With the aid of local archaeologists, members of two Orange County tribes are working to preserve some remaining ancient tribal sites from development. In a unique turn of events bringing together the scientific community and Native Americans, the California Cultural Resource Preservation Alliance has been formed to aid this cause. The alliance has already identified at least 13 sites of cultural and archaeological importance, nine of which are in danger due to local development. Over 1,500 such sites have been identified throughout the county, one third of them already destroyed. While the alliance seeks to preserve such culturally important sites, they are often at odds with property owners on the usage of the land. State law requires that the most likely descendants be consulted on the handling of remains and artifacts found. But beyond that, legal protections based on a site's sacred value to native people do not exist. Anthony Morales, a Gabrieleno-Tongva appointed by the Heritage Commission states, “The last of our sacred sites and burial grounds are getting desecrated and destroyed. That's a shame. That's like going to somebody else's from another culture and uncovering their grandparents. You wouldn't want that from us. So don't do it to us.”
