November 2024
By Joanna Lee (ERI), Lupe Renteria Salome (ERI), and Janet Martinez (CIELO)
In recent years, as Indigenous Migrant communities gained more visibility—mainly through the hard work of community organizers and advocates—there has been more awareness and acknowledgment of the rich contributions of Indigenous migrants here in Los Angeles County. For decades, Indigenous communities from Mexico and Central America have contributed to the diverse culture of this region—from Oaxacan youth brass bands sharing their traditional music, night markets, street vendors, and restaurants sprinkled throughout the city, Alebrijes and other art displayed in local museums and galleries—despite often being marginalized or assumed to be part of Latinx culture. Over the years, continued invisibility and marginalization have led to harmful assumptions and false stereotypes, pushing communities farther into the shadows, similar to the dynamics they faced in their homelands.
However, CIELO and others continue to push back, sharing their narratives and fighting for visibility, recognition, and equity for Indigenous migrant communities – and building relationships and partnerships to support a more inclusive conversation around what it means to be an immigrant in Los Angeles. Though the lack of data on Indigenous migrant communities persists, particularly for larger administrative datasets, community data gathering efforts, such as CIELO’s survey efforts that began 2020, are key toward bridging the information gap – and bringing these communities into the mainstream conversation. CIELO’s long-term strategy to change the narrative of data visibility by collecting and publishing information on their communities – while still advocating for agencies and others to collect data – is a model for combining the need for data advocacy and action.
This report, in collaboration with the USC Equity Research Institute, seeks to provide insights and data for those seeking to understand better and serve Indigenous migrant communities in Los Angeles County. Due to the lack of detailed U.S. Census Bureau data on Indigenous migrant communities, we rely on community survey responses as our primary data source. CIELO collected these data between 2021 and 2023 during their outreach events.
Read our brief in partnership with USC Research and Equity Institute