Our first printed issue of The American Indian Reporter (AIR) was released on May 1, 2018. Please visit the AIR website for free electronic download subscriptions, and back issues.
BREAKING AMERICAN INDIAN NEWS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
California Tribes Establish New Six-Member Executive Council Uniting Southern, Central and Northern Indian Reservations
Bo Mazzetti
Chairman
Michael Hunter
Vice Chairman
Erica M. Pinto
Secretary
Garth Sundberg
Treasurer
Kevin Day
Member at Large
Dale Miller
Member at Large
by Ernie C. Salgado Jr., Publisher
The American Indian Reporter
SACRAMENTO, CA - On Tuesday, April 9, 2019, the Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association, Central California Tribal Chairpersons' Association and the Northern California Tribal Chairpersons' Association joined forces to formally establish the California Tribal Chairpersons' Association (CTCA), a state-wide organization established to collectively address critical issues facing Tribes in California...
TOP TRIBAL NEWS STORIES The American Indian Reporter
The Federation Indian Reporter (formerly Soboba Indian Reporter)
Soboba's Robert I. Mesa Stars in Leonardo DiCaprio's: The Men Who Built America Frontiersmen
by Ernie C. Salgado, Jr., Soboba tribal elder
ROBERT I. MESA (Navajo-Soboba) recently starred in the lead role as TECUMSEH in the recent Leonardo DiCaprio's History Channel production of “The Men who built America — Frontiersmen."
The four-part mini series aired March 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2018 on the History Channel.
Robert is the grandson of Steve “Mesa” Sun or “Cowboy” as many of us old timers from the Soboba Rez know him.
Grandpa “Cowboy” is an enrolled member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. His grandmother, Claudia Mesa and her brother, Ralph Arietta Sr., and sister, Elisabeth Mojado, were also Soboba trbal members.
Although Robert is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, his grandmother's tribe, he has always claimed his Soboba heritage.
Originally "The Indian Reporter" was established in 1962 by “Wild Bill” Jennings as a local grass roots tribal newsletter. Ernie Salgado (Luiseño) continued the newsletter electronically on the Internet in 2009. As Editor in Chief, Ernie Salgado Jr. is continuing Wild Bill's grass roots journalism work in 2017 by self publishing under the Soboba Indian Reporter masthead.
WE WANT YOUR NEWS! MAILING & CONTACT INFORMATION:
ERNIE SALGADO, EDITOR
P.O. BOX 366, SAN JACINTO, CA 92581 CONTACT ERNIE SALGADO by email
Ernie C. Salgado, Jr., publisher/editor, tribal journalist, enrolled member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians located near San Jacinto and Hemet in Southern California, Riverside County.
Mr. Dennis Banks, Co-Founder of (AIM) the American Indian Movement passed away on October 29, 2017. However, his legacy will live forever as a true American Indian “Warrior” of the people.
In our short lives we seldom have the opportunity to meet or know of very few “Distinguished People” that truly grace us with their presence. I am proud to say Dennis Banks was my friend and one of the “Great Men” of our time.
Anyone that ever had the honor of meeting him knew him as an honest, humble and caring person. When he spoke to anyone it was with respect regardless of status, they be a United States Senator or a Reservation Indian, it didn’t matter.
Dennis Banks put his life on the line to fight racial discrimination, the federal Government and Tribal corruption and the injustice against our people... READ DENNIS BANKS FULL MEMORIAL & INDIGENOUS RESEARCH PAGE.
PHOTO CAPTION: The good looking guy second from the right is Richard “Dumbo” Salgado, a tribal member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. Richard served with the 1st Cavalry Airborne Division in Vietnam. He currently lives in Palms Springs, CA. Richard’s Father and brother are also veterans. His father, Ernest Salgado Sr., served in WWII and his brother Ernie Jr. was serving in the Army National Guard when called on active duty in 1966.
SOBOBA TRIBAL MEMBERS KILLED IN ACTION:
U.S. Army Private, Reginald P. Helms,
Killed in Action in Hotten, Belgium (1913-1944)
U.S. Army Private First Class, Romaldo A. Helms,
Killed in Action Anzio, Italy. (1912-1944)
U.S. Navy, Mike Soza (1924-1941)
Soboba Tribal members have served in the armed forces of the United States in every war and conflict since WW I.
