Series:

Environmental Activism in Los Angeles

Topic:

Social Movements

American Indian History

Environmental Movement

Biographical Note:

Tribal chairperson of the Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribal Council of San Gabriel. Instrumental in protecting tribal burial sites within the areas of the Ballona Wetlands in Los Angeles and the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach.

Interviewer:

Collings, Jane

Interviewee:

Morales, Anthony

Persons Present:

Morales and Collings.

Place Conducted:

San Gabriel Mission in San Gabriel, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Jane Collings, interviewer and senior editor, Center for Oral History Research; B.A., Communications, Antioch College; M.A., Communications, University of Iowa; Ph.D., Critical Studies, UCLA.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording. It was transcribed by a professional transcribing agency using a list of proper names and specialized terminology supplied by the interviewer. Morales was then given an opportunity to review the transcript and made a few corrections and additions. Those corrections were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research staff.

Length:

3.25 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

The series documents environmental activism in the Los Angeles area from the 1970s through to the present day. The majority of interviews are with either founders or knowledgeable participants in major regional environmental organizations. Represented groups embody a wide range of issues, including conservation, restoration, environmental justice and toxic waste disposal.Additional partially processed interviews are available through Library Special Collections.

Family history—History of Tongva Gabrielinos and the San Gabriel Mission—Growing up Gabrielino—Career development—Siblings—More on development as a youth—Morales's relationship with the Vietnam War—The Civil Rights Movement—Migration of Native American groups to Los Angeles—Preservation of sacred sites—Lack of federal recognition for the Gabrielino tribe—Los Angeles State Historic Park (nicknamed Cornfields Park).

More on growing up Gabrielino—Wife and children—Involvement of Gabrielinos in San Gabriel’s Smith Park—Lack of legislation regarding Native American rights--Involvement of Congresswoman Hilda Solis in Native American issues—Federal recognition of the tribe—Duties as chief of the tribe—Activism on behalf of the Ballona Wetlands—Cornfields Park—Lillian Robles—Activism in Long Beach area—Tribal name—The evolution of Gabrielino culture—Translating between cultures.