Extreme Heat and Indigenous Communities in Los Angeles
A closer look at extreme heat and Indigenous Peoples in Los Angeles.
Land Acknowledgement: As we look over this StoryMap, we would like to respectfully acknowledge that the space we are sharing today resides on the unceded traditional homelands of the Chumash, Gabrielino (Tongva/Kizh), Serrano, and Tataviam people, and we would like to pay our respect to elders and relatives both past and present.
Indigenous Peoples in Los Angeles
This StoryMap looks at traditional land maps and Indigenous Peoples’ relationship with extreme heat in what is now known as Los Angeles County. For native nations and Indigenous Peoples (and anyone else who is interested) in Southern California, this StoryMap is very helpful.
Map of the traditional land boundaries in Southern California from the Digital Atlas of California Native Americans. The grey outline is the Los Angeles County border.
The land that we now call Los Angeles County are the traditional homelands of the Gabrielino (Tongva/Kizh), Tataviam, Chumash, and Serrano people. The map on the right shows the traditional land boundaries of these tribes based on the Digital Atlas of California Native Americans . Please note that while there are clear boundaries on the map, these may be less defined and drawn differently by different groups. Also, feel free to type in your address to discover which traditional lands you reside on.
The map below shows the number of self-identifying Native American and/or Alaska Native people in Los Angeles County. The map is divided by census tracts, which are boundaries created by the United States Census for data collection ( 1 ). Based on the map, we observe more Native Peoples in certain sections of the county, especially the northern and central regions. Many Indigenous People do reside in Los Angeles and L.A. has one of the highest concentrations of Native Americans in the U.S. ( 2 ).
Map showing the percentage of people identifying as Native American or Alaska Native in Los Angeles County. Darker colors mean that there is a higher concentration of self-identifying Indigenous Peoples.
Extreme Heat and Air Pollution in Los Angeles County
A map from NASA showing how temperatures can differ on a hot day in Los Angeles. Warmer colors mean that temperatures are higher.
Los Angeles County will have about 37 days of extreme heat annually between 2040 to 2060 ( 3 ). It is likely that urban areas will feel much hotter, in part due to the "urban heat island effect." This refers to the idea that cities are hotter than surrounding areas because of concrete structures and a lack of green space ( 3 ). Inland areas are also more likely to be hotter and based on the map presented in the introduction, many Native Americans live away from the coast.
The image above is an example of how temperatures vary across Los Angeles on a hot day. More inland areas are clearly hotter, as are areas that are highly developed (example: San Fernando and Downtown Los Angeles).
A few examples of how Native plants can be beneficial to the environment. Click on the image to learn more.
One potential area of improvement with respect to the urban heat island revolves around planting California native plants and including Indigenous groups in landscape planning. This could help cool down spaces for everyone living in Los Angeles County. Restoring places with native plants can also save water. Check out the image to the right for more information!
Unfortunately, Indigenous groups are going to be unfairly affected by climate change, largely due to the displacement of Native Americans from their traditional lands and a lack of Native perspectives in planning and policy ( 3 ). Native Americans are also more likely to live in areas with more air pollution, which will only get worse as it gets hotter ( 4 ). Bad air quality has many negative health effects, especially with respect to breathing and heart issues ( 3 ). Indigenous Peoples are also more likely to die due to heat-related causes ( 5 ). Despite this health risk, there has not been enough research done about the relationship between Native Americans and the health effects of extreme heat.
Community Characteristics
As described on the main StoryMap, we were interested in three traits: age, income, and public transit dependency (the amount of people who use public transit to get to work). These traits were studied as they can make residents more at risk of being hurt by extreme heat.
Maps that show age, median income, and public transit dependency for Los Angeles County are shown below. Note that we also included the traditional lands map for comparison purposes.
Age
Children Under 5
The map to the right shows the percentage of people under the age of 5 in Los Angeles County in each census tract. Darker pink and purple colors mean that there are more young people in a certain area.
In L.A. County, 5.55% of the population is under the age of 5 (light pink color). Children live throughout the county although we do see some areas with more children - especially in the northern and central parts of L.A. County.
Older Adults (65 Years and Up)
Areas with lots of older adults are more vulnerable during heat events. Older adults are at a higher risk of getting sick, or even dying, during heat events. Darker colors mean that there are more elders in an area.
In L.A. County, 13.98% of people are over the age of 65. In general, there are many older adults throughout L.A., however, there are especially high concentrations in the Northern area (Tataviam and Serrano land) and in certain areas along the coast and in central L.A.
Tribal elders are more likely to have a chronic disease and a lower life expectancy than older adults of other groups ( 8 ). Given these health risks, Indigenous older adults are especially at risk during heat events.
Our tribal leadership makes sure that vulnerable populations, like our elders, have cooling stations or any type of emergency checks...We need our elders. They're our language holders. They're our culture sharers.
Income
We also looked at income levels in Los Angeles County, where the median annual household income is $82,026. Census tracts that are mint green and light green fall below this line and can be thought of as lower income.
Past research has found that Native Americans experience poverty at greater rates than other groups, largely due to displacement and community erasure ( 6 ). Those who are lower income are more at risk during heat events, especially if people cannot afford or access air conditioning (AC). Residents may also not be able to pay for medical care, despite the fact that the number of emergency room visits rises during heat events ( 3 ).
