An Exhibition of Tongva Artists: Samantha Morales Johnson Yang and Molly Talamantes
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OUR RELATIONS / EYOHIINKEN: STORIES OF TOVANGAAR
An exhibition of Tongva artists Samantha Morales Johnson Yang and Molly Talamantes
Curated by Marianna Davison and James Nisbet
Samantha Morales Johnson Yang and Molly Talamantes engage the history ofIndigenous life and culture in the geographical demarcation of the Los AngelesBasin, traditionally called Tovangaar by the Tongva people. Our Relations /Eyohiinken: Stories of Tovangaar brings together original artistic work by Yang andTalamnates alongside media sources, both new and archival, to reflect on andactivate just ways of living in the lands of Tovangaar.
In four thematic sections—Gabrieleno Tongva History, Protect White Sage, LandStories (paxaavxa-yahoowech), and Archival Connections—the exhibition offers arange of responses to the conditions of how botanical life has been altered by thecolonial occupation and dispossession of Indigenous peoples from their traditionalhomelands in this region. Newly commissioned works, including Yang’s MountainBlue Hyacinths, 2025, respond to the effects of colonial non-stewardship andcatastrophic fires in Southern California, illustrating the return of native plants tocanyon lands scarred by the Eaton fire of 2025.
The opening section provides digital resources featuring the history of the Tongvatribe of Gabrieleno San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians (SGBMI). It opens with amap created by Yang of Gabrieleno Tonva Village sites, showing the traditionallystewarded lands of the Tongva peoples, stretching from the San Bernardinomountain range to Orange County’s Pacific coastline.
Our Relations / Eyohiinken: Stories of Tovangaar was curated by Marianna Davisonand James Nisbet, with consultation from Samantha MJ Yang and support fromKrystal Tribbett and the Orange County & South East Asian Archives. Programmingsupport has been provided by Rebecca Davis and UCI Humanities Core. Thisexhibition was made possible by the generous sponsorship of the SouthernCalifornia Arts Council.
