The Tongva response reframed Billie Eilish’s viral moment from applause line to unfinished obligation. They welcomed her courage to say “no one is illegal on stolen land,” yet gently exposed the gap between symbolism and relationship: she lives, works, and wins awards on their homeland, but has never reached out to them. Their message wasn’t a culture-war soundbite or a demand to hand over property; it was a call to name them, to know them, and to build something lasting.
By partnering with the Recording Academy on land acknowledgments, the Tongva turned a fleeting Grammy speech into an opening for repair. They asked for visibility that doesn’t vanish when the cameras cut, for artists to weave Indigenous presence into tours, philanthropy, and daily life. Their closing words — “Ekwa Shem – We are here” — insist that any honest future in Los Angeles must finally see who has been here all along.
