Urban Wilderness
Meet the Young Women Reimagining Taxidermy In L.A.
L.A.'s taxidermists are honoring the wildlife we share our city with—parking lots, high-rises, and all. Union costumer and taxidermist Sparkle Juarez says, “Taxidermy is not just about creating a relationship with an animal by honoring their life, it is about developing a connection with the person who sees your final piece. Maybe it’s a kid that will be inspired to carry on the practice of taxidermy." “It’ll last longer than any of us,” Paloma Strong, the 26-year-old owner of Strong Taxidermy, says.
Land Back: Over 500 Acres of Ancestral Territory in North L.A. Returned to Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians
The Tribe’s history is deeply interwoven into L.A. County and beyond. Its land once spanned more than 1.5 million acres, extending from the Antelope Valley to the Pacific Ocean. By 1900, the Tribe was rendered “landless,” with their territory reduced to zero through unjust land dispossession by the United States.
