you are watching american history tv on c-span3. we will visit the santa monica history museum to learn about the area's earliest inhabitants, the tongva. >> the city of santa monica's geography is something that has always drawn people to the area. the ocean has always been a great source of abundance, from fish to abalone to all sorts of things that help people survive and create a culture. the los

angeles basin, there are originally where large rivers in los angeles which has changed over time, but they supported a large community of indigenous people in los angeles, extending to santa monica. the earliest community of residence where the tongva people, the indigenous or native american people who were here in los angeles. they are still here today, which we like to stress that. the tongva lived in santa monica and the los angeles basin. they had a very large tribal area from the san gabriel valley to the northern parts of orange county, all the way out to the islands in santa monica bay, san nicolas island and santa catalina. they also extend as far as malibu and border with chumash territory. the indigenous people in santa monica, the name "tongva" comes from several different sounds in the language that mean "mother earth" and "place within that earth." they are known for being very connected with their land. the tongva people were a very wealthy society due to the abundant natural world they were surrounded with. they were able to stay in one place. they were

not migratory. they traded with surrounding tribes and they were able to trade some very unique resources due to this location. a large, basically pond filled with tar between here and downtown los angeles, and it is near one of our large art museums, the los angeles county museum of art. that was a unique

resource, so the tar or pitch was a sticky, black substance. tongva used that to make tools, pitch their canoes. they did have oceangoing canoes where they would go out to the islands in santa monica bay and this tar or pitch was important for that, as well as other local societies they traded with. another unique resource that the tongva utilized was soapstone. soapstone is a type of rock that is known for being very malleable. you can carve it into cups, bowls, small implements, and it does not break. it can be placed directly in the fire without cracking. the tongva are known for not making any pottery

or ceramics, and it is believed the reason is because they had access to soapstone. most of it was mind on catalina island, and that was another item they would trade with the surrounding communities. european contact had a significant impact on the indigenous people. it was detrimental. in 1542, juan rodriguez cabrillo came and discovered california, and claimed it for spain. after that, in 1769, gaspar de portolla came with spanish fathers and soldiers to establish the mission system in california. the nearest mission to santa monica is in san gabriel, so san gabriel is about

an hour by car today, which was of course much farther if you are walking. the mission lifestyle was very harsh on the native people. they suffered from diseases. they suffered from the harsh living conditions. they are was -- there was such a significant culture change that it was difficult and many did not survive. there were uprisings within the missions. at san gabriel, one of the most favorite -- famous was led by a female shaman and orator, and admired within her tribe. this happened in the 1780's. she planned to attack the mission with other native men, planned an attack on the soldiers. it was unsuccessful and led to a court case. she was found

guilty. there are transcripts of that trial, and in it, she makes some eloquent remarks stating that the spanish were not respecting the life or the culture of the tongva and that was the reason for the attack. she was subsequently removed from her tribe and sent to northern california, separated from her people. today in los angeles, we have a significant native population that comes from all over the country, including the people that are tongva. you will see many murals honoring her. if you see a native woman in a mural, that is most often a representation of her. a tongva and -- tongvan phrase means "we are still here." >> our staff recently traveled

to santa monica, california to learn about its rich history. learn more about santa monica and other stops on our tour at sea spohn.org -- c-span.org. you are watching american history tv all weekend, every weekend on c-span3. >> next on the presidency, historians and economists discuss woodrow wilson's views on domestic policies, including women's and african-american rights, banking, and the federal reserve system. the wilson center in washington hosted this talk. it is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. >> this, i think, we'll see, i think may concentrate a little bit more back on wilson, himself. but believe me, it will be the legacies. it will be how he, what he did or didn't do, what others around