Native American Indian Commission in Los Angeles Celebrates 35 Years

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

Over 10,000 American Indians Received Emergency Services

LOS ANGELES - With the release of the latest census data for American Indians and Alaska Natives that discloses some 78 percent of the Native population lives away from tribal lands, it is not surprising that a county such as Los Angeles has a large Native population.

Many American Indians ended in Los Angeles as the result of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Urban Indian Relocation Program. Today there are some 200,000 American Indians who live in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Los Angeles County has the highest population of American Indians of any county in the United States.

The Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission provides services to this population that easily becomes invisible in the sprawling Los Angeles landscape that boasts close to 10 million people of all races.

The Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission recently celebrated its 35th Anniversary at a community luncheon. An ordinance created the Indian Commission on June 25, 1976.

Over 10,000 American Indians received "emergency services" provided by the Indian Commission, according to its latest annual report.

"The Indian Commission is very strong since although we do considerable work most of our people are volunteers. We have a small budget but the Indian Commission proves the point that concerned Indian people can do large, great things,"

stated Ron Andrade, Luiseno, who serves as executive director of the Indian Commission.

The Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission is a unique entity in that it works collaboratively with the county's Board of Supervisors and the City of Los Angeles.

The following were honored at the celebratory luncheon:

The Los Angeles Indian Commission remains the only Indian Commission of its nature in the United States with particular emphasis on advocating the needs of American Indians in the urban, off-reservation Los Angeles community.

posted February 20, 2012 6:00 am est