Public Transit Dependency
Finally, we looked at the percentage of people who depend on public transportation (buses, railes, etc.) to get to work throughout Los Angeles County (right). The traditional land map is shown on the left. While Indigenous groups in the U.S. are more likely to not have access to reliable transportation, we could not find a lot of research about Indigenous Peoples in cities and their public transit usage ( 9 ).
As the colors get darker, a higher percent of people use public transportation when commuting (orange or red). Based on this map, it seems like more people in South Los Angeles (by downtown Los Angeles in Gabrielino (Tongva/Kizh) land) depend on public transit than in other areas. However, public transit dependency varies greatly throughout the County.
One thing to consider is that people who take public transportation to work are out in the heat when waiting for buses and trains. In many places throughout Los Angeles, especially in low income neighborhoods, heat exposure is made worse by a lack of trees.
Resources
Interactive Map
The map below shows different places in L.A. County that people can go to on hot days. Some "cool spots" include libraries (the purple book icon) and recreational centers (green icon). We recommend that you put your address into the WebApp to see what facilities are closest to you!
Please check each facility's hours before going to them during hot days!
Interactive map showing heat relief resources in L.A. County. Type in your address to get started!
Organizations
If you are interested in getting more involved with environmental justice efforts (related to extreme heat or otherwise), check out the following organizations.
Updates due to L.A. Wildfires
Air quality in Los Angeles has gotten worse due to the destructive wildfires that occurred throughout the city in January 2025. Indigenous communities generally are more likely to be exposed to air pollution from wildfires ( 10 ). This is concerning because wildfire pollution can be 10 times more harmful to human health than normal pollution ( 11 ). Even worse, it can stay in the air for months, or even years ( 11 ). Although the 2025 wildfires sparked major concerns about air quality throughout the region, these health risks and poor air quality have always been a reality and concern for communities who are on the frontline.
Information from the South Coast AQMD about how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Click on the image for more resources.
We encourage residents to check out the image on the left for guidance about how to stay safe during a wildfire. Also keep in mind that air quality indexes consider ash and other smoke particles, so while the air quality may be "good" you could still be exposed to toxins. Be cautious and wear a mask when needed.
As Los Angeles rebuilds, we urge the city and county governments to see this tragic climate disaster as an opportunity to reconnect Indigenous Peoples to their ancestral land and promote land back opportunities and give Native people that autonomy to engage in cultural practices. The Palisades fire is on Chumash, Gabrielino (Tongva/Kizh) land, while the Eaton fire is on Serrano, Tataviam, Gabrielino (Tongva/Kizh) land. There is no one better to manage the land than its original care takers. To learn more about the impacts of the wildfires on Indigenous land we encourage you to check out the Tongva Taraxat Paxaavxa Conservancy and the Tataviam Land Conservancy .
Sources
- United States Census Bureau. Census Tracts [Internet]. [cited 2024 Sep]. Available from: https://www2.census.gov/geo/pdfs/education/CensusTracts.pdf
- Asante-Muhammad, D., Kamra, E., Sanchez, C., Ramirez, K., and Tec, R. Racial Wealth Snapshot: Native Americas [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Feb]. Available from: https://ncrc.org/racial-wealth-snapshot-native-americans/
- Southern California Association of Governments. Extreme Heat & Public Health Report [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Feb]. Available from: https://scag.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/extremeheatpublichealthreportfinal_09302020.pdf?1634674354
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Study Examines Disparities in Air Pollution Affecting Native American Communities [Internet]. 2022 Mar [cited 2025 Feb]. Available from: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/study-examines-disparities-air-pollution-affecting-native-american-communities
- Alfonseca, K., and Grant, T. Why extreme heat endangers more Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people [Internet]. 2022 Jul [cited 2025 Feb]. Available from: https://abcnews.go.com/US/extreme-heat-endangers-black-hispanic-indigenous-people/story?id=87119868
- First 5 Center for Children's Policy. Support for Native American Infants, Toddlers, and their Families in California [Internet]. 2023 Aug [cited 2025 Mar]. Available from: https://first5center.org/assets/files/Support-for-Native-American-Infants-Toddlers-and-their-Families-in-CA.pdf
- National Integrated Heat Health Information System. Who Is Most At Risk To Extreme Heat [Internet]? [cited 2025 Mar]. Available from: https://www.heat.gov/pages/who-is-at-risk-to-extreme-heat
- Takshi, S. Justice for Tribal Elders: Issues Impacting American Indian and Alaska Native Older Adults [Internet]. 2023 Dec [cited 2025 Mar]. Available from: https://justiceinaging.org/justice-for-tribal-elders-issues-impacting-american-indian-and-alaska-native-older-adults/
- Sullivan, B. Clean Public Transportation Is Taking Indian Country the Extra Mile [Internet]. National Resources Defense Council; 2024 Sep [cited 2025 Mar]. Available from: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/isabella-sullivan/clean-public-transportation-taking-indian-country-extra-mile
- Pohl, J. Indigenous communities in California are disproportionately exposed to wildfire smoke [Internet]. University of Washington; 2024 Mar 5 [cited Feb 2025]. Available from: https://deohs.washington.edu/hsm-blog/indigenous-communities-california-are-disproportionately-exposed-wildfire-smoke
- Schrank, A. Concerned about LA air quality? Here are 7 expert tips [Internet]. LAist; 2025 Jan 21 [cited 2025 Jan]. Available from: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/la-air-quality-health-tips
