Hamiinat Magazine - Summer 2024

THE MAGAZINE OF THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS

OUR ANCESTR AL LAND

AN ETERNAL CONNECTION

I am delighted to share the Summer 2024 issue of Hamiinat, the magazine of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The title translates to “hello” in the Maara’yam (Serrano Indian) language. This is also an extension of friendship, goodwill and Serrano hospitality, for which our people are well known.

Serrano Indians are indigenous to the San Bernardino Mountains and valleys, as well as the High Desert regions of Southern California. The people of San Manuel are the Yuhaaviatam Clan of Serrano Indians, whose rich culture and history are reflected throughout this wonderful magazine. We are most happy to offer you a glimpse into our Tribe and enterprises.

Our cover story is about Arrowhead Springs, a cultural site of great significance within the ancestral land of the Yuhaaviatam people. Ownership of the land changed hands several times over the past century before coming back under the stewardship of the Serrano people. Our story explores what the land means to the Yuhaaviatam and how they are caring for it today.

We meet tribal youth who share their plans for the future, we dive into literature written by an Indigenous author and see how one learning institution is helping Native students follow their dreams of higher education.

We turn our attention to the philanthropic efforts of the Tribe –from Las Vegas and New Mexico to Maui and Southern California. We look at how the Tribe honors its team members and how other organizations have honored members of not only the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians but other California tribes as well. And we meet members of the Department of Public Safety’s K-9 unit to learn about their services for the community.

Finally, we’ll focus on Native-founded skincare and clothing lines and get a glimpse into how one designer’s pieces have been influenced by his heritage. We’ll look at poolside food and drink experiences at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and explore event spaces at Palms that can make the celebration of your dreams a reality.

We thank you for being our guest and can’t wait to share our many new and exciting offerings, as well as our San Manuel tribal culture, with you.

Chairwoman Lynn “Nay” Valbuena

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

CONTENTS

“IT’S A SACRED PLACE. IT’S GOT A CONNECTION TO OUR HISTORY…”

– Vince Duro on Arrowhead Springs. page 6

PÜMIA’ CAKIMIV

6 / COVER

Before Arrowhead Springs was Hollywood’s playground, it was an ancient village inhabited by California’s First People.

10 / PERSPECTIVE

An elder recalls what life was like on the Reservation and what inspired her to seek leadership roles in tribal government and beyond.

12 / NEXT GENERATION

As members of the Youth Committee graduate, they share where they are headed next.

16 / EDUCATION

On the verge of becoming the first accredited tribal college in California, this institution helps students find their footing on the path to higher education.

19 / TRIBAL HIGHLIGHTS

A young tribal citizen discusses a future as an entrepreneur.

21 / LITERATURE

Award-winning Indigenous author shares the process of writing his second novel.

SUMMER 2024

PUYU’HOUPKCAV

24 / SUPPORT

Palms team members bring a bit of the islands to Las Vegas to raise money for those impacted by the Maui wildfires.

26 / COMMUNITY

Public Safety officers and their canine partners keep the community safe while bringing smiles to those they meet.

30 / PARTNERSHIP

San Manuel creates a positive impact in Las Vegas through a partnership with the Super Bowl Host Committee.

32 / PHILANTH R OPY

A philanthropic grant from San Manuel to a nonprofit helps eliminate food insecurity and food deserts in Las Vegas.

34 / A P PRECIAT I ON

San Manuel hosts an over-thetop evening to show appreciation for its team members.

36 / HIST ORY

The first-ever monument of an Indigenous person in California’s capital reflects a change in how the history of the state is told.

38 / FA M I LY

This San Manuel team member shares her favorite things about working with the Tribe.

40 / GIVING B ACK

San Manuel team members fulfill their commitment to provide comfort for children who need it the most.

42 / REC O GNITI O N

San Manuel honors four organizations that share the same mission.

44 / CULTURE

This leader of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is honored posthumously for his contributions and example of peaceful living.

Photos left to right by: Robert John Kley, Yanti and Feel and Focus Photography

M Ü CI S CK

48 / BEAUTY

An Indigenous woman calls on her ancestors’ wisdom to create luxurious, healing skincare.

52 / DESIGNER PROFILE

A Native designer weaves fashion, advocacy and artistic expression into his pieces.

54 / STYLE

Summer styles from Indigenous designers are filled with contrasts.

62 / E S C A P E

A summer oasis – filled with rock ‘n’ roll, good food and great times – awaits at Palms Casino Resort.

65 / R E CI P E

Make this colorful, summertime cocktail for your next event.

66 / S AVOR

Poolside drinks and dining have never been more enticing thanks to these upscale and inventive offerings.

74 / O N T RE ND

A curated collection for summer –all available at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

80 / CELEBRAT I ON S Exquisite spaces at Palms Casino Resort offer stunning views, elegance and whimsy for your next event.

H amiinat

TRIBAL COUNCIL

CHAIRWOMAN Lynn Valbuena

VICE CHAIRMAN Johnny Hernandez, Jr.

