It is important to note that the written word can not convey the meaning, feelings, and inflection that the oral tradition conveys.  The words here were transcribed from audio tape, any errors in translation are mine alone.
-Charles P. White

Charles:
When you saw the walkers coming in today for the first time, can you tell me what was in your heart?

Lillien:
I was so proud I wanted to cry. I almost cried. Because they were coming to Puvungna, and we have been fighting to save Puvungna for the last five years. This is what we fought for, for our people to have a beautiful spot where they could meet, to have ceremony like we used to years ago.

Charles:
What is Puvungna?

Lillien:
It is the site of a village and it is also a sacred site. California State University of Long Beach is built upon 350 acres of Puvungna. Puvungna was one of the largest villages in our land. This is a milestone that the walkers come here. Do you feel the spirit here?

Charles:
Yes I do... it's beautiful in the middle of the city. What are the College's plans for this location?

Lillien:
Well, originally they planned to build a mini mall, then faculty housing. We held them back. They said there was nothing here. They also had a sign here that said, "This is Puvunga, an ancient village where the Gabralino's (Tongva) once lived here. We have been to court three or four times and it is still in litigation. We know, that in the long run the good will prevail. The California Indian People have been cheated of so very very much that it's not only the church, the mission church took our people and made them slaves, we lost our language, we lost our land. We are the original people of this land, and we have to buy our homes just like everyone else. The Government has been dragging its feet for over 200 years. They want us to become assimilated so they don't have to deal with us. We try to hang onto our culture, it is not an easy thing to hang on to a culture within a dominate society. We are retrieving our languages and our culture and our land. Our old ways. I'm so proud of these young people that are going to walk to Sacramento. If my health would permit me, I would do some walking too. I am 82 and I am diabetic, but I did go to meet them.

Charles:
I understand that in the early 90's that you were living here in Puvungna?

Lillien:
I camped here for 15 days. I didn't go home for 15 days. I came out on my front lawn and I prayed, and I asked the ancestors what I should do, and I got a message… the message said, "go on the land… stay on the land… and protect the land." And that is what I did. I didn't analyze it, I didn't say, "I got bats in the belfry" I prayed for the message and I got it. And I did that. Actually, my role was to just stay, and protect the land and pray for the land. The people responded and came and sat with me. We didn't know where we would be able to get the money to save the land, but the ACLU came in, and the California Heritage Commission hired a lawyer. They did a wonderful job, because there is no mini-mall here, and there is no faculty housing.

Charles:
If you could talk to each of the Walkers, what would you say from your heart to each of the walkers.

Lillien:
Our Ancestors are walking beside you. I'm want to cry. (She takes a minute to wipe her eyes.)  The hundreds of thousands of Indians that have gone before us, our ancestors, we carry their blood in us. Many can't see them, but they are walking spiritually beside us, and they are giving us the strength we need and the energy, and the honor that they represent all of us, and we will prevail.

The non-Indian community, will recognize that we are a good people and that we have suffered greatly, that our land was taken, that our language was taken, that our culture was taken. We are retrieving these things, and we are retrieving it with honor. The non-Indian people all know in their hearts the right thing to do. The government will know to what the right thing to do, because basically… humans are good people. I have high hopes. The ancestors will reach some of them and reach them too. I am happy that you are here, that the Walkers are here to honor the ancestors.

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