Tribal History

Antonio Maria Ortega (Jose Rosario)
Antonio Maria Ortega was born September 1857 to Fernando Ortega and Maria Rita Alipas whom were the landowners of el Rancho Encino. In 1935 the Bureau of Indian Affairs acknowledge Antonio as Tribal leader under the name of Jose Rosario. Just a few years before the Bureau acknowledged Antonio, John P. Harrington had visited the San Fernando Mission in research of local natives. Harrington was referred to Antonio by many other Fernandenos to speak the Fernandeno (Tataviam) language. Harrington had tried to interview Antonio however unsuccessful and interview an informant who knew Antonio and many of the Fernandenos. The informant had learned some Fernandeno words as well as he knew some information on the local tribes.

Antonio had worked for the Lopez family in Tejon and in San Fernando for Geronimo Lopez. When working for Geronimo Lopez he met his wife to be Ysidora Garcia who also worked for the Lopez. Together they raised three sons and five daughters. In his later years he’d operated a small business from a candy stand on the corner of Cornell and Mission Boulevard in city San Fernando.

Rancho Encino
Antonio's mother Maria Rita Alipas inherited the land of el Rancho Encino from her grandfather Tiburcio Cayo and her father Francisco Papabubaba whom were the Indian landowners. Tiburico Cayo originally from the village of Tapuu in Simi Valley had received title of el Encino land in 1840 circa from the San Fernando Mission. Later his lands were recorded as a Mexican land grant. Francisco Papabubaba was born in the village of Tochonanga (Place of the Stones) in Newhall. Francisco married one of Tiburico Cayo daughter’s and lived at el Rancho Encino that was referred to as Sjútkanga (Place of the Oak tree).

In 1852 the City of Los Agneles and Governor of California Pio Pico challenged the Rancho Encino land grant before the US Land Commission. Argued rather the lands of Rancho Encino where title to the Indians of San Fernando Mission (Fernandenos). The US Court in October 1855 confirmed and recognized the Mexican land grant of 4460.73 acres granting the land to the Indians and part owner Vincent del la Osa. Later del la Osa became full title owner of Rancho Encino and had sold lands to Eugene Garnier in 1869 for $9,000.