Puvungna in the location that is now known as Rancho
Los Alamitos and California State University, Long Beach;
WHEREAS:
Puvungna,
or "the Gathering Place," has invaluable spiritual and religious
significance and is considered sacred ground, as it was the birthplace of
Chinigchinich, the lawgiver and god of the Tongva, and continues to be a
ceremonial site and place of worship for many Indian tribes;
WHEREAS:
Puvungna
was recognized as an ancient burial site in 1972, when prehistoric remains were
discovered in LAn-235, the land immediately east of Bellflower Boulevard on the
campus of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB);
WHEREAS:
Puvungna
was subsequently adopted into the National Register of Historic Places, an
official list authorized under the National Historical Preservation Act of 1966
designed to protect and preserve historic and cultural sites in the United
States of America;
WHEREAS:
Puvungna
has reached near entire destruction by development in the Long Beach area and
the only remaining original, undeveloped land is located at CSULB;
WHEREAS:
The
National Congress of American Indians passed Resolution #SD-02-018,
"Protection of Threatened Sacred Places: An Urgent Priority," which
stated that the protection of Puvungna was vital for improving understanding of
Indian people and preserving Indian cultural values;
WHEREAS:
In
1995, CSULB President Robert C. Maxson, despite immense pressure from
developers and investors, took a bold step to protect the welfare of local
tribes by making and upholding a pledge to prohibit construction upon Puvungna
for the duration of his tenure;
WHEREAS:
CSULB
is an institute of higher education that teaches students to investigate and
understand their surrounding world and promotes multiculturalism, diversity,
and respect of all peoples, ethnicities, and cultures; therefore be it
RESOLVED:
That the Associated Students of CSULB encourage students to seek out
information about the Tongva and Acjacheman tribes, the Puvungna sacred land,
and the local and national history of American Indians; and be it
RESOLVED:
That the Associated Students of CSULB set a high standard of civility and serve
as a model to others in regards to respecting the cultures, customs, and values
of all peoples; and be it
RESOLVED:
That the Associated Students of CSULB assert that a desire for potential
economic profits or expanded facilities is secondary to promoting the social
and cultural welfare of our fellow human beings; and be it
RESOLVED:
That the Associated Students of CSULB commend the courageous actions of
President Robert C. Maxson and protect his legacy by continuing his efforts to
prevent the destruction of the sacred land of Puvungna; and be it further
RESOLVED:
That the Associated Students of California State University, Long Beach rebuke
any consideration of development or construction upon the remaining land of
Puvungna and demand that Puvungna be protected as part of the CSULB campus in
perpetuity.