The United States entered the war with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 ending in May 1945 in Europe and September 2, 1945 with Japan. WW II officially began in September 1939 with the German invasion of Poland.
It is estimated that over 80 million people were killed during the seven years of WW II. U.S. military records indicate their were 670,846 Americans wounded and 405,399 lost their lives, three of which were Tribal Members of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians.
Currently 51 veterans are buried at the Soboba Tribal Cemetery of which 32 were Soboba tribal members, 12 Indians from other Indian tribes and 7 non-Indian.
World War I Soboba Veteran buried at Soboba are Prudencio Resvaloso who also served as with the U.S. Calvary as a Scout in Arizona, Danny Navarro, and David Navarro.
SANTA ROSA REZ FACING SELECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT... by Ernie Salgado
Although the Soboba Indian Reporter does not support the legalization of marijuana, the enforcement of federal statutes on the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation is troublesome.
At issue is the sovereign authority of the tribe versus the federal statutes of the United States Government against the legal cultivation and sales of marijuana (cannabis) in California...
The True Origin of the Term “Native American” by Ernie Salgado
Have you ever wondered who, where and when the term “Native American” originated?
Most folks under the age of 60 most likely assume it was always a term used to make reference to the American Indian people and as such just accept it.
Frank Red-Bow Basquez Gallerito Completes Basic Training & Begins Advanced Navy Electrician Schools in San Diego.
by Ernie Salgado, Soboba Tribe
DENNIS BANKS, DEAD AT 80 by Ernie Salgado, Soboba Tribal Elder
I am proud to say Dennis Banks was my friend and one of the “Great Men” of our time...
VETERANS DAY, HONORING SOBOBA MILITARY by Ernie Salgado, Soboba Tribal Elder
Soboba Tribal members have served in the armed forces of the United States in every war and conflict since WWI ... It is estimated that over 80 million people were killed during the seven years of WW II. U.S. military records indicate their were 670,846 Americans wounded and 405,399 lost their lives, three of which were Tribal Members of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians...
YACK-A-DE-YACK, JOE CALAC by Ernie Salgado, Soboba Tribal Elder
The year was around 1951–52 when my brothers, Bobby and Dumbo and I were the youthful menaces on the Soboba Indian Reservation...
YES, WE ARE STILL HERE by Annette Guachino, Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel
While I was at La Jolla Shores, an elderly foreign woman, maybe Russian approached me. Heavy accent, she asked if we were real Indians and why we were singing and dancing there on the beach. She was genuinely interested, no sarcasm...
BACK TO SCHOOL ON THE RESERVATION by Ernie Salgado, Soboba Tribe
It seems like the older we get the faster time flies or is it just my imagination getting the best of me, again?...
EDWARD CASTILLO is a well-known tribal educator and Native American activist who participated in the historic 19-month American Indian occupation of Alcatraz (1969-1971). He's also a famous Native American Indian book author and retired professor/director of Native American Studies at the Sonoma State University in California...
SILENT RAIN ESPINOZA (Viejas), Christian High School Girls Softball team posted an outstanding .560 batting average with 62 hits and scored 64 runs, named All American First Team...
AVELLAKA ARIVSO (Soboba), Hemet High School Girls Softball team, wins Bulldogs 2017 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award...
KEYERA "FLORES" CAMERON placed 2nd in the NFL 8-9 Year Old Pass, Punt and Kick Division Championships...
JOE BURTON (Soboba), a 2009 West Valley High School and Oregon State University Beavers basketball player, Joseph was voted 2016 MVP in his professional rookie year with the French ALM Évreux Basketball league team, continues successful pro sports career...
Public Law 280: Tribal Rights and Jurisdiction, Soboba Lawsuit
On June 9, 2017 Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians tribal attorney George Forman filed a lawsuit against the Riverside County Sheriff’s in the United States District Count, Central District of California. The main issues of the lawsuit are tribal rights, authority and jurisdiction.
The legal action taken by the Soboba Tribal Council stems from the alleged illegal actions taken by the Riverside sheriffs during their investigation of a missing person (Jerome Salgado Jr.) from May 26-31, 2016.
