Local Opinion
Local residents did not know about the local pictograph sites, although they were against graffiti. In their opinions, graffiti makes the neighborhood unattractive and conducive to increase in crime. It also negatively affects the property values within the neighborhood. In regards to the Native American community the residents feel that graffiti is disrespectful towards them. The residents also believe that if the neighborhood had better programs in terms of education, vandalism would be greatly reduced.
Native American & Archaeological Perspective
Desireé Reneé Martinez, a Tongva archaeologist, spoke to us about indigenous archaeology and the relationship between tribes and archaeologists in regards to ritual sites and burial grounds. As both a Native American and an archaeologist, we asked how she reconciles the archeological need for knowledge with the Native American need for secrecy, giving our project as an example. She replied that it is a very difficult issue, but that ultimately the desire for secrecy must be respected. She also said that for certain sites (she specifically mentioned puberty sites), outside knowledge of the site takes power away from the Native American community. She expressed the barrier between archaeologists and Native Americans in the form of questions: archaeologists ask, "Who are you to withhold this information?" and Native Americans ask, "Who are you to ask for this information?" and the disagreement only perpetuates misunderstanding. One other interesting thing she said was that she will not show pictographs when she teaches. She said that she does not know what the images were drawn for and what powers they might have, and that she doesn't want to be responsible for bringing harm to someone in her class by showing them images that could affect them in some way.
