Native tribe that owns land Billie Eilish’s $3 million mansion is on has message to singer after Grammys speech
A Native American tribe whose indigenous land is where Billie Eilish's California mansion sits have issued a message to the singer following her Grammys speech.
The star scooped up the 'Song of the Year' award for her track 'Wildflower' over the weekend and used the opportunity to make a pointed dig at increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Minneapolis.
"As grateful as I feel, I honestly don’t feel like I need to say anything but that no one is illegal on stolen land," the 24-year-old said on stage, referring to the European colonisation of the Americas between the 15th and 17th centuries.
She continued: "It’s just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now, and I just feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter.
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"And f**k ICE, that's all I'm gonna say. Sorry!"
Eilish's speech received a mixed response among viewers in the heavily divided country, with several people digging up an interesting detail about the 'Birds of a Feather' singer's reported $3 million (£2.1 million) family home in the Highland Park neighbourhood of Los Angeles sits on land originally belonging to the Tongva people.
A representative for the Tongva people has since confirmed the speculation, with a spokesperson issuing the following statement to MailOnline: "As the First People of the greater Los Angeles basin, we do understand that her home is situated in our ancestral land.
"Eilish has not contacted our tribe directly regarding her property, we do value the instance when Public Figures provide visibility to the true history of this country."
The spokesperson went on to express 'appreciation' for Eilish's Grammys statement and urged the 24-year-old singer, as well as other public figures speaking out about America, to include a reference to their nation.
"It is our hope that in future discussions, the tribe can explicitly be referenced to ensure the public understands that the greater Los Angeles basin remains Gabrielino Tongva territory," the spokesperson added.
They went on to say that they 'partnered closely with the Recording Academy to author the official Land Acknowledgment statement shared during Grammy week and at the Premiere Ceremony'.
The spokesperson said: "The Recording Academy has been an incredible partner to our tribe, and we look forward to continuing the relationship to ensure the voices of the First People of this land are heard and honoured. Ekwa Shem - We are here!"
LADbible has contacted representatives of Eilish for comment.
Who are the Tongva people?
Indigenous to a 4,000 square mile area in the Los Angeles Basin and the Southern Channel Islands, ancestors of the Tongva or Gabrielino people moved into the land which is now California around 3,500 years ago.
According to Gabrielino/Tongva nation, there are over 700 citizens living across the city and county of Los Angeles.
Unlike other Native American tribes across the US, the Tongva people do not have a federal reservation of their own.
Topics: Billie Eilish, Grammys, Music, US News, Celebrity
Brenna Cooper