The Soboba lawsuit Introduction states:
During the period of May 26-31, 2016, agents of the Riverside County Sheriff's Office invaded the Soboba Indian Reservation ("Soboba Reservation" or "Reservation") of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians ("Soboba Band" or "Band") to execute a search warrant that was issued based on false statements of an RSO deputy.
Having trespassed on the Soboba Reservation to execute its unlawful warrant, the RSO then seized the Tribal Administration building, commandeered the Band's employees to download hundreds of hours of video surveillance from over 100 cameras, seized additional video surveillance footage outside the scope of the unlawful warrant...”... READ MORE
told myself not to write this article but sometimes I just can’t help myself. I guess I’m like the bug in the movie “Bugs Life” when he was told don’t look at the lights and as he looked at the light he said “I can’t help it.” So since I can’t help myself I am going to expose this can of worms.
What is pathetic is that non-American citizens seem to get more protections from the Constitution of the United State of America than the American Indian tribal people. In fact just the other day the Federal Court judge in Hawaii ruled that the Trump travel ban was not legal because it violated the Civil Rights of the non-citizens. And if that’s not bad enough the Supreme Court ruled that the U.S. forces in combat fighting the Islamic extremist must read them their Miranda Rights.
Sure the United States Congress passed the Indian Civil Rights Act in 1968 (H.R. 2516) stating “The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 (ICRA) applies to the Indian tribes of the United States and makes many, but not all, of the guarantees of the Bill of Rights applicable within the tribes. The legislation also addressed the crises of domestic violence that pledge the American Indian community.
The Act appears today in Title 25, sections 1301 to 1303 of the United States Code. The “and makes many, but not all,” are troublesome and were not defied The US Supreme Court had made clear that tribal internal affairs concerning tribal members' individual rights were not covered by the Fifth Amendment to the US constitution. However, the tribes were ultimately subjected to the power of Congress and the Constitution... READ MORE.
SOBOBA INDIAN RESERVATION -- Long before Standing Rock the American Indian tribes including Soboba have been fighting the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), powerful Government agencies, Cities, and States to protect the tribal water rights.
Many tribe even had to file law suits against the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for their failure to protect our water rights which was their responsibility. Many of the BIA agencies went so far as to side with the people that were infringing on the tribal water rights.
Soboba for example, in 1990 was awarded damages by the federal courts against the BIA as part one for failure to protect the Soboba tribes water rights. “Negligence.” is what the court labeled It. But it should have been criminal as the BIA administration forced an entire generation to live without an adequate domestic water supply while trying to force the tribe give up their water rights the local water district.
The people of Soboba were forced to haul water from the nearby City of San Jacinto when the water usage on the reservation exceeded underground water level which was set at a depth of 100 feet. Request by the tribal leader to lower the domestic water wells pump to allow for the production of more water was continually denied by the BIA.
And although the tribe had funds allocated and available to increase the ground water supply for the reservations residence it refused to allow it -- for over 30-years.
In 1975 U.S. President, Richard M. Nixon signed Public Law 93-638, the American Indian Self-Determination and Education Act into law. The legislation provided for input into the development of the regulations for the implementation of the Act by the tribes ... READ MORE.
Joseph began his professional basketball career in 2013 with Aalborg Vi-kings In the Danish Basketligaen, where he averaged 22 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4 assists.
For the 2014–15 season, signed with Landstede Basketball. At the end of the regular season, he won the DBL Statistical Player of the Year Award and was named to the All-DBL Team and DBL All-Defense Team. During the 2015–16 season, Joseph played with the ALM Évreux Basket earning the MVP award.Joseph is the son of Dondi Silvas and the grandson of Charlie “B-Bop” and Yvonne Silvas. He was born on November 2, 1990 and live his entire life on the Soboba Indian Reservation.... READ MORE.
From the CEO, Editor: "Dear Tribal Community," (especially U.S. Military Veterans and their families)
BARONA INDIAN RESERVATION, JANUARY 23, 2013 — Janna Hoehn (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund VVMF), representing Jan Scruggs, presented the "Faces Never Forgotten" project to American Indian veterans to develop Tribal involvement in the national project... READ MORE.
