Page 17 - August 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

In March 2004, San Manuel bestowed $4 million to UCLA to support Native studies by establishing a Tribal Learning Community and Educational Exchange.
“We hope to increase awareness of, and grow interest in, the often ignored history of Native Americans and our ongoing legal strife at the state and federal level,” said Chairman Deron Marquez at the time.
San Manuel showcased another aspect of indigenous culture recently when it spent $178,000 to buy land for the family of soldier Lori Piestewa, the rst Native woman killed in action.
e TV program “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” raised a house for the Piestewas and gave many viewers their rst glimpse of Native life. e gesture demonstrated how Indians honor their warriors and provide for their families.
Agua Caliente donated $500,000 to help found the National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian institute that opened in September 2004.
e tribe felt it was an opportunity to tell their stories to visitors in the nation’s capital. e Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians collaborated with the museum’s sta and is one of eight tribes featured in the opening “Our Lives” exhibit.
Morongo gave $75,000 in 2004 to relocate 100 bison from Catalina Island to the Rosebud Sioux reservation in South Dakota. Chairman Maurice Lyons called it “an e ort to return not only the bu alo but a symbolic piece
In March 2004, members of the Pechanga
Directors for the Southwest County Boys &
donated to the organization that inspires and enables young people. Pechanga pledged to donate the same amount to the Boys & Girls Club for the next ve years.
of American Indian culture back to its roots.” Viejas cosponsored “Spirit of the Land,” a two-day conference on managing the environment using indigenous techniques and traditions.
Education and Children
When it comes to family values, Indians put their money where their mouths are. Almost every tribe stresses the importance of shepherding today’s youth for tomorrow.
San Manuel donated $3 million to Cal State University San Bernardino in 2004 to help expand the student union. “Our tribe has made education a priority among our people and our hope is that this expanded student union will enhance the education experience of current and future CSUSB students,” said Chairman Marquez.
San Manuel Tribal Elders and university President Dr. Albert Karnig at ground-breaking ceremony for California State University San Bernardino student union expansion in October 2004.
In 2004, Morongo contributed $250,000, more than half the cost, for Indians gave $400,000 toward the a 16,000-square-foot skate park in
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A “Keep ’Em Flying” golf tournament to restore “Betsy,” a 1943 Stinson L-5 aircraft.
In 2003, the Soboba Band of Luiseño
construction of a new public library in Hemet. It was the single largest gift from the tribe and the largest to the city. O cials named the library’s 2nd- oor community room “ e Soboba Room” to salute the Indians’ spirit of giving.
Banning. “When I grew up here, we had nothing,” said Chairman Lyons. In 2002, Barona donated $170,000 to help the Community Youth Athletic Center (CYAC) build a 3,700-square- foot boxing and educational facility in National City.
As another example, Pechanga held an “Our Kids Rock” auction and dinner in March 2005 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest County. e clubs collected $417,000 from the thousand-plus
attendees.
Holidays
People often feel a keen sense of privation during the holidays. It’s a time when gaming tribes respond freely to those in need.
In December 2004, Sycuan gave $335,000 to charities selected by its employees. e previous December, San Manuel donated $80,000 to 16 charities that appealed for assistance. Morongo’s Christmas o erings included $75,000 in 2003 and $30,000 in 2002, with an Indian-style Mrs. Santa Claus delivering stockings to children. Morongo also distributes thousands of turkeys to charities each anksgiving. Baronaholdsanannual“ShopwithaCop” event where kids partner with o cers to select presents.
“ e tribe’s tradition of outstanding community support sets a higher bar for leadership and parallels their Native heritage of nurturing and protecting the land,” said a United Way of the Desert o cial of Agua Caliente in 2003. Based on the evidence, one could say that about Southern California’s gaming tribes in general.
Rob Schmidt is an editor at Pechanga.net, the Internet news source, and writes for various gaming publications. The quotations for this article come from previous issues of the Southern California Gaming Guide.
Pechanga presented $350,000 to
seven local high schools in 2005. “By
supporting our youth, we planted the
seeds of hope for future generations,” the Beaumont High School band
said Patrick Murphy, president of the Pechanga Development Corp. is bequest followed one of $250,000 to ve schools in 2003.
$20,000 so it could play at Carnegie Hall. Pechanga hands out thousands of free Angels tickets so kids can attend ball games. Agua Caliente arranges for poor children to get new shoes. One boy whose grandmother had been sewing his size-15 basketball shoes received a custom-made pair.
Fundraisers
When they’re not bestowing money, tribes aid their communities by hosting events and providing in-kind services. Barona is a leading proponent of this approach. Among the events it has sponsored are:
• e “$1,000,000 Quacker Dash,” a rubber-duck race to raise funds for the San Diego Blood Bank.
• e “Battle of the Badges” charity boxing event for the CYAC’s youth programs.
• A Mothers Against Drunk Drivers July 4th picnic and 5K fundraiser.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Development Corporation and the Board of Girls Club shook hands as a $25,000 check was
Some youth-oriented awards are small but meaningful. Morongo gave
AUGUST 2005 Page 17