Rudy Ortega, Jr.

TITLE

Tribal President, Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

LOCATION

San Fernando, United States

ABOUT

Rudy Ortega, Jr. is the Tribal President of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, a native sovereign nation in northern Los Angeles County. His leadership is grounded in his family’s legacy, with ties to his great-grandfather, Antonio Maria Ortega, who represented the Fernandeños in the 1870s during a land dispute. Rudy began shadowing his father, Rudy Ortega Sr., at a young age, learning about the cultural and political challenges the Tribe faced.

In 1997, he was confirmed as Tribal Captain and after his father’s passing in 2009, he was elected as Tribal President. Under Rudy’s leadership, the Tribe has asserted its sovereignty, advanced economic development, and developed the Tribal Climate Resiliency Plan to address environmental challenges.

“For time immemorial, my Tribe, the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, has carried the wisdom of our ancestors in our hearts and the future of our descendants in our hands. As global temperatures rise and the damage to land, water, and life continues to threaten self-determination, traditional ways of life, and practices, addressing the impacts of climate change in our historical Tribal territory is essential to the future of our people,” explains Rudy.

MOTIVATIONS

Tribes, such as the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians, face unique challenges from climate change, largely due to their deep connection to the land and reliance on ecosystems for cultural and physical survival. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), which guides sustainable resource use, is under threat as rapid climate shifts disrupt ecosystems, making it difficult to maintain practices tied to food, medicine, and spiritual life. As these local environments change, tribes risk losing their traditional ways of life.

Water scarcity is another critical issue, with droughts and industrial water extraction endangering the supply of clean water in tribal lands. Given the spiritual and practical significance of water to many Indigenous communities, this challenge is particularly severe. Health disparities among Indigenous populations, already worsened by economic marginalization, are compounded by climate change, increasing the risks of disease, heat exposure, and environmental pollution.

Despite these challenges, tribes hold valuable knowledge that can contribute significantly to climate action. Indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship and sustainability are crucial in addressing climate change. However, Indigenous voices are often underrepresented in climate policy discussions. It is vital to include tribes in decision-making processes to ensure that solutions respect their rights and knowledge.

“This is why we set out to chart our path towards climate resiliency,” says Rudy. “We chose not to do it alone but rather with climate experts, combining Traditional Ecological Knowledge with current data and science to come up with solutions that are implementable, fundable, and replicable.”

IMPACT

To address these challenges, the Tribal Climate Resiliency Plan, under Rudy’s leadership, has set out a range of solutions:

• Expanding access to heat adaptation resources, such as home air conditioning and insulation retrofits, and installing shade and water structures in public spaces. The Tribe is also working to increase tree canopy coverage to reduce temperatures in urban areas.
• Cooling centres and resilience hubs are being developed to provide resources and support during extreme heat events and other climate-related emergencies. These hubs will also help reduce carbon pollution.
• The Tribe’s partnership with UCLA’s Los Angeles Regional Collaborative (LARC), Rising Communities, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is helping to tackle extreme heat risks. From 2024 to 2026, the LARC-HEAT initiative will create a network of trusted messengers to share heat safety resources with vulnerable communities. The Tribe will hire eight local community members to reach 9,000 people through outreach and community meetings, creating a model that can be scaled and replicated.
• With a grant from the USDA’s Inflation Reduction Act, the Tataviam Land Conservancy is planting 750 trees in disadvantaged communities to mitigate the effects of extreme heat, improve air quality, and restore local ecosystems.
• The Tribe has also established the Tribal Conservation Corps, an NGO that employs youth in nature-based solutions, such as tree planting, which addresses environmental challenges while providing job opportunities to young people.

CHALLENGES

The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians faces a range of climate-related challenges that threaten their lands, water resources, and way of life:

• Temperatures in Los Angeles County are projected to rise by 5.4°F by mid-century, with the Tribe’s territory expected to experience a 3-4°F increase. This rise will result in more frequent and severe heat waves, putting significant strain on Tribal communities.
• Severe drought conditions in the Southwestern U.S. are projected to increase by over 65% by mid-century, further straining water supplies. Water scarcity, already a critical issue due to industrial water extraction, poses a growing risk to the Tribe’s access to clean water.
• By mid-century, 2.2 hectares of Los Angeles County land are expected to burn annually due to increasingly frequent and intense wildfires.

RUDY’S ADVICE

“Collaboration is essential for greater impact. Climate resilience is too vast a challenge for any one entity to tackle alone. Our partnerships with institutions like Climate Resolve, Council for Watershed Health, and governmental agencies have allowed us to leverage resources and expertise we wouldn’t have had access to on our own. By collaborating across sectors, from academia to local government, we’ve been able to implement large-scale projects like tree planting initiatives and planning for resilience hubs that address multiple aspects of climate adaptation. For others working on climate or sovereignty issues, building strong networks and fostering collaboration will amplify the reach and impact of your efforts.

Cultural knowledge is a powerful tool in climate adaptation. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has played a significant role in shaping our approach to climate resilience. Indigenous peoples have always lived in harmony with the land, and these ancestral practices hold the key to many of today’s environmental challenges. Whether it’s through water conservation methods, sustainable agriculture, or land stewardship, TEK offers a wealth of knowledge that complements scientific approaches. For others working on similar issues, honouring and integrating this wisdom into modern climate adaptation strategies can lead to solutions that are not only effective but culturally grounded and respectful of Indigenous sovereignty.

Youth involvement also creates long-term sustainability. Through the Tribal Conservation Corps, we’ve been able to offer meaningful employment to youth while also addressing environmental challenges. The lessons learned here are simple: when young people are given the chance to contribute to real-world solutions, they become stewards of their community and environment. By focusing on their education, mentorship, and leadership development, we are cultivating the next generation of advocates for climate resilience and Indigenous sovereignty.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Rudy Ortega Jr. and the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians are leading efforts to address climate change using a combination of Indigenous knowledge and modern science. Here’s how you can support their work:

• For businesses and investors: Invest in Tribal-led initiatives, such as the Tataviam Land Conservancy and the development of resilience hubs. Your support will help expand these efforts and build climate resilience for the region.
• For NGOs and policymakers: Partner with the Tribe to incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge into broader climate strategies. Advocate for policies that empower Indigenous leadership in climate resilience.
• For individuals and consumers: Share the story of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and support policies and organisations focused on Indigenous sovereignty and environmental sustainability.

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