LOS ANGELES — Today, L.A. City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez introduced a package of legislation aimed at redressing harms caused to Indigenous communities and advancing language justice and indigenous-led initiatives at the City of Los Angeles.
Last year, audio surfaced of a past conversation between City leaders in which, among other alarming sentiments, there were clear and indefensible anti-Oaxacan remarks made. These comments denigrated pre-Columbian languages and perpetuated a long history of discrimination against a significant group of L.A.’s immigrant population.
Furthermore, while there are hundreds of languages other than English spoken in Los Angeles, the City Council still does not have its own Language Access Plan, despite the City Council serving as a primary window for Angelenos to engage and interact with their local government.
In consultation with local Indigenous scholars, Councilmember Hernandez today introduced two motions and a resolution aimed at addressing these gaps and ensuring that all cultures and languages are represented at the City and that everyone has equal access to participate in their local government.
“While Los Angeles prides itself in being a place where we embrace our diverse backgrounds, we still see the impact of centuries of harm on our Indigenous communities in our city,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “It’s time we acknowledge the harm done, and truly invest in the resources necessary to address the language barriers and make sure everyone feels empowered to participate in their local government.”
Councilmember Hernandez’s first motion directs the L.A. Civil Rights to report back on the feasibility of creating a commission on the lived experience of Indigenous peoples from countries of origin other than the United States living in Los Angeles, including but not limited to the Oaxacan community, in order to ensure that all Indigenous peoples are able to meaningfully participate in our City. She additionally introduced a motion asking the City’s Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) to create a City Council Language Justice Plan, including accessibility options for the City’s Council File Management System, agendas, and multilingual interpretation services for all City Council meetings, including Committees.
Hernandez also introduced a resolution formalizing an apology on behalf of the City of Los Angeles to the Oaxacan and Indigenous communities for the racist remarks made by its Councilmembers in later released tapes. The resolution further condemns the use of denigrating terms heard in the recorded conversation and commits to working with Oaxacans and other Indigenous communities to develop solutions for accessing and improving City programs, resources, and services.