Wikangna (pronounced wi-kong-na) [1] was a Tongva village located in the Crescenta Valley area, possibly in Las Barras Canyon at the site of the Verdugo Hills Golf Course. [2] [3] Wikangna was one of three central villages located in the Crescenta Valley area, including Tuyunga and the largest settlement of Hahamongna. [2]
Wikangna prospered for thousands of years, thriving off the abundance of the local flora and fauna of the area, [2] including large sprawling oak forest (of which a small part remains) and a small spring. [4]
The arrival of Spanish colonizers in 1771 led to the decline of the village. This similarly occurred with nearby villages in the area. [2] Wikangna was likely abandoned completely during the mission period. [3]
After the missions were secularized by the First Mexican Republic in 1833, some villagers who survived the high death rate of the missions, returned to Wikangna shortly. [3] This was noted by Phil Begue, whose family purchased the land in 1882, recalling that there were a band of "Indians" camped in the area before his family took possession of the land. [3] It is likely they were chased off the land shortly after. [3]
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