Page 12 - May 2014 • Southern California Gaming Guide

May 2014 Tribes in the News
AOgua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Funds Cathedral City Fire Engine
n April 10th, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Cathedral City Cathedral City Mayor Kathy DeRosa said her city bene ts greatly by the Tribe’s Fire Department unveiled and dedicated the city’s new Fire Department Engine donations. “We are thankful for our partnership with the Agua Caliente Band of 411, a 2013 Pierce Quantum that includes a 500-gallon water tank, 25-gallon Cahuilla Indians,” Mayor DeRosa said.“It is e orts like these donations that make a
foam tank, and Husky three-foam system auxiliary pumps. e new re engine is a replacement rig for one that was funded in part by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in 2006, when the Tribe donated $500,000 towards the purchase, training of personnel and sta ng. Due to workforce reductions in 2012, the Cathedral City Fire Department was no longer able to sta the re truck.
“Our City Council and the Tribe supported the sale of that truck to purchase this new re engine, which we have the workforce to support,“ Fire Chief Robert Van Nortrick said.“We are very grateful for the Tribe’s generous donations over the years.”
“It’s an honor for us to be able to provide additional support to public safety in the community,” Tribal Chairman Je L. Grubbe said. “We appreciate the work of the men and women who take risks every day to keep so many people safe.”
SCan Manuel Band of Mission Indians Honors Local Nonprofits
positive di erence in our city.”
In addition, the Tribe donated $25,000 in 2013 to the Fire Department to purchase
TeleSta software. e software allows the Cathedral City Fire Department to better utilize sta hours to address more mission-speci c needs such as re prevention, emergency response, and public education. It also streamlines the payroll process by having an automatic upload of timesheet data into the City’s payroll system. e software also enables the Fire Department to automatically ll vacancies when re personnel are in the eld tending to emergencies. Telesta can also call back o -duty personnel during a disaster utilizing a smart phone or iPAD from the eld.
Tribal Chairman Je L. Grubbe said the Tribe continues to focus on supporting public safety e orts throughout the community.
reating positive and meaningful change in a community is never easy, but Today, the program is in more than 700 schools in every U.S. state as well as Japan through strong partnerships with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, and Australia.
area and regional nonpro t organizations have made huge strides. To recognize In the area of economic development, the Tribe awarded Torres Martinez Desert
the amazing achievements its nonpro t partners have made in the last year, the Tribe honored four organizations that embody and demonstrate the time-honored Serrano concept of Yawa’—to manifest one’s beliefs through action—at the sixth annual Forging Hope Breakfast, held on March 25th in San Bernardino.
Yawa’ Awards were presented in four philanthropic focus areas — education, health, economic development and special projects.
e Tribe recognized the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation in the area of education for the development and implementation of the Valley Bound Commitment Program (VBC) geared to support low-income students in 12 San Bernardino Valley College feeder high schools. Developed in response to the Inland Empire’s low college attendance rate of 25%, VBC has served more than 700 students since its inception in 2008. It aims to remove the economic barrier for high school graduates by covering enrollment fees, textbooks, college tours and college-related expenses for the rst year of attendance.
Norco-based nonpro t 100 Mile Club was honored with the Yawa’ Award in the area of health for its work to improve the health and well-being of children at school through daily physical activity in a noncompetitive, supportive and inclusive environment. e program is simple: walk or run 100 miles during the school year.
Cahuilla Indians for the restoration of one of the three tribal buildings, of which the schoolhouse is the oldest Bureau of Indian A airs structure in the state of California. e buildings were forced to close in 1991 due to costly extensive repairs. Located
at the edge of the Tribe’s ceremonial grounds, the buildings stood as a reminder of a transition from a traditional world to a modern one. Although they originally represented a period when the federal government directed the lives of Native Americans, over the decades they have become a symbol of self-determination and intertribal cooperation.
“ ese buildings symbolize where we came from and how we survived,” said Mary Resvaloso, Chairperson of Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians.
Lastly, New Mexico-based Silver Bullet Productions was recognized with the Yawa’ Award in special projects for encouraging educational achievement through a hands-on approach to lm-making projects. Evolving from the concerns of tribal educators in New Mexico about the loss of language, culture and community, Silver Bullet Productions teaches culturally rich workshops with subject matter that is
relevant to Native American education.
To learn more about the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Tribe’s
Charitable Giving Program, visit sanmanuel-nsn.gov.
PAGE 12 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE MAY 2014