ADVERTISEMENT
Their statement navigated the delicate balance between praise and critique. They appreciated that a young global pop star had used her platform to highlight the injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, drawing attention to systemic erasure and colonization. Yet they also pointedly reminded observers that this recognition must extend beyond speeches. “We are here,” the Tongva emphasized, invoking their enduring presence across lands often misrepresented as empty or forgotten. Their words underscored an urgent truth: acknowledgment is not merely symbolic; it must be paired with direct engagement and meaningful understanding.