SECRETARY Audrey Martinez

TREASURER Latisha Prieto

CULTURE PILLAR MEMBER Joseph Maarango

FIRST GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER Ed Duro

SECOND GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER Laurena Bolden

CONTRIBUTORS

Lindsay Aguilar

Stuart Anbe

Jennifer Anthony

Peter Arceo

Elizabeth Brierty

Romeo Butihi

Nicole Canfield

Jacob Coin

LeeAna Espinoza Salas

Christopher Fava

Kevin Figueroa

Hunter Gonzalez

Sonna Gonzales

Darcy Gray

Lydia Guerrero

Kenji Hall

Serena Harper

Juan Herrera

Michelle Hickey

Alberto Jasso

Cynthia Kiser Murphey

Thomas LaRocca

Tyler Lesch

Angelica Loera

Chelsea Marek

Tiffany Melendez

Marcus O’brien

Jacqueline Powell

Tina Ramos

Ken Shoji

Jerry Tabije

Kelley Tucky

Gregory Vanstone

Brandi Vega

Laurens Vosloo

Oliver Wolf

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:

Carolann Jane Duro

Vince Duro

Malachi Ekel

Dominic Green

Audrey Hernandez

Gauge Hernandez

Nathan Martinez

Riley Murillo

Shawnee Ramos

Marguerite Claudia Reiley

Thank you to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the entire tribal community for sharing their stories: past, present and future.

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Audrey Martinez

MANAGING EDITOR Laurena Bolden

MANAGING EDITOR Joseph Maarango

MANAGING EDITOR Jessica Stops

PRODUCTION MANAGER Julie Lopez

PUBLISHER Peter Gotfredson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Thé

SENIOR DESIGNER Dana Smith

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jessica Villano

PÜ MIA ’ C ˇ AKIMIV

(puh-mee-ah chah-kee-meev)

Our Heritage

Pümia’ C�akimiv: What we came with. The phrase describes our heritage, traditions, culture and all the songs, dances and special things our people have passed down over many generations

In this section we explore the return of ancestral lands to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. We meet tribal youth and an elder who has worked in service of her Tribe and learn about their visions for their futures, both collective and individual. We talk with an award-winning, Indigenous author to understand his writing process and we hear from the president of what is poised to be the only accredited tribal college in California.

Powerful,

PLACEHealing A

Arrowhead Springs, an ancestral village site, returns

to Yuhaaviatam stewardship.

By Richard Arlin Walker

FORMER SAN MANUEL Band of Mission Indians

Vice Chairman Vince Duro remembers the day in 2016 when the Arrowhead Springs Resort property – historically the village of Apuiva’t, a word transcribed by ethnologist John Peabody Harrington – was reclaimed by the Yuhaaviatam people.

There was a gathering and a blessing at the site, witnessed by the arrowhead landmark – a natural phenomenon measuring 1,375 feet long and 449 feet wide – that the people native to these lands believed was placed on the mountainside by the Creator.

More than 150 years of dispossession was over.

The healing had begun.

“There’s a lot of injustice and pain the Tribe’s lived through with losing our culture, our land and these sacred areas,” Duro said. “Our identity was stripped away. I’ve listened to elders tell stories about how they were treated, how they were taken away from their homes and forced to go to these schools and not speak their language. It left us traumatized as

a people. So, to be able to regain this, for us to have that cultural richness returned to us and be able to look at where we came from and who we are as a people, it’s powerful and it’s healing.”

The Arrowhead Springs property is home to numerous plants and animals that are critical to the Tribe’s traditional lifeways, including ceremonies and contemporary self-sufficiency and wellness.

A

Place of Culture and History

San Manuel acquired the former Arrowhead Springs Resort from Campus Crusade for Christ, which was headquartered here from 1961 to 1991. The 1,900-acre property includes a six-story, 135-room hotel with theater, spa and other amenities; 10,000 square feet of conference space; and 11 bungalows, dormitories and a chapel.

The Tribe is making progress correcting years of deferred maintenance on the 85-year-old Art Deco property – these improvements have made it possible

“The Tribe’s ability to directly care for the land as STEWARDS HAS GIVEN THE TRIBE THE ABILITY TO HEAL FROM THE TRAUMA OF DISPOSSESSION.”

–KEN RAMIREZ

for organizations such as the Inland Empire Ronald McDonald House and San Bernardino City Unified School District to host their fundraising soirees in the historic hotel facility.

“The beautiful hotel looks as grand as ever,” historian and author Mark Landis told PBS in 2017 after San Manuel acquired the site. The future of the site, however, will likely be more Apuiva’t than resort destination, including cultural gathering spaces.

In addition to upgrading the physical structures, the Tribe is committed to maintaining the property and protecting the natural resources. Currently a herd of 700 goats keeps fire fuels down by chewing brush down to the ground–without removing native plants in the surrounding hills and canyons– and the San Manuel Fire Department has a satellite station on the grounds as well.

The property is located between a city and a national forest and has been a touching-off point for major fires. To address this, the fire department partners with San Bernardino County Fire, Cal Fire and the US Forest Service to maintain fire

and cultural resource protection through wildfire response plans.

Restoration of habitat includes reestablishing native species, including Chaparral Yucca, which is used in an annual harvest festival. To do this, the Tribe maintains a greenhouse on the Reservation and works to bring seedlings to the property from some 20 native species it actively propagates.

“Sustaining and reintroducing native and culturally significant plants on the Arrowhead Springs property is an essential part of the Tribe’s habitat restoration efforts,” said San Manuel Director of Environmental Management Clifford Batten. “In partnership with the Tribe, staff are proud to help nurture and return the natural resources of past generations, so that they may flourish for the well-being of generations to come.”