SO CAL TRIBAL TIES
PALA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS:
JOSEPH PATRICK PINK is honored on Panel 28E, Row 56 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Full Name: JOSEPH PATRICK PINK
Wall Name: JOSEPH P PINK
Date of Birth: 10/17/1947
Date of Casualty: 10/23/1967
Home of Record: SAN JACINTO
County of Record: RIVERSIDE
State: CA
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SP4
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: QUANG TIN
MORONGO BAND OF MISSION INDIANS:
WILLIAM JOHN LYONS is honored on Panel 3E, Row 19 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Full Name: WILLIAM JOHN LYONS
Wall Name: WILLIAM J LYONS
Date of Birth: 7/27/1940
Date of Casualty: 11/4/1965
Home of Record: BANNING
County of Record: RIVERSIDE COUNTY
State: CA
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: 1LT
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: PR & MR UNKNOWN
JAMUL INDIAN VILLAGE A KUMEYAAY NATION:
JAMES GREGORY MESA is honored on Panel 42W, Row 48 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Full Name: JAMES GREGORY MESA
Wall Name: JAMES G MESA
Date of Birth: 9/24/1948
Date of Casualty: 9/30/1968
Home of Record: JAMUL
County of Record: SAN DIEGO COUNTY
State: CA
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: PFC
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: QUANG DUC
U.S. and Tribal Leaders to Celebrate Soboba of Luiseño Indians Water Rights Settlement Act Today!
SAN JACINTO, Calif. — On Wednesday, Jan. 11, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Anne Castle, Counselor to the Deputy Secretary Letty Belin and other U.S. officials will join tribal leaders including Scott Cozart, Chairman of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, for a ceremony in San Jacinto, Calif., to celebrate conclusion of an historic U.S.-tribal water rights settlement.
Federal funding recently released under the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Settlement Act of 2008 marked the final step in the historic water rights settlement and fulfilled promises made to the Soboba Band and southern California communities when the Act was approved by Congress in 2008...SOURCE | PDF.
From lucritive U.S. government military and law enforcement contracts to $160 million off-reservation casino plan with the City of Barstow that will create thousands of new jobs in the community, to massive arson-set fire on the reservation — the Los Coyotes band is making news headlines in Indian Country....
by Christopher Cadelago, October 12, 2011, The San Diego Union-Tribune
A new tribal gaming agreement between the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians and San Diego County could generate millions to supplement local firefighting, policing, transportation and problem-gambling treatment, officials said....
by Michael Gardner, June 27, 2011 (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
SACRAMENTO — The U.S. Supreme Court Monday sided with a North San Diego County Indian tribe that had challenged the state’s bid to exact money from casinos in return for permission to add slot machines.
The court, without comment, declined to hear an appeal of an earlier 9th Circuit Court of Appeal ruling in 2008 that declared the assessment illegal.
The decision is a big win for gaming tribes that had claimed former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s demands for money in return for gambling expansions amounted to an illegal tax.
The Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians led the court challenge....
Col. Van T. Barfoot (ret.) WW II Medal of Honor
Army Colonel Barfoot (retired) is one of only five American Indians to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in the 20th century. He served in the WW2, Korean and Vietnam wars...then his neighborhood association told the 90-year-old warrior to take down his flag pole...
BO MAZZETTI blames the governor not the DOI
The situation we find ourselves in with the California compacts is not the doing of the Rincon Band or DOI. The person to blame is the governor of the State of California....
Note: "The Indian Reporter" newsletter and Web site is not affiliated with www.indianreporter.com www.indianreporter.org www.indianreporter.net www.theindianreporter.org www.theindianreporter.net — we are a Native American Indian news organization based on the Soboba Indian Reservation, Southern CALIF, Southwestern United States of America USA.
ROBERT I. MESA (Navajo-Soboba) recently starred in the lead role as 
DENNIS BANKS, 80
told myself not to write this article but sometimes I just can’t help myself. I guess I’m like the bug in the movie “Bugs Life” when he was told don’t look at the lights and as he looked at the light he said “I can’t help it.” So since I can’t help myself I am going to expose this can of worms.
