The Native American Indigenous Collaborative is conducting lab testing in Oregon to supply clean and sustainable deer grass for the Tongva Basketry Collective, a generational cohort of basket weavers.
LBCC and the NAIC received a request from the Tongva, the native land stewards of the Los Angeles Basin, to cease the use of pesticides on campus deergrass.
“The institution and we, as the collaborative, didn’t even know what we were growing until one of our Tongva leaders said that it was deergrass and that they needed it,” said Rio Medina, co-founder and community liaison of the NAIC.
This perennial bunchgrass spans from the T building to the campus parking structure, it’s currently being profiled to be harvested in December or January.
“They put it in their mouths and with their saliva they create moisture for the baskets. It’s a ceremonial and traditional practice. If they put it in their mouths and ingest it with pesticides, they could get sick,” said Medina.
In August, the NAIC began their search for soil labs that would ensure no pesticides on the deer grass.
Many California labs declined due to a lawsuit with the pesticide Roundup, which had increased the risk for liability.
Oregon’s connection with their local native communities contributed to their involvement in the project.
“(The staff at the lab are) very familiar with why they need to test it and why it’s important. Even though there’s a high level of cost and liability, when it comes to being culturally relevant and supporting your local native community, Oregon has gone above and beyond,” said Medina.
The testing process is still ongoing and the results of the deer grass have yet to be sent back.
As of now, Medina and the NAIC are doing walk-throughs with Tongva leaders to check the development and growth of the deer grass.
“LBCC is engaged in discussions with representatives of the Tongva people regarding the cultivation of deer grass at the Liberal Arts Campus for use in their traditional basket weaving. LBCC does not actively or regularly use pesticides on the deer grass,” said Stacey Ann Fong Toda, LBCC public relations representative. “LBCC has agreed to have the plants tested to ensure they are free of contaminants that would make them unsafe for human contact.”
The NAIC is working on an agreement that will confirm the Tongva’s harvesting and reserve spaces on campus where they can gather deer grass.
“I’m hoping that we can be the data point that supports other community colleges and universities,” said Medina. “There’s always a risk in doing this type of agreement, but the amount of benefits that come, not only for the cultural native community but for the larger community, I wouldn’t see why campuses wouldn’t want to do this work.”