Teams from around the country cook up a good time at free “Smokin’ in the Park” Festival

October 14, 2009 (Alpine) – Looking to spice up your week?  Viejas Casino & Outlet Center will host California’s largest BBQ cooking championship again this year in one of East County's most popular free events of the season. The “Smokin’ in the Park” BBQ Championship & Festival (www.viejasbbq.com) is back for its fifth year…bigger and better than ever. This year, more than 60 teams will compete for $23,000 in cash and prizes, making it the largest competition of its kind in the state.

October 5, 2009 (Alpine) – On Thursday, over 250 school children will join firefighters, tribal representatives, Smokey the Bear and Sparky the firedog from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for hands-on learning about the importance of fire safety. The event, held at Viejas Recreation Center in Alpine, is being held in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week.

VIEJAS BOWL continues Viejas Outlet Center’s transformation into “lifestyle center”

August 27, 2009 (Alpine) – Viejas announced plans today for a new, boutique bowling center, to be called Viejas Bowl, at the Viejas Outlet Center, across from the award winning Viejas Casino.

July 15, 2009 (San Diego)--Congressman Bob Filner announced that the Campo Band of Kumeyaay Indians, along with six other Indian Tribes in California, will have improved access to vital water services through funds awarded from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, otherwise known as the stimulus bill.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — June 1, 2009 — For the first time, Viejas Outlet Center is excited to welcome all dogs to the center for a “doggone” day of fun. On Saturday, June 6 Viejas will host the 5th Annual Novelty Fun Dog Show and the Service Dog Celebration.

May 28, 2009 (Alpine)-- The Alpine Little League presented a plaque to the Viejas Tribal Council on May 27th, expressing the organization’s appreciation for the Tribe’s ongoing support of their efforts to promote youth sports in the Alpine area community.

May 27, 2009 (Alpine)--MMA Veteran Vernon “Tiger” White will face one of Temecula Team Quest’s stand out Lew Polley at Wargods “Five” at the Viejas Casino in Alpine, California on Saturday, May 30th. Doors open at 5:30 for the event, which starts at 6:30 p.m.

Reprinted with permission from East County Communities Action Coalition (ECCAC)

May 6, 2009 (San Diego’s East County)--On March 23, 2009, the Viejas Bank of Kumeyaay Indians filed their appeal against the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) challenging the agency’s “Record of Decision” on the Sunrise Powerlink.

By Miriam Raftery

Bird dancers demonstrate hand-made gourds at Warner Springs Native American museum.

--A broken song beneath the snow, the echo of a soaring joy, a shape in the mist, a touch, in the rain in wilderness you come again. You tell us what we used to know. You speak for all the free wild things whose ways were ours when the world had wings.—Bev Doolittle

April 20, 2009 (Warner Springs)- Inscribed on a wall in the new Outdoor Academic Experience (O.A.E.) Native American Museum in Warner Springs, the quote above reflects the rich cultural heritage and traditions of local Cahuilla, Luiseño, Cupeño and Kumeyaay tribes preserved and displayed here. To commemorate the museum’s grand opening on April 13, a trio of Native American bird singers performed traditional songs for visiting Girl Scouts from Troop 3125 and demonstrated gourd rattles which they crafted by hand.

Charlie Brown is honored for his ongoing contribution to the Burn Institute.

March 23, 2009 (San Diego, Calif.) - Charlie Brown, a Viejas Tribal Member and Director of Viejas Community Relations, was awarded the Health Hero Award by the Combined Health Agencies for his contributions to the local health industry and community activism.

March 17, 2009 (San Diego)--The on campus sports and entertainment venue at San Diego State University will be renamed Viejas Arena, under a new agreement between the university and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, the two announced today. "We're very pleased that the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, who are such an important member of the San Diego community, has decided to partner with us," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber. "SDSU's arena is one of the top sports and entertainment venues in San Diego County.

