There are no federally-recognized Native American tribes in Los Angeles, Ventura, or Orange County. That’s largely because it can be an incredibly long and difficult process — including collecting historical records, genealogy documentation, and tribal history — and it doesn’t always end in success.
But gaining recognition can mean a lot for a tribe, according to Rudy Ortega, Jr., the tribal president of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.
“You can legally and actually open an accou...