“It’s a sacred place,” Duro said. “These lands hold the bones of our ancestors, the stories, the foods –everything. It’s got a connection to our history, our culture and our spiritual beliefs – and this connection with the earth, that is the essence of who we are.”

A Return to YUHAAVIATAM STEWARDSHIP

The return of this land to the Yuhaaviatam people was destined.

The Yuhaaviatam and other Serrano clans lived in an area comprising 7.4 million acres, or 11,562 square miles – a land mass ranking in size between Armenia and Belgium. Their hold on their ancestral homeland was pried away by Spanish missionaries in the 1700s and waves of miners and homesteaders in the 1800s.

Newcomers, hoping to monetize Apuiva’t’s gifts of hot springs, mineral-rich water and beautiful landscape, built a succession of hotels here, each destroyed by fire. Hollywood luminaries built the hotel resort here in 1939, but it faded as a preferred destination after World War II, when air travel brought foreign locales within reach. After a succession of owners – the Hull Group, Conrad Hilton, Hilton Hotels, Campus Crusade for Christ – the resort sat unused for 26 years.

Through it all, Apuiva’t continued to call the people home. Yuhaaviatam elders shared stories about Apuiva’t with J.P. Harrington when he interviewed them in 1918. The people thought of Apuiva’t and Yuhaaviat and the other ancestral villages when singing Bird Songs and passing down their family histories.

The City of San Bernardino drew up a plan in 2005 that envisioned and entitled developers to pursue a new community with 1,350 homes, an additional 300-room hotel and conference center, an 18-hole golf course and a 14-acre corporate office park. Campus Crusade put Arrowhead Springs Resort on the market in 1991, but there were no takers.

Now, Apuiva’t is back in Yuhaaviatam hands.

“The Arrowhead Springs area is a deeply sacred place for the Serrano people,” thenChairman Ken Ramirez stated in January 2022. “The area known as Arrowhead Springs was once the home of a Serrano village established long before Europeans arrived. The arrowhead on the mountain and the springs below are culturally significant given their association with oral tradition about the Tribe’s Creator, ancestors’ habitation and with supernatural powers and healing properties,” Ramirez said. “It is important to note that the Tribe’s ability to directly care for the land as

stewards has given the Tribe the ability to heal from the trauma of dispossession.”

More ancestral territory may soon be returned to San Manuel’s stewardship. The Tribe and the US Forest Service are finalizing an agreement to transfer culturally significant lands adjacent to the Tribe’s Reservation and the Arrowhead Springs Resort property. In exchange, the US Forest Service will secure land it has identified as valuable for the San Bernardino National Forest’s mission.

According to a San Manuel statement about the land exchange: “The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has a deep and abiding commitment to environmentally responsible and culturally appropriate stewardship of its Serrano ancestral territory … The Tribe restores its ancestral territory to its community to protect cultural landscapes and resources, preserving its way of life and fulfilling its sacred stewardship responsibility.

“The Tribe’s ability to care for the land as property owners will help the Tribe heal from the trauma of dispossession of this land and give the Tribe further opportunities to work with other governments and agencies on mutually beneficial land management practices and proposals.”

The Tribe developed its economy over the past 30 years, with investments in hotels, gaming and other commercial real estate. But Duro said the Tribe’s real wealth lies in the lands that hold the people’s history. Economies thrive and fall, but the people’s connection to the lands from which their culture originated can never be severed.

“Our culture, our history and even the remains of our ancestors are in the land,” Duro said. “Our economic means have provided us with much, but without the land, really, we’re still poor.”

LYNN “NAY” VALBUENA

Continuing the tradition of her maternal lineage, this tribal elder has dedicated nearly 50 years working in service for her Tribe.

By Jessica Villano / Photography by Alan De Herrera

AS HER GRANDMOTHER and mother before her, Lynn Valbuena’s purpose is rooted in preserving her Tribe’s culture and sovereignty; educating others about her Tribe; and creating strong relationships.

At 20 years old, Valbuena worked as a receptionist at the San Bernardino Indian Center, where she met Native Americans from tribes across the country. This gave her a heightened interest in other tribal cultures and their issues. Since then, she’s held elected and appointed positions as Chairwoman, Vice Chairwoman, Secretary/Treasurer, Gaming Commissioner and Housing Commissioner for her Tribe. She’s also held leadership roles with the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN) for nearly 30 years, California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA), Indian Gaming Association (IGA), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and was a Board Trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian in D.C., among others.

Now Valbuena reflects on the changes she’s seen, the vision for her Tribe and how taking the time to educate and create relationships has helped her on her path to professional and personal growth.

What does it mean to be a tribal citizen of San Manuel? Being a citizen of San Manuel means having a firm grasp of our Serrano culture, traditions and history and our governmental sovereignty. It means growth as a family and as a tribal nation. I am proud to be a part of our tribal community. As descendants of our great-great grandfather, Santos Manuel, our Kiika’ or leader, we are gifted with the ability to visualize a future and have the strength to achieve it. I am proud to be a part of this community.

What was it like to grow up on the Reservation? Life was simple back then. My Aunt Weesha babysat me when I was four years old while my mom and grandmother cleaned homes. I remember sleeping on a bed in my aunt’s rock house. I remember my dad and cousins hunting; they would carry the deer home, hang it on a chain and skin it. My mom and grandmother would cook the deer. We didn’t take life for granted.

