By Leon Thompson

November 13, 2015 (Indian Country) -- Federal agents swarmed the Menominee Indian reservation Friday and destroyed 30,000 industrial hemp plants.  In spite of the fact that President Barak Obama assured the American Indian Nations that Federal Enforcement would ‘stand down’ where Indian Tribes chose to experiment with growing industrial hemp.

By Leon Thompson

November 11, 2015 (Washington D. C.) -- Senator Bernie Sanders and Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation this week to stop the transfer of federal land to a foreign-owned corporation which plans to develop the largest copper mine in North America and reap $61 billion dollars from U.S. taxpayer assets from land sacred to Native Americans.

Warner Springs Ranch Resort, LLC Reopens Upgraded Clubhouse, Restaurant

November 10, 2015 (Warner Springs) – The Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club is ready for play after a two-year renovation undertaken after the property was bought in 2013 by Pacific Hospitality Group Inc.

Next benefit planned December 4th

By Janis Russell

November 3, 2015 (Lakeside)- Nearly $5,000 was raised at an October 23^rd benefit event to help fund search efforts to find Elijah ‘Bear’ Diaz, who has been missing since August 29th.  The event, which drew 218 guests, was held at the Loretta Quitae LaChappa Clubhouse near Barona Resort and Casino in Lakeside. The funds will help the family hire a private investigator.

By Leon Thompson

October 31, 2015 (White Earth Minnesota) – Tar Sands the filthiest, most carbon intensive oil on the planet from Canada and North Dakota are slated to cross Northern Minnesota, targeting sites significant to Native American communities and public lands treasured by people across America and around the world.

By Leon Thompson

October 12, 2015 (Mission Valley) – The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) will hold its national conference in San Diego October 18-23.  The NCAI  is composed of Tribes and individual Native Americans to protect and enhance treaty and sovereign rights.  The Organization was started in 1944 in response to the termination and assimilation policies of the United States government toward American Indians.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Eagle statue in front of former Santa Ysabel casino

September 25, 2016 (Santa Ysabel)—The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel has contracted with a county-licensed medical marijuana dispensary to use the Tribe’s former casino facility to cultivate marijuana for San Diego medical marijuana patients.

The tribe announced the deal in an e-mail sent to tribal members on September 20th, adding that subsequent meetings have been held between Tribal government officials (including representatives from the Santa Ysabel Tribal Development Corporation and Santa Ysabel Tribal Cannabis Regulatory Agency) and representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s office, San Diego Sheriff’s office, and a site walk-through with a representative of the District Attorney’s office.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2015 (Jamul) – Following the September 1^st death of a construction worker employed by C.W. Driver at the site of the Hollywood Casino Jamul, the Jamul Indian Village Tribal Council has issued a statement in its newsletter voicing “great sadness” at the tragedy and a message voicing support for workers this Labor Day weekend.

East County News Service

File photo: Jamul Indian Village

September 1, 2015 (Jamul) – A 56-year-old construction worker fell to his death at the site of the Hollywood Casino Jamul this morning, Cal Fire and the Sheriff’s office confirm.

The accident occurred about 8:20 a.m. at the construction site located on Jamul Indian Village property.  The worker fell off a 38-foot-platform atop a man lift, said Sergeant Matthew Cook III from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s station.

August 24, 2015 (San Diego) – The Barona Band of Mission Indians invites San Diegans to experience Native American dancing, music and traditional food at the 45^th annual Barona Powwow, which will be held on Labor Day weekend at the Barona Sports Park located on the Barona Indian Reservation. The three-day celebration starts on Friday, September 4 with Gourd Dancing at 6 p.m. and the spectacular Grand Entry at 7 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free.

“For the past 45 years, the Barona Powwow has been a wonderful opportunity for Native Americans to not only celebrate our heritage and traditions with each other but to share our culture with San Diego,” said Barona Tribal Councilwoman Beth Glasco. “Over the years our Powwow has grown to become one of the most anticipated in our area and we are proud to invite the community out to experience this wonderful cultural celebration.” 

East County News Service

August 27, 2015 (La Jolla Indian Reservation)—On September 3rd, the  La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians will celebrate the Grand Opening of California’s longest Zipline course, soaring above oak canopies with views of Pauma Valley and Mount Palomar.

Thrill-seekers can choose from four zipline courses ranging from 300 feet to over 2,500 feet in length, traveling at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.  There are even parallel lines – side by side so you can share your adventure and enjoy spectacular views of Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, and the La Jolla Indian Reservation.

By Miriam Raftery

August 24, 2015 (Bonita) – The Sweetwater Little League team is vying for a championship in the Little League World Series.  The team won its first game in a blow-out 14-2 victory, but lost Sunday’s game, so now must score four more victories to clinch the world championship.

August 13, 2015 (San Diego's East County) – The Pala Band of Mission Indians announced today that it has donated $10,000 to the San Diego Reach Out and Read program. The funds will be used to support Reach Out and Read’s education and literacy efforts throughout the region including at the four Native American clinics that the program operates.

August 11, 2015 (Pala)--The Pala Band of Mission Indians announced today that it has donated $140,000 to the Bonsall Union School District for the 2015-2016 school year.

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Only about 100 fluent speakers of the Kuyemaay dialect remain -- and most of thoe are in Mexico, Margaret Field, a professor of American Indian Studies at San Diego State University told the San Diego Union-Tribune. She added, “All indigenous languages around the world are endangered, in that they could disappear within a generation or two.”

But here in San Diego’s East County, local Native American tribal members are making efforts to keep their language alive.