Water was sacred to the native peoples, and the L.A. River was used in spiritual/religious rituals and ceremonies.
The Chumash used tomols, which are plank boats, to navigate the ocean to the Channel Islands. They were made out of driftwood or cut redwood
The Los Angeles River shaped the lives of native tribes in many different ways. One of the main ways was by providing water, food sources, and plants such as willow bark, cottonwood, and yucca. These plants were used for making clothing, baskets, and boats. These boats were called tomols and were made from redwood and sometimes local pine. In addition to providing valuable resources, the water was also an important religious part of the tribes. Some of the tribes were the Tongva, Tataviam, and Chumash, and these native tribes used the water in ceremonies and believed that the water was older and wiser than them. They fought the Spanish for control of the water and resources of their home. However, when the Spanish took over, they wanted control of the area and all of its resources. Then, the Spanish built missions and enslaved the natives, forcing them to work, as part of their mission to promote Christianity and loyalty to Spain. To conclude, the L.A. River was a big part of the lives of native people.
This photo depicts Tataviam tribe members at the San Fernando Mission.In addition to the Tongva, a tribe located near the LA River, there was a tribe called the Tataviam. This photo depicts Tataviam tribe members at the San Fernando Mission.