Page 9 - November 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

AThe Tribal Tradition Of Sharing—All Year Long
spirit of sharing has long been a cherished tradition of Native Southern California Indian Tribes have perpetuated the tribal Americans, from the essence of our nation’s anksgiving story tradition of sharing with their countless community contributions to the often unsung deeds of Indian Tribes and Nations with to public safety, health, culture and education. Some contributions
gaming casinos. Southern California Indian Tribes have extended their charitable e orts since the mid-nineties, when the Barona, Sycuan and Viejas Tribes of San Diego County used gaming revenues to e ect change on and o their reservations.
even affect the national community as you will read below. In this month of Thanksgiving, we highlight just a few of these contributions, which continue throughout the year.
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ $3 Million Donation to Cal State OSan Bernardino Leads to Ground Breaking on Student Union Expansion
n October 8th Bird Singers, traditional Serrano prayers and blessings by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians tribal elders marked
the momentous ground-breaking of the expansion of the California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB) student union. San Manuel tribal members, university president Dr. Albert Karnig and CSUSB students gathered at the expansion construction site of the $18 million Santos Manuel Student Union for a special ground breaking ceremony.
“Our tribe has made education a priority among our people and our hope is that this expanded student union will enhance the educational experience of current and future CSUSB students,” said Deron Marquez, Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
In March 2001, CSUSB students voted to increase student fees to expand the student union and construct a new student recreation center. Along with student fees, the construction of the new student union is funded by a $3 million donation from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, one of the largest gifts from a Native American tribe to any of the 23 California State University campuses.
“ is new facility will be essential in serving the future students at Cal State San Bernardino,” university
president Albert Karnig, said. “We are honored that the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has made an investment in the future of this university and the future of Cal State students.”
e union is named in honor of Santos Manuel, a tribal leader who guided the Serranos from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Manuel Ranch, which
eventually became the San Manuel Reservation in 1890. e tribe is an active supporter of Cal State San Bernardino and has earmarked part of the $3 million gift to go to developing endowed scholarship
and internship programs.
e San Manuel Tribe own and operate San
United Auburn Indian Community’s $200,000 Donation Part of $1 Million Annually Given to
OCommunity
n October 14th the United Auburn Indian Community, owners of Thunder Valley Casino near Sacramento, donated $50,000 to the Newcastle Fire Department. e donation from the
Community Giving Program, a philanthropic branch established earlier this year, is part of the tribe’s annual $1,000,000 funds to be dispersed to nonpro t organizations in Placer County. e donation comes at a time when the re district has a great need.
“ e Newcastle Fire Department has traditionally been very, very responsive to any kind of problem on the reservation,” said Kris Martin, executive director of the giving program. “ e tribe felt very strongly that they wanted to acknowledge that support.”
Other recipients of the program’s third quarter donations include $50,000 to the Assistance League of Greater Placer County, $50,000 to the Placer Land Trust, $8,000 to the Skyridge Elementary School, $10,000 for the Gold County Toy Run, and $20,700 to the Placer Independent Resources Services. e program has also authorized a challenge grant to the American Legion War Memorial Fund to provide matching funds up to $6,550.
Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino in Highland, CA. Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Donates $500,000 to
Smithsonian Museum
T
he National Museum of the American Indian, which opened on September 21st in Washington D.C., honors and represents the culture of Native Americans. Fifteen
years in the making, and at a cost of $219 million, the new Smithsonian museum had
unprecedented involvement from American Indians on several levels. Tribal representatives selected items that would be on display from the Smithsonian’s 800,000-artifact collection. e collaboration allowed tribes how to tell their story of an ancient civilization that was nearly
destroyed by ve centuries of contact with Europeans, but has persevered.
A handful of American Indian Tribes was responsible for contributing more than one-third of the $96 million in private monies that was raised, thus far, to build the museum. ( e rest of the money came from Congress.) One of those tribes is the Palm Spring’s Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians, owners of the Agua Caliente Casino and Spa Resort Casino. Making the donation was important, Chairman Milanovitch has said, because the museum is the rst of its kind in the nation’s capital. Other major donors include the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and the Mohegan Tribe, both of Connecticut; the Oneida Indian Nation; and in addition, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.
e museum is expected to draw about 4 million visitors a year. It occupies the last major space on the 200-acre mall that stretches west from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
NOVEMBER 2004 Page 9
Southern California Tribes in the News