How do you feel about the changes on the Reservation? Things weren’t easy then. I remember standing in the orange groves where the Yaamava’ parking structure is now. We stood in line with brown paper sacks when the welfare trucks came to give us surplus food. When Goodwill and Salvation Army

came with cardboard boxes of shoes and clothes, we were excited to see what was in there; we’d open up the boxes and try on clothes and put whatever fit us in a bag and take it home.

And now the Tribe is in a position to give back. How does that feel? It warms my heart that we can support communities throughout this region and in Indian Country. Giving back to others is part of who we are as a people.

What is a lesson or skill you learned from your mom or grandmother that you use today? Never forget who you are or where you came from and always treat people like you want them to treat you – with respect. We were told as kids that it’s ok to disagree but be respectful about it.

I also learned the value of educating people about our Tribe by watching my grandmother, who was our tribal spokesperson – they weren’t called Chairpersons back in the ‘50s. She worked in the community, went to meetings in San Bernardino with elected officials and talked to the mayor about our issues. My mother went to local schools, museums and other reservations to educate others about our Tribe.

What made you want to run for an elected position for the Tribe? My passion to work for the betterment of our Tribe and educate the public on sovereignty, culture and traditions. When the tribes joined the California League of Cities, I was one of several tribal leaders who worked the TASIN booth to educate the elected officials. There was an attitude of disrespect toward us. People wondered why we were there, so I explained that just as they were elected by their constituents to look out for their best interests, our tribal citizens are elected by our constituents to do the same. After that they welcomed us, inviting us to be on panels to discuss sovereignty and tribal government.

What’s your vision for the Tribe? To maintain our self-sustainability and self-sufficiency for the next seven generations through effective leadership that mentors our youth, looks out for the best interests of our tribal citizens and honors our vision, mission and values.

What are you most proud of? I’m so proud that 100% of our tribal youth are graduating from high school today. I’m so happy our Tribe can assist with tuition and other costs of higher education. If tribal citizens want to further their education, we will assist them until they graduate. I’m also proud of the programs we fund for our tribal citizens, which include health care and a myriad of other programs.

What is the most pressing issue facing the Tribe today? Protecting our sovereignty and our exclusive right to gaming. It was a lot of work back in the ‘90s to educate voters. We traveled up and down the state every week to educate non-gaming organizations and citizens about our ballot initiatives and our right to offer gaming on our lands in California.

What are the benefits of unity among tribes in California or nationally? I always say there’s strength in numbers but, more importantly, there’s strength in unity. We have to be united if we want people to listen to us.

Darrel Duro and Lynn as children

NEW

Embracing BEGINNINGS

Members of San Manuel’s Youth Committee look forward to the next stage: high school, college and beyond.

BY TERRIA SMITH / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT JOHN KLEY

Left to right: Shawnee Ramos, Nathan Martinez, Marguerite Claudia Reiley

Not pictured: Raven Casas and Kaiya Chacon

AS THE LONG, COLD WINTER COMES TO AN END, spring promises new beginnings. This transition parallels what students experience as their school years draw to a close. A new season awaits and, for some, a new phase of life.

As the youth of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians prepare to move further into their evolution, they reflect on the hard work they have done. Some students will continue into their next grades in secondary school, while others will transition into colleges and universities.

Marguerite Claudia Reiley, a graduating senior and a member of the San Manuel Youth Committee, aspires to earn degrees in child development as well as criminal justice on her journey to possibly becoming a lawyer.

Shawnee Ramos, a senior and treasurer of the San Manuel Youth Committee, has applied to many California colleges. To her, education is something that offers options in life.

“I want to have an education so I always have something I can fall back on,” Shawnee explained.

“DO WELL IN SCHOOL BUT ALWAYS HAVE FUN… EXTRACURRICULARS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT TO COLLEGES AS GRADES.”

–Marguerite Claudia Reiley

Throughout the academic year, the young San Manuel tribal citizens are provided with tutoring and academic counseling at the Reservation’s Education Department, which all agree has been vital to their success.

“People at the Education Department gave me information I wouldn’t have had access to without their guidance, like applying to certain programs as a Native student and even helping me apply to

colleges,” Marguerite said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do that alone.”

Support like what is offered at San Manuel, is something that can make all the difference to a Native American student. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, high school graduation rates for American Indian/Alaska Native students is around 75 percent – amongst the lowest of any ethnic group in the country.

This is something Marguerite says drives her forward in her education. She has applied to several California State Universities as well as schools in the University of California system. But she has her sights set close to home, specifically on a sociology program.

As these tribal citizens pursue their academic goals, many are bringing their hopes to help the Tribe along with them. Riley Murillo, who is going into the 9th grade next school year, has served on the

Youth Committee for two years and said her role is preparing her for her future.

“I’ve always wanted to be on Tribal Council,” she said. “So learning about leadership roles and working with others toward a goal is preparing me for that.”

Audrey Hernandez, who will also start high school next year, said that although she hasn’t yet decided what path she would like to pursue in college, her interest in the ocean and marine life might lead her to a career in marine biology.

Nathan Martinez said that he has his sights on a business degree. Nathan shared that he believes education is the pathway to success and “success to me means that I can live the life I want,” he said.

