By Assemblymember Marie Waldron

Photo: Assemblymember Waldron presented a proclamation to Pechanga Tribal officials honoring Pechanga Pue'ska Mountain's 10th anniversary.

November 21, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- November is Native American Heritage Month, a national celebration recognizing Tribal history and sovereignty.  San Diego County is home to more Indian reservations than any other county in the United States. These sovereign tribal governments all lie within the 75^th Assembly District, and as their representative in Sacramento, the commemoration has special significance for me.

Tribe doubles annual donation to organizations serving veterans

November 9, 2022  (Jamul) – Today, Chair Nathan Fletcher and Supervisor Joel Anderson of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will join Jamul Casino and the Jamul Indian Village of California Tribe to commemorate Veterans Day with the sixth annual luncheon at Jamul Casino paying tribute to the 53 members of the Tribe and Jamul Casino team who have served in the military.  The event will also feature check presentations to veterans’ organizations: Saddles in Service and Zero8hundred. 

Chef Sean Sherman, James Beard Award winner and founder/CEO of The Sioux Chef company will showcase modern indigenous foods 

East County News Service

November 2, 2022 (Jamul) -- On Saturday, November 19, Jamul Casino will welcome Chef Sean Sherman, Founder and CEO of the company The Sioux Chef, for a one-of-a-kind culinary event on The Rooftop.  Internationally renowned for advancing indigenous cuisine, Chef Sean Sherman will guide guests through a three-course curated meal exclusively prepared for the evening.  Two seating options are offered at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., tickets for the Chef Sherman culinary event. Tickets cost $85 and may be purchased here. 

By Miriam Raftery

Image: Rendering of proposed Jamul Casino Hotel and Event Center

October 10, 2022 (Jamul) – The Jamul Indian Village is proposing to expand its Jamul Casino to include a new event center, multi-purpose/bingo hall, a 225-room, 16-story hotel, and a six-story parking structure, with associated infrastructure.

The Jamul-Dulzura Community Planning Group will discuss the Tribal Environmental Impact Report on the proposed project this Tuesday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m.

The meeting, held virtually, can be accessed online starting at 7:20 p.m. at  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82400516671?pwd=b2ZJM3pzdmtRZ1p3WkdVZHZ5TFMzQT09 .  To participate by phone use either 669-900-6833 or 346-248-7799. When directed, enter the meeting ID: 824 0051 6671, Password: 156353.

Native health expert says stats are likely an undercount due to poor data collection

Source:  Urban Indian Health Institute

August 31, 2022 (Seattle) -- The National Center for Health Statistics, a federal agency under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released a report titled Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021, which found that the American Indian and Alaska Native population had the steepest decline in life expectancy from 2019 to 2020, dropping from 71.8 to 65.2 years of age. American Indians and Alaska Natives also had the steepest decline from 2020 to 2021, dropping from 67.1 to 65.2 years of age.

Chairwoman to represent more than 100 California tribes and help shape federal policy

East County News Service

July 7, 2022 (Jamul) --  Erica M. Pinto, Chairwoman of The Jamul Indian Village of California (JIV), has been appointed by Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Deb Haaland to serve on the DOI’s newly-formed Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC).  Chairwoman Pinto is serving as the Pacific Region’s primary member of the STAC, representing more than 100 tribes.  Her one-year term began June 15, 2022.  Widely recognized as a pre-eminent Tribal leader, Ms. Pinto has been honored with numerous awards for her leadership and influence—including the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California’s highest honor, the Warrior Award—and she is a nationally sought-after speaker and leader regarding tribal and gaming matters.

East County News Service

June 14, 2022 (San Diego)  — Today, San Diego Loyal Soccer Club announced a strategic partnership with Sycuan Casino Resort. Anchoring the partnership, Sycuan is the entitlement sponsor of the newly renamed “Sycuan Endline Suites” at Torero Stadium. The all-inclusive premium seating area is located on-field along the east endline and offers an up close and personal view of game action. The partnership also includes a season-long “Golden Goal” contest. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 12, 2022 (Alpine) – Viejas Casino & Resort has some hot summer nights entertainment lined up at its outdoor Park at Viejas.

The lineup includes some legendary names in rock and roll including Jefferson Starship and Blue Oyster Cult, as well as new wave music by Berlin, a Latino music and dance night with Los Bonadadosos and E Nuevo Acapulco, R&B with En Vogue, and country music singer Billy Currington.

Below is the schedule of events:

East County News Service

May 6, 2022 (Pala) -- Robert Smith, Chairman of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, joined other tribal leaders on Thursday, May 5th at the California State Assembly to support May 2022 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month. 

East County News Service

April 8, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego American Indian Health Center’s Pow Wow is a celebration and showcase of Native American culture and traditions.  Native singers, drummers, and dancers in their beautiful regalia from throughout the Southwest will gather in Balboa Park at the corner of Park Blvd. and President’s Way to practice their traditions. You’re invited to come and celebrate us on May 14-15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

By John Fox, Station Manager, Rez Radio 91.3 KPRI

February 6, 2022 (Pala) -- Happy Anniversary to Rez Radio 91.3!  Eleven years ago we received our license from the FCC.  Since then, Rez Radio has never unintentionally gone off the air and has always stood ready to convey important official information in any emergency.  We developed news and other local programming that has earned more than 20 San Diego Press Club awards for Excellence in Journalism as well as recognition from the Southern California News Association for Best Small Station Newscast.  That includes stations in LA, San Diego, the Inland Empire, upper and lower deserts, and the Central Valley all the way to Fresno.   Rez Radio news is the ONLY locally-based broadcast news outlet anywhere between San Diego, LA and Riverside. 

COVID safety precautions minimized potential for TB spread

East County News Service

January 3, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Tuberculosis has been diagnosed in a person at Sycuan Casino who may have exposed customers and employees, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced today.

East County News Service

December 31, 2021 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women will open the new year with featured speaker Jessica Gutierrez Masini, a 2021 Fund grant recipient. Jessica will be speaking to the branch via zoom on January 8^th  beginning at 10:00 a.m. about Indigenous peoples of San Bernardino County.

East County News Service

November 27, 2021 (Pauma Valley) – The San Diego County Medical Examiner has identified Joaquin Romero, 34, of Banning, California as the worker who died on November 1^st after a fall a day earlier in Pauma Valley at the La Jolla Zip Zoom line operated by the La Jolla Indian tribe. 

By Elijah McKee

Photos by Elijah McKee and courtesy of Jamul Casino

Hear an audio version of this report which aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ, including excerpts of speakers, by clicking the audio link.

November 10, 2021 (Jamul) - “We always say ‘Everyone comes home.’ The reality is, hundreds came home, and then we deported them,” said Nathan Fletcher, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, as he addressed the crowd at Jamul Casino’s annual Veterans Day Celebration. 

Jamul Casino and the Jamul Indian Village tribe of the Kumeyaay Nation hosted the lunch event at its Rooftop venue to honor veterans in their community — both employees and tribal members — as well as to donate to a veterans’ organization. 

This year, the organization selected was Unified United States Deported Veterans (UUSDV), a chapter of Veterans for Peace. The $10,000 donation from Jamul Casino was awarded by Mary Cheeks, President and General Manager, and handed to Jan Ruhman, a project coordinator with UUSDV for the border region.