Page 20 - Southern California Gaming Guide • April 2018

PAGE 20
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
APRIL 2018
TSan Manuel Band of Mission Indians Presents Yawa’ Awards
he San Manuel Band of Mission Indians hosted the 10th Annual Forging Hope Yawa’ Awards on March 15th, to celebrate the transformative work of nonpro ts in the Inland Empire and Indian Country. Award recipients embody the time-honored
Serrano concept of Yawa’, a Serrano word meaning “to act on one’s beliefs.”
With the help of Native actor, Jason Grasl as emcee, the San Manuel Tribe honored four organizations that have demonstrated the essence of Yawa’ by making a signi cant di erence in four philanthropic areas: economic/community development, health, education and special projects.
“Oftentimes our nonpro ts go without thanks or recognition for the life-changing work they do; so the Yawa’ Awards are our way of thanking the groups that work every day to better this region,” said San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “It has been an honor for San Manuel to host these awards for the past 10 years and celebrate organizations who are following their call to Yawa’.”
e honorees are organizations that have done extraordinary work to bene t and support the communities they serve. e 2018 Yawa’ Award recipients include:
Think Together, Inland Empire for providing safe, after-school programs that help prepare students for college and career.
American Indian Changing Spirits in Long Beach for their dedication to providing culturally- centered treatment to American Indians who su er from drug and alcohol addiction.
Path of Life Ministries in Riverside for their commitment to restoring the lives of formerly homeless individuals through their Employment Pipeline Program County.
Americans for Indian Opportunity in Albuquerque, N.M. for their work to grow indigenous values-based leadership for Native
professionals through their Ambassadors Program. As a part of the 10th anniversary of the event,
the Tribe debuted original art pieces to serve as awards for the Yawa’ Award recipients: hand- painted, traditional gourd rattles. Designed by the
youth of the reservation and encased in glass, each honoree received one of the specially designed awards to commemorate their dedication to acting on their beliefs.
Also in attendance were representatives of 100 regional nonpro t groups who serve greater San Bernardino, the Inland Empire, or Indian
Country.
e San Manuel Band of Serrano Mission
Indians is a federally recognized American Indian tribe located near the city of Highland. e Serrano Indians are the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains who share a common language and culture. e San Manuel reservation was established in 1891 and recognized as a sovereign nation with the right of self-government. Today, San Manuel is able to answer the call of Yawa’ through partnerships with charitable organizations. ey have drawn upon their history, knowledge, expertise and cultural values to direct philanthropy locally, as well as to Native American causes nationwide. For more information, visit www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov.
April 2018 Tribes in the News