When asked what advice the graduates had for the younger kids, Marguerite wanted to remind kids to “do well in school but always have fun…extracurriculars are just as important to colleges as grades.”

Above: Audrey Hernandez, Riley Murillo Opposite page: Dominic Green, Gauge Hernandez

Opposite: photograph by TIffany Melendez

EDUCATION

PATH BREAKER

Native students receive a culturally responsive curriculum as they pursue higher education, thanks to the vision and generosity of Southern California tribes.

By Terria Smith

SINCE THE INSTITUTION opened its doors six years ago, California Indian Nations College (CINC) has been helping Native American students in Southern California navigate their educational and professional goals.

Through the college’s purpose, it “integrates Native American cultures, traditions and languages in higher education” as both Native and non-Native students pursue higher education. One of the most important components in a CINC student’s journey has been the Path Breakers Program.

The program provides three summer experiences, one for each target population: incoming, current and outgoing students. The content provided during these sessions is intentionally selected to meet the student where they are in their academic journey and to set them up to be successful and self-sustainable post-graduation.

“We think about education for all students, whether transitioning from high school to college or those who feel it is safe to attend a tribal college,” said Celeste Townsend (Paiute/Shoshone), president and CEO of California Indian Nations College. “Sometimes they don’t feel prepared or ready to attend a four-year university; they might think a vocational school or certificate program is the way to go. We show them the value of a degree in a safe learning environment where they can use education to figure a valued path, as the degree will always be with them.”

This past winter, these Native students received tremendous support when San Manuel Band of Mission Indians awarded the California Indian Nations College Path Breakers Program a $1.235 million grant.

The grant expands the capacity of the Path Breakers Program by hiring a coordinator and assistant coordinator for data tracking as well as scaling up the academic advisor team over the next three years to maintain a low caseload for quality support.

Along with the aforementioned summer experience programs, the grant will provide funds for professional speakers from local universities to speak to the kids as well as workshops centered on language and cultural topics and educational and life skills.

“One of our values is education. We understand you always have to continue to learn,” said Laurena Bolden, San Manuel Tribal Council member. “And the better educated you are, the higher chances you have to create economic mobility opportunities for yourself and your household. We know education will impact the next seven generations of your family.”

When it comes to Native Americans and education, there is a fraught history. This is not only related to the harmful legacy of boarding schools that operated across the United States and Canada, but also the unsuccessful history of tribal colleges, specifically in California.

“The students and tribal governments have a mistrust because of the history of education for American Indians,” Townsend said. “[Tribal college] D-Q University lost its accreditation and many people ask us, ‘What are you going to do differently? Why is this better? Why should we invest?’ We need to gain the trust of the students but also the tribal councils. The tribes need to believe that we’re putting something together for our people, for our students, for your students.”

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians agrees that a culturally responsive college creates a sense of belonging and pride for the student, all which increases the chance of success. The effect of this success, on the current generation and generations to come, is increased capacity to earn higher wages, which creates opportunity to live longer healthier lives.

Over the years, CINC has indeed gained the confidence of several tribes in the Southern California region and beyond, all which serve on the college’s Board of Trustees. In addition to the generous funding from San Manuel, CINC also receives support from a number of other tribal nations.

“In the beginning, it was hard to get anybody to join us. Then Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians gave us $3 million, then another $6 million,” Townsend said. “This means so much to us as a college and to our students, because they know these tribes believe in them.”

Indeed, San Manuel not only believes in the students but also the mission of the tribal colleges to help Native students along their journeys to becoming successful students and in turn create successful lives.

Currently, CINC students can take accredited courses through the partnership with College of the Desert. These credits transfer to any California State University or University of California campus, as well as to private universities.

For more information about California Indian Nations College, please visit cincollege.org.

Photos courtesy of CINC employee photographers: Ryan Mariano and Eliana Mejia

Annual Gathering Under the Stars event at University of California, Riverside – Palm Desert

THE PATH BREAKER PROGRAM GIVES EACH STUDENT PERSONALIZED ROADMAPS WITH ACADEMIC SUPPORT TO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITION TO A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY.

(from left to right): 2023 Commencement Ceremony at Spotlight 29 Casino: Christopher William Cotton, Lynda D. Hernandez, Regina Terry Vasquez, Annabelia Xochitl TaboadaCarillo, Assemblymember James C. Ramos, Alfonso A. Taboada, Rose Nanette Saubel, Rayola Eder, Albert Alexander Martinez, Jordan Elizabeth Solis, Rachel Domonique Montanez, Gabriela Armenta Santoyo, LeeAnne Beatrice Methot, Claudia Janeth Armenta Santoyo, Gabriella Frances Marquez

Above

Left: (from left to right): Victoria Martinez (Pit River Tribe, California), Regina Vasquez (Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah), and Gabriel Espinoza participating in the Ha Kwaiyo Asooq Weno

Tule Boat Launch at Silver Strand State Beach hosted by Kumeyaay Community College

Relax and rejuvenate in a boutique hotel environment nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Enjoy an exquisite selection of American-style bistro specialties, 24/7 in-room dining, and complimentary 24/7 shuttle service to Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

TAKING THE LEAD

A young tribal citizen shares how he is preparing for his future as an entrepreneur and leader.

