A tribe returns, joyful, to 51 acres in the San Gabriel foothills

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Set us as preferred A 51-acre piece of land along the Pacific Crest Trail above Santa Clarita is going back to descendants of the people who once lived there.The couple who owned it marketed the plot as a potential glamping site, but they decided to sell it instead to the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians.The tribe traces its history to villages throughout the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.

On Wednesday, tribal members reconnected with the plants, birds and bugs among the chaparral of the San Gabriel foothills.Government officials and neighbors celebrated with them.

It was the tribe’s second land return, made possible with state funding, after spending more than a century without a single acre to their name.“We’ve been known as a landless tribe.Living in your apartment or house, you could have a small garden,” said Jesus Alvarez, board president of the tribe’s conservancy and a tribal citizen.

Now, he imagines days in the not-too-distant future where 5-year-olds learn by roaming these hills, not just listening to stories.“It’s going to be really special to see kids just do that,” he said.“‘You have a stomachache? Make tea out of this.’ That’s going to be normal.”Julia Samaniego, a tribal citizen and ethnobotanist, walked among plants she considers relatives.

A wispy sagebrush offered up its scent as a natural cologne.Bushes of chamise, with bulbous needle-like leaves, could use a visit from their good friend, fire, she mused.

A California fuchsia, with bright scarlet flowers, heals the soil and entices hummingbirds.A yucca holds the earth with its roots to keep the trail level.

And so much native chia — the kind you can’t find in grocery stores.Samaniego threw her hands up, elated.“I want to cook for you guys!” she said.“I’ve been to so many places in L....