Widows & Orphans Fund to receive $50,000 from Viejas Tribe

September 3, 2016 (Alpine) -- The Viejas Tribe, represented by Tribal Chairman Robert Welch Jr., presente a $50,000 donation to the San Diego Police Officers Association on August 29. Brian Marvel, President of the Police Officers Association, received the donation at San Diego Police Department’s headquarters, accompanied by San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman.

The 46^th annual Barona Powwow will take place September 2^nd -4^th at the Barona sports park, located on the Barona reservation in Lakeside just north of the Barona Casino and Resort. Powwows aim to preserve Native American cultural traditions for future generations. 

Barona’s powwow attracts tribal dancers and drummers from across the nation, as they compete for prizes. (Admission for spectators is free). You can also shop for Native American arts and craft items at vendor booths, and purchase food such as Indian fry bread.

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2016 (Jamul) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob today joined with residents at a press conference to voice concerns over state actions regarding the Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego.

Saginaw Grant among stars in remake of 1909 film

East County News Service

July 24, 2016 (Los Angeles) -- Producer/writer Thomas R. Bond II is in pre-production of an epic film titled The Red Man’s View, a remake of a Native American film originally done 100 years ago. Unlike, many mainstream Hollywood films that are not historically accurate or where Native Americans are used as only supporting and background actors.  Bond and The Red Man's View team have created a project unlike any Native American film that has ever been released.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2016 (La Mesa) – Freeway memorial signs commemorating murder victim and Sycuan tribal member Xusha Brown Jr. were unveiled today at the La Mesa Police Department.  Brown was shot and killed while in a vehicle on Interstate 8 in La Mesa in the early morning on May 5, 2013.  The driver of the Nissan Maxima, Malcolm Hune, was also injured.

By Leon Thompson

Photo: Elouise Cobell speaking at U.S. Dept. of Interior Office of Special Trustee for American Indians (creative commons image from amin2010 wikispaces)

May 22, 2016 (Indian Country) -  The US Department of the Interior announced that it will expand and extend implementation of the land buy-back program mandated by the Cobell v Salazar Settlement, the largest class action lawsuit against the United States government in history.

By Leon Thompson, Tribal Beat reporter

May 5^th, 2016 (Up State New York) – Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and his new campaign manager, super-lobbyist Paul Manafort, first collaborated in 1993 to halt the construction of a casino by the St. Regis Mohawks in the Catskill Mountains.

Trump feared completion from the casino would hurt his investments in Atlantic City, so Trump poured money into a shell group called the New York Institute for Law and Society. The group existed solely to publish ads smearing his potential Indian competition.

Card announced during opening series

Press Release

April 19, 2016 (El Cajon) - Sycuan Casino recently announced an exciting new level of partnership with the San Diego Padres. Coinciding with their home opener, the casino rolled out a Padres version of its Club Sycuan membership card, a first of its kind program for Major League Baseball. The card, available to all sports fans and casino patrons alike, will allow guests to enjoy exclusive Padres benefits like 10% off future individual game tickets as well as opportunities to win fun VIP experiences and items like batting practice or playing catch on the field, a pre-game tour of Petco Park, VIP game seats and autographed Padres memorabilia.

East County News Service

April 10, 2016 (Jamul) – County Supervisors on Wednesday will consider a staff recommendation to approve an agreement between the County and the Jamul Indian Village (JIV) regarding impacts of the tribe’s casino construction and operation. The agreement, if approved, would also find the proposed action to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

By Liz Alper

April 2, 2016 (Alpine) - REACH and the Viejas Fire Department are unveiling their new medically-equipped helicopter in Alpine.  To celebrate, they are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 8^th from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2016 (Jamul) – The Hollywood Casino-Jamul San Diego anticipates opening in mid-2016.  The casino is expected to hire approximately 1,100 job positions.

 As completion of construction at the Jamul Indian Village site draws near, the casino has set up a new website at http://www.hollywoodcasinojamul.com including a link with information and applications for jobs at http://www.hollywoodcasinojamul.com/careers.

East County News Service

February 27, 2016 (Lakeside) – Spring brings bountiful traditional food resources.  The Barona Cultural Center and Museum will hold a native foods/yucca cooking class with Martha Rodriguez (San Jose de la Zorra) sharing knowledge of how to prepare, cook and eat various parts of the yucca plant.

Lunch is included, so bring your appetite! 

Source: Cuyamaca College

February 2, 2016 (Rancho San Diego) -- Coral Bradley (photo) may be only barely a teenager at 14, but when it comes to expressing her Native American heritage through dance, she is a seasoned veteran.

East County News Service

December 28, 2015 (Alpine) — Response time is critical during medical emergencies — and for residents in rural areas of East County, that response time has now been improved,  thanks to an air ambulance  stationed at the Viejas Indian reservation in Alpine.

East County News Service

December 21, 2015 (El Cajon, CA) – Thirty local charities received over $75,000 in donations from Sycuan at a Gift Giving Ceremony on December 10th, an event that started back in 2006. Each member of Sycuan’s leadership team, comprised of elected tribal council members, the casino executive management team and the casino directors, had the opportunity to each select a charity of their choice to support. All 30 charities were present at the event that took place in Paipa’s Buffet, where they had the opportunity to speak to the group about their cause and receive their monetary donation.