By Angelica Loera / Photography by Alan De Herrera

A ROLE IN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT wasn’t always on Malachi Ekel’s radar. But after transferring to California Baptist University as a business administration major, he found purpose and drive in the idea of being part of the next generation to lead the Tribe. Now a senior, interning for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ Tribal Brand Marketing department, he feels surrounded by opportunity and leans into his culture more than ever. With this experience, the tribal citizen hopes to learn the ins and outs required to lead his community and fulfill his dreams as a business owner.

“I hope to understand how things work from the ground up and WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE TRIBE’S GROWTH. ”

Why did you choose to pursue a degree in business administration?

I chose business administration for the opportunities it would provide and to gain enough knowledge to build from. I like learning how something goes from an idea to a concept and then to a product. I also thought it would be good if I wanted to start my own business or work for the Tribe, like being on the Tribal Council.

What are you hoping to get out of this internship?

I hope to understand how things work from the ground up and what is needed for the Tribe’s growth. I also hope to learn about what our team members do and how they connect to the cultural side of the Tribe.

What are your career goals after graduating?

I definitely want to start my own business, but I also want to take tribal initiatives more seriously. I want to attend meetings to understand where the Tribe stands, and what we’re trying to achieve, and help push that forward. Hopefully one day I can build myself up politically and make connections to be a council or board member.

What kind of business would you like to start?

I’ve always thought about starting a snowboard brand for lower-cost apparel or gear. It’s such an expensive sport that a lot of families cannot afford to get involved in it. I want to help people connect to a sport that’s really fun and fulfilling but might be out of reach for some people.

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel continues to set the standard for service excellence. For the second consecutive year, Serrano Spa has received a Forbes Travel Guide 5-star rating, plus Yaamava’ Resort and The Pines Modern Steakhouse both received 4-star ratings.

WEAVING PAST & PRESENT

Award-winning Indigenous novelist shares challenges and inspiration behind his new novel.

By Carolann Jane Duro

“I write from the inside out. I try to make the characters have real thoughts and feelings BEFORE I PUT THEM IN THE WORLD AND HAVE THEM DO THINGS. ”

–Tommy Orange

THERE THERE, THE DEBUT NOVEL from Tommy Orange (Cheyenne/Arapaho), won the National Book Critics Circle Award in 2018 and was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. The book, centered around the Red Feather family, follows the characters’ internal journeys of self-discovery as well as external journeys, to the Big Oakland Powwow. Now Orange talks about his second novel, Wandering Stars, which continues the story of the Red Feather family.

Wandering Stars is part prequel and sequel to There There. What was it like to develop different timelines?

Weaving these historical and contemporary stories together in a way that felt natural was difficult and part of why it took six years to write. With There There, I had the common plot point: the powwow. But with Wandering Stars their connection is familial and I had to answer the question of how they ended up in Oakland. During my research about the prisoners at Fort Marion, essentially the blueprint for the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, I saw names of two prisoners there from 1875 to 1878: Bear Shield and Star. So I had a starting point for the family line.

What research or inspiration did you take to develop the characters?

I immersed myself in that time period. The actual person named Star was a bread maker at the prisoncastle and became the chief of police for the tribe when he got back to Oklahoma. I also relied a lot on interiority. I write from the inside out. I try to make the characters real with thoughts and feelings before I put them in the world and have them do things.

You bring the Ohlone people, the Indigenous peoples of the land Oakland is settled on, into Wandering Stars. Tell us about that.

I felt disappointed and ashamed that I wasn’t able to bring up the Ohlone people in There There. I had written in Ohlone perspective in earlier drafts, then felt I didn’t want to tell their story. I should have found a way to get it in. Now I had the chance to correct that mistake.

This novel centers on the impact of addiction. How did you get into the mentality of someone struggling with addiction?

My family has had struggles with addiction since before I was born. I have struggled as well. It wasn’t difficult to write from this perspective. In fact, it helped. I was able to process and think and feel things to understand better.

Did the success of There There alter your process for writing Wandering Stars?

I felt all these new voices and critics in the writing space with me. I felt I had to write something as good or better. In the end, I relied on the writing and revision tools I developed in writing There There. And I picked up a few things while writing this new book.

How did it feel to draw conclusions for the Red Feather family? Do you hope to continue their stories?

I felt good writing a resolution to these two books. It’s no happy ending, but it is resolved. There There didn’t have that. And I feel good about the way Wandering Stars ends. But I do feel done with these characters and this story; I feel it is complete.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming Native writers?

Put in the time, no matter how you feel. Find ways to keep working. Running helps. When I’m running, I think in ways I can’t when I’m at the page. Reading out loud helps clarify how close a sentence is from where it needs to be. Reading books related to the world you’re building helps. Listening to music helps. Playing music helps. Everyone is different; every writer needs to do whatever they need to do to keep working.

Orange is currently working on his, as yet untitled, third novel. Pick up There There and Wandering Stars from your local independent bookseller.

PUYU’HOUPKC ˇ AV

(poo-yoo-hope-k-chahv)

Together

Puyu’houpkcav: together. When all are together as one, we accomplish more. We strive each day towards unity of purpose and spirit.

In this section we learn about the Tribe’s philanthropic grants as well as San Manuel team members’ commitment to helping children in their local community. We discover the K-9 officers who help keep the community safe. And finally we explore how the Tribe shows appreciation to its team members and how other people have shown appreciation for tribal citizens.

