Page 15 - December 2003 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
October Firestorms Devastate Tribal Lands in San Diego
Tand San Bernardino Counties
hirteen federally recognized tribes were a ected of the Kumeyaay Nation, owners of Sycuan Casino by the devastating October wild res in Southern & Resort, had 30 acres burned. e Viejas Band of California in October. e Barona Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, owners of Viejas Casino, had
destroyed, leaving the hillside reservation vulnerable to devastating erosion. All casinos are currently open, safe and back to normal.
Disaster Fund Created for Tribes Devastated by Fires
e California Nations Indian Gaming Association (cniga) established a disaster relief fund in late October for the California Tribes a ected by the Southern California res. e fund was established at the Borrego Springs Bank to provide immediate assistance to tribes directly impacted by the res. It will be a permanent fund for future disasters. Persons wishing to contribute can send contributions to: e Disaster Relief Fund for Tribes, Borrego Springs Bank, 7777 Alvarado Road, Suite 114, La Mesa, CA 91941.
Mission Indians, owners of the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, had all 6,296 acres of their reservation land burned, and 40 homes were lost. e San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, owners of Valley View Casino, sustained two deaths and all 1,380 acres of reservation land was burned. All 68 homes on the reservation were burned when re swept through Valley Center. e Rincon Band of Mission Indians, owners of Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort, had over 20 homes lost and three-quarters of the 4,269-acre reservation were scorched. e La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, owners of the La Jolla Reservation Slot Arcade, had more than 2,000 acres of the 8,541-acre reservation burned. e Sycuan Band
half of its 1,609 acres burned. e Capitan Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians had all 15,753 acres of reservation land burned. On the Inaja-Cosmit Reservation all 852 acres were burned. e Santa Ysabel Band of Mission Indians had 150 of 15,527 acres burned. e Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay Indians (formerly the Cuyapaipe Band of Mission Indians) were evacuated and had ve acres burned. e Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians (1,802 total reservation acres) and the La Posta Reservation were evacuated, but there was no damage to the reservations.
e San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, owners of the San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino near San Bernardino had all 700 acres burned with two homes
Three Southern California Tribes Donate Millions for Fire Relief
San Manuel Band Donates $1 Million to Fire Victims
On October 31, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians announced a donation of $1 million in disaster relief to various organizations and wild re victims in San Bernardino. e donation was earmarked for providing substantial aid to those who faced massive destruction and
loss of homes caused by the wild res in Southern California.
Of the $1 million, the Tribe will give $500,000 to a disaster relief fund set up by Mayor Judith Valles for the impacted people of the city of San Bernardino; $200,000 to help employees of the Tribe
who have lost their homes; $100,000 to the local American Red Cross chapter; $100,000 to the Disaster Relief Fund for Tribes established
by cniga to aid fellow tribes who su ered loss and damage on their reservations; and the remainder will be made available for other employees and organizations as needed in the coming weeks.
Morongo Band of Mission Indians Donates $1 Million to the Riverside County Chapter of the American Red Cross
e Morongo Band of Mission Indians announced a $1 million donation to the Riverside County Chapter of the American Red Cross, the largest single donation in the tribe’s history.
Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians Celebrate 7th Annual FWinter Gathering December Powwow
It
was announced that the funds would be used to provide immediate relief to victims of the recent Southern California wild res and for Riverside County residents a ected by future disasters. e $1 million gift from the Tribe was extremely timely, as the Riverside County Chapter of the American Red Cross was facing potential cuts in
services because donations had fallen o .
Sycuan Tribe Creates $1 Million Fire Relief Fund
On November 12, the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation announced that the Tribe has created the Sycuan East County Fire Relief Fund to help its San Diego East
County neighbors rebuild after the disastrous res last month. e Tribe will contribute a total of $1 million for a variety of
community projects and direct assistance to re victims.
A major portion of the $1 million fund will be dispersed directly to residents who lost their homes in Harbison Canyon and Crest. Each family will receive a check for $500 to help them recover. e Sycuan East County Fire Relief Fund will also provide grants to several community organizations to assist in rebuilding their facilities and programs. e Fund will provide a $100,000 grant to rebuild the Crest Community Center, a $100,000 grant to rebuild the Harbison Canyon Fire Station, and a $100,000 grant to the Alpine Community Center. For more information about the Sycuan East County Fire Relief Fund, contact Adam Day
at 619-445-2613.
rom December 12-14 at the Trump 29 Casino grounds in Indio, join the Admission and registration are free of charge. Grand Entry times are Friday at Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians for their 7th Annual Winter 6 p.m., Saturday at 12 noon and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 12 noon. ere will be a Gathering. Open to the public, powwows are tribal gatherings that celebrate $16,000 Drum Contest with 1st prize: $6000 plus jackets, 2nd prize: $4000, 3rd
life with competitive dancing, drumming, and games, plus fantastic food, and arts and crafts. Don’t miss the Grand Entry — a wonderful spectacle with dance and music. Please note that alcohol is not permitted at powwows. And, please be certain to ask permission before you take any photos of tribal members in their regalia.
prize: $3000, 4th prize: $2000, and 5th prize: $1000. M.C.: Tom Phillips, Head Woman: Josephine George, Head Man: Ardell Scalplock, Head Drum-Judge: Earl Wood, Arena Director: Rick Yazzie. Contact: Brandy Good Bu alo at 760 775- 3239 at Trump 29 Casino Indio, California for more information.
DECEMBER 2003 Page 15
Southern California Tribes in the News