Editing Eschscholzia californica (section)

=== Tongva (Garbrielino tribe) ===
In the 19th century, the California poppy held a dual identity, both as a botanical native and as a symbolic representation of California. It was crafted to embody the essence of a "true" Californian, celebrated and used predominantly by the white Californian community.<ref name="Reynolds-2023" /> The Native Daughters and Sons of the Golden West played a pivotal role in establishing the California poppy as a cultural icon.<ref name="Reynolds-2023" />

In contrast, the Tongva peoples of the San Gabriel Valley region recognized the California poppy by the term, ''Mekachaa.''<ref name="Reynolds-2023" /> Such indigenous communities interpret the Mekechaa as a plant relative, and actively resisted attempts to appropriate its existence through artistic community projects.<ref name="Reynolds-2023" /> In ''Waa'aka','' the final plant created by the Tongva's god of creation, ''Wiyot'', was the ''Island poppy'', described as "''golden as the sun, bringing beauty to the world''."<ref name="Reynolds-2023" />