Gabrielinos Took From the Land
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While I applaud Sandor Junkunc’s program which introduces students to the out-of-doors (Times, April 7), I object to his claim that the Conservation Pledge is “an old Indian saying.”
The Native Americans who first resided in the Los Angeles area (called Gabrielino by the Europeans) wrested their food and shelter as well as their games, toys and religious paraphernalia from the land. These people believed the plants and animals to be their brothers and they gave thanks individually and ritually for the use of the acorns for food, agave fiber for cordage and deer for meat, sinew and hides.
If the Gabrielino people (or any other native peoples) had only taken memories, they would not have survived.
SYLVIA McKENZIE
Covina
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