February 23, 2009 (El Cajon)--The 21st annual Grossmont College Pow-Wow, a celebration of American Indian culture, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the college's Student Center. Admission is free. The day-long event, which begins at noon with gourd dancing and giveaways, features American Indian dancers and drummers. Vendors will sell American Indian cuisine, clothing, art and jewelry. The Grand Entry, a procession of about 100 dancers, begins at 6 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2008 (Alpine) — Looking for the coolest place in East County?

The largest outdoor ice rink in Southern California is now open for the holiday season at Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine. 

A FULL PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIAN COUNTRY

By Barack Obama

October 24, 2008 (Indian Country Today) Washington D.C. --
For 20 months now, I’ve traveled this country, often talking about how
the needs of the American people are going unmet by Washington. And the truth
is, few have been ignored by Washington for as long as American Indians. Too
often, Washington pays lip service to working with tribes while taking a one-size-fits-all
approach with tribal communities across the nation.

That will change if I
am honored to serve as president of the United States.

My
American Indian policy begins with creating a bond between an Obama administration
and the tribal nations all across this country. We need more than just a government-to-government
relationship; we need a nation-to-nation relationship, and I will make sure
that tribal nations have a voice in the White House…

TRIBAL EQUITY IN THE WIND

October 17, 2008 (Kumeyaay.com) -- Last week, The New York Times covered two
stories outlining the need of two American governments to acquire equity in
contemporary economic development enterprises: One was about the federal government’s
response to the need for equity in $700 billion national bank bailout and the
other was about a tribal government’s response to the lack of equity
in $58.6 million wind project on an Indian reservation.

Congress changed the
terms of the so-called “bailout bill” to include
provisions for the federal government (i.e., taxpayers) to obtain equity positions
in failing banks as investments rather than bailouts. The amended bill happened
to also extend federal incentives for just about everyone in the renewable
energy economy, except for Indian tribes. The federal wind production tax credit,
or PTC, incentive was extended for one year, but again, with no language to
provide for tribal equity in Indian reservation projects. That failure is a
primary basis for the difficulties in renewable energy development on impoverished
Indian reservations.

BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS RESPONDS TO SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS

Despite a Tumultuous Economy, Barona Awards Over $600,000 to
Schools
Oct 24, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) San Diego — After historically
high statewide budget cuts in education this year have left programs underfunded
and resources sparse, the Barona Band of Mission Indians continues to lessen
the blow with its innovative Barona Education Grant Program. Barona has awarded
a total of $610,000 to 122 schools statewide since the program’s 2006
inception.

NIGA ACKNOWLEDGES PASSAGE OF NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY BILL

Friday after Thanksgiving designated day of tribute

Oct 24, 2008 (Kumeyaay.com, reprinted from Indian Country Today) WASHINGTON
-- The National Indian Gaming Association acknowledges the passing into law
of House Joint Resolution 62, which designates the Friday after Thanksgiving
as Native American Heritage Day 2008.

The Native American Heritage Day 2008
Bill encourages the people of the United States, as well as federal, state
and local governments and interested groups and organizations, to observe Native
American Heritage Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.
The bill is supported by the National Indian Gaming Association, the National
Congress of American Indians and Indian tribes across the country. The resolution
was introduced by Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., and Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii,
who helped move the resolution through the Senate.

By Richard Noel

Notes On Air is a monthly music column highlighting local artists,
events, and other music-related news. 

In this month’s column, we talk with Tracy Lee Nelson, accomplished
blues musician who is also tribal chairman of the La Jolla Indian Reservation
in Pauma Valley.  Nelson’s music places an emphasis on his heritage,
bringing a Native American perspective to the blues.  His most recent
CD, Indian Reservation, was released in November of 2007

Thank you for taking the time to talk to East County Magazine.

Thank
you.

You’ve been playing since you were fairly young.  What
were your earliest musical influences?

I’d have to say my earliest
musical influence was the Beatles.  I
remember when I was young my brother would play their records.  He would
say to me, “You’ve got to listen to this band; you’ve got
to know their names!”  Even more so now; after I understand music
and structure and guitar-playing, I am in awe of some of their formulas and
structure.