Tribes rebury ancestors’ remains

Eron Ben-Yehuda

In a private ceremony last week, American Indians reburied what are

believed to be remains of their ancestors on the Bolsa Chica mesa.

The bones were unearthed by developer Hearthside Homes, which plans to

build more than 1,200 residences on the 215-acre coastal property

overlooking the wetlands. The bones included a cheekbone fragment and a

tooth.

About a dozen members of the Gabrielino and Juaneno tribes attended the

half-hour ceremony. They sang, prayed, sprinkled tobacco on the ground

and burned sage, said Martin Alcala, a Gabrielino.

Some Juanenos, who refused to comment, wore red bandannas and carried

short wooden sticks adorned with animal furs.

The sacred rituals helped release ancestors to the spirit world, Alcala

said.

When the bones were discovered in August, Hearthside contacted the “most

likely” descendants, who are appointed by the state, said Lucy Dunn, the

company’s executive vice president.

Months passed before Nov. 11 ceremony because the tribes couldn’t agree

on what to do with the remains, she said.

“The problem is the tribes don’t get along with each other.”

Some who ended up boycotting the reburial criticized those who did

attend, calling them tools of the developer.

“They’re being used,” said Lillian Robles, a Juaneno. “They have no

honor.”

But even one Gabrielino who participated lashed out at Hearthside,

formerly the Koll Real Estate Group, for building on what some consider

to be an American Indian burial ground with remains dating back thousands

of years.

“I don’t believe there is any culture that would wish to see their loved

ones disturbed,” said Sam Dunlap, a Gabrielino.

He expects more bones will be exposed as Hearthside moves forward with

its building plans.

“You’re going to have more reburials come up, for sure,” he said. “It’s a

continuing saga.”

Despite their strong disagreements, Alcala hopes the tribes find common

ground.

“Our creator and our ancestors need us to work together and not against

each other.”