Signed Into Law On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Assemblymember Holden’s Historic Legislation Will Rename Route 210 To Commemorate Tribal Lands

Sacramento, CA – Today, Governor Newsom signed Assemblymember Chris Holden’s legislation, AB 776, which will rename Route 210 and require the California Department of Transportation, through the erection of highway signs, to identify locations of historical and cultural importance to the California tribes local to, or historically located along Route 210.

“All along Route 210, an unseen history has gone unacknowledged for decades. It is too easy to jump in your car and cruise down the 210 without thinking of the sacred lands once untouched by modern industrialism. It is not only important to continue fostering change but also to acknowledge the vital impact of change, and whose immeasurable suffering played a part in where we are today,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden.

“This bill is important to the Southern California Native American Community because it provides visibility of our continued presence. Acknowledging this route acknowledges our ancestors who established the route, we are the First People of Los Angeles. This freeway is utilized to move us forward and the name creates a space for all of us to look back and forward. There are many historical contributions our ancestors made on our ancestral homelands, this provides honor and awareness. We are still here. We are grateful to all elected officials that worked diligently to make this happen and we look forward to future partnerships to raise the awareness and voices of the Native Americans in California,” said Mona Morales Recalde, on behalf of the San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians.

“I want to thank Assemblymember Holden for introducing AB 776 which I coauthored. It is important to increase awareness of the millennia-long and continuing presence of California Native Americans in the state and in Southern California in particular. I especially appreciate that Assemblymember Holden requires Caltrans consultation with area tribes so that they have a voice and input in the sharing of their history and contributions,” said Assemblymember James Ramos.

AB 776 is another step in California’s effort to increase the visibility of Local Tribes in Los Angeles and San Bernardino by creating a process within the Department of Transportation to identify tribal lands along Route 210. Southern California tribal cultural affiliations along the freeway include Cahuilla, Chumash, Gabrieleno/Tongva, Fernandeno/Tataviam and Serrano.

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