HEALING FROM DEVASTATION

The Maui community receives help from an unexpected source: Las Vegas residents and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

By Jessica Villano

“HEARING THE PERFORMERS say that dancing was a form of healing was gratifying.”

ON AUGUST 8,2023, as winds from Hurricane Dora whipped, small fires ignited on Maui. Soon flames scorched their way through historic Lāhainā, the former royal capital of Hawaii. By the time the last ember burned out, more than 100 people had died and nearly $6 billion worth of damage had been done. The fire was the deadliest Hawaiian natural disaster.

Romeo Butihi, Palms Casino Resort team member and Maui native said, “Growing up in Lāhainā we always had small brush fires, so I didn’t think anything of it. But my heart dropped when I saw the live videos.”

Romeo’s family survived but one sister lost her home. Romeo’s childhood home also burned.

“Being away made me feel helpless and guilty for not being there for my community,” he said.

Another Palms team member also has family on Maui. “I lived on Maui for 12 years,” said Stuart Anbe. “My daughter, mother and cousins live on Maui.”

Stuart recalled trying to reach family and learned that many were safe but a second cousin had gone missing. It was later discovered she had passed away.

“I had to do something to help,” he said. “I loaded

containers with donations scheduled for Lāhainā. I made calls to friends with businesses here in Las Vegas to see if they wanted to contribute,” he recalled.

But the two wanted to do more so, along with Lindsay Aguilar and other team members, they formed the Maui ‘Ohana Committee.

“A lot of Palms team members are from Hawai’i – in fact, Las Vegas is known as the ‘9th island’ – so the devastation touched many close to us,” said Lindsay Aguilar.

The committee exemplified one of Palms’ values: community at heart. And when Romeo thought of community, he thought of Hoaloha Nā‘Ehā. “He owns Old Lāhainā Lū‘au and several other Lāhainā businesses,” Romeo said. “He is the heart of community there. That sparked an idea to bring the heart of my hometown to the 9th island, Las Vegas.”

Romeo reached out to his hula sisters and brothers at Old Lāhainā Lū‘au – with whom he had performed for six years – to ask if they would come to Las Vegas and perform.

In November 2023, Palms hosted the 9th Island

Lū‘au, which raised $111,000 for the Maui Strong Fund – including a $50,000 sponsorship by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. In addition, San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA) donated $125,000.

“It was our honor to host an authentic event that brought together the rich culture of Hawaii and the chance to support the Maui Strong Fund,” said Cynthia Kiser Murphey, Palms General Manager. “The event was perfectly in line with our core values of the Palms Cares program.”

After the event, Romeo expressed his thanks saying, “I am so humbled Palms and San Manuel supported us with the 9th Island Lū‘au. To support a cause so far away…that hit home.”

The Spirit of Yawa’

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is guided by the spirit of Yawa’ – to act on one’s beliefs – and supports philanthropic causes throughout California. In 2023 alone, the Tribe donated $27.8 million in grants under four pillars: Inspiring Our Future Through Education; Empowering Lives; Preserving Cultural Traditions and Empowering Indian Country; and Reinforcing Healthy and Resilient Communities. The Tribe’s philanthropic efforts expanded across the Pacific Ocean because giving a hand up to the marginalized and underserved, as well as Native communities across the country, is a priority.

Along with the contribution to the Maui Strong Fund, San Manuel donated $100,000 dollars through the Red Cross to secure critical necessities such as shelter, hygiene kits, water, food and clothing. And after getting a full picture of the loss, and with an eye toward long-term support, the Tribe collaborated with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and gave a grant of $500,000 for utility and rent/ mortgage relief.

In the end, the performers of the Old Lāhainā Lū‘au supported their community by helping to raise critical funds but more than that, they got respite from the devastation at home. “It made my heart feel full. Hearing the performers say that dancing was a form of healing was gratifying,” Lindsay said. “It was something they needed and I’m happy we were a part of that.”

Beyond THE BADGE

San Manuel’s K-9 officers safeguard the community while embodying one of the Tribe’s core values: service.

By Danny Palumbo /

by Robert John Kley

Photography

WHILE ENJOYING YOUR STAY at the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, you may eventually encounter a Public Safety officer with a trained K-9. These dogs ensure the safety of each and every guest–and they also represent the Tribe’s commitment to serving the community at large. How? It all comes down to Yawa’.

Yawa’ is a Serrano word meaning, “acting on one’s belief.” Yawa’ comes from the heart, from actions and intentions. It’s a word that encompasses love, respect, humility and generosity. The K-9 unit is another expression of the Tribe’s Yawa’, making life better for all who inhabit Serrano ancestral territories.

“The team was established back in 2002, after 9/11,” said K-9 Officer Suzie Carmell, who has almost 20 years on the force. After those tragic events, the Tribe recognized the need for additional safety to be set in place for both the tribal community and the Reservation.

“It allows us to elevate our security services for the Tribe. Government dignitaries and artists are always coming to the casino. We do sweeps before every concert,” said Lieutenant Michael Quezada. The sweeps are thorough and taxing, but these loyal K-9s are up to the task. In fact, they’ve done such a wonderful job that the budget has grown significantly. Now there are seven trained canines in total, making it one of the biggest K-9 units in the area.

Upon request, the K-9 team supplements local

law enforcement efforts by conducting specialized detection sweeps of various venues and environments. Wherever and whenever they’re needed, an officer and canine partner show up to protect and serve.

“Everything we do here for the tribal community, we contribute to the communities surrounding us,” said Suzie, “We live in our communities.”

The dogs themselves come from a special breeder in Europe. Each dog completes an initial six-week training and then an ongoing, weekly training with each officer. Suzie has a seven-year-old German Shepherd from Hungary named Emil. “He’s been my partner since 2018,” she said, glowing about their relationship, “He’s amazing. He could definitely save my life and anybody else’s.

“When we became partners, he came home with me, I got him acclimated to his surroundings,” Suzie said about the first few weeks of training with Emil. “When he comes home, he’s a dog. He knows the difference. When we get in the vehicle, he gets in work mode like you and I do. He’s by the garage door, anxious, wagging his tail. He’s excited. And when we turn the corner home on our street, he knows he’s home.”

Like the officers, these dogs have an unwavering sense of duty and purpose. And because of that, there’s a special bond between them. “Sometimes we have bad days, but every day he’s in a good mood. He lifts the officers’ spirits, and it makes their jobs more enjoyable,” Suzie said.

Like the officers, these dogs have an unwavering sense of duty and purpose. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE’S A SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN THEM.

On December 2, 2015, the community was hit with a mass shooting and attempted bombing at the Inland Regional Center (IRC). It was a devastating terrorist attack which affected the Tribal Community. Law enforcement agencies responded with a show of force to the IRC that morning, but due to the circumstances, many schools, businesses and hospitals were also on high alert for suspicious activities. Luckily, the department had the resources to secure those other locations, in the form of the beloved K-9 unit. It’s events like these that demonstrate how valuable the K-9s are.

These dogs not only offer a sense of safety, but they participate in many community events. When they go to sweep an event and deem it safe, they will often also man a meet-and-greet booth, allowing the officers to introduce the dogs as vital members of the community themselves.

Then there’s the Cops for Kids Fly-In, where local law enforcement agencies visit the children going

through treatment at Loma Linda Hospital. It’s a day to bring joy, and an opportunity for the officers to meet the parents and speak with the children in a positive, supportive light. They also let the children meet, pet and love each dog.

“It’s always the dog that’s the celebrity,” Suzie said, laughing.

We live in a dog-friendly society, but if you see one of these loyal dogs, Suzie stresses that guests should always ask permission before approaching a member of the K-9 unit. “At the end of the day it’s a dog, so they might not want their personal space invaded.”

Both Suzie and Michael not only love their jobs, they live them, and they have no intention of doing anything else. “We live in our community. We have that connection. We appreciate the Tribe and they make it fun to be here. It’s why Michael and I have been here so long. Why would we want to leave?”

BEYOND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS

San Manuel’s philanthropic gift

impacts

and uplifts not only the Las Vegas community but also Indian

Country

By Matt Jacob

IN FOOTBALL SPEAK, Sam Joffray, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee, faced third-and-long – and an all-out blitz was on.

The National Football League had accepted Las Vegas’ bid to host the 2024 Super Bowl in December 2021. Within that bid was a 186-page document containing dozens of NFL-mandated obligations.

And it was up to the Super Bowl Host Committee to make sure each and every requirement was fulfilled.

It wasn’t a unique challenge for Joffray, who has been involved with planning Super Bowls for more than a quarter century. But doing so in Las Vegas – a place that had been shunned by the NFL for decades – was a new wrinkle.

What the committee needed most was a partner to help fund the operation. And the clock was ticking. So in the face of that blitz, Joffray dropped back and fired his shot downfield. The intended target: the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

The Tribe has established a strong business and philanthropic presence in Las Vegas thanks to the purchase of Palms Casino Resort through the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, as well as a $9 million gift awarded to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in early 2020 to expand Native American education programs in the university’s hospitality college and law school.

“Our host committee sponsorship model has always been that we’re not just looking for partners that want to have their logo on the back of a T-shirt,” Joffray said. “We’re looking for partners that not only want to help underwrite certain obligations that we have but also whose missions align with ours. So when we reached out to San Manuel, we said we wanted them to be a partner in everything, to make sure everything we were doing was appropriate.”

Much to Joffray’s delight, his long bomb connected

for a touchdown when, last summer, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians signed on as the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee’s official “Legacy Philanthropy Partner.”

The financial investment – the largest received by the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee – was substantial: $2 million. But so, too, is the positive and far-reaching cultural, social, environmental and educational impact that has emanated (and will continue to emanate) from the investment.

“San Manuel is committed to improving the quality of life for those whose paths we are fortunate to

cross and, as a Tribe, we know education and health are essential for a better future and building a sustainable community,” said Johnny Hernandez, Vice Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, at an August news conference to announce the Tribe’s $2 million donation.

“Our joint actions will allow communities to thrive through educational and health and wellness programs today and into the future,” Hernandez explained. “We are honored to be your partner and look forward to doing great work together.”

The partnership also provided an opportunity to

raise awareness about the thriving Native American communities in Nevada and, in the process, further uplift Indian Country.

To that latter point, among a wide range of community events and initiatives throughout Southern Nevada leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, the Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee hosted a community greening project at the Las Vegas Indian Center.

The event, attended by local tribes and the InterTribal Council of Nevada, shone a light on the center, which promotes Indigenous culture and socioeconomic self-sufficiency for the more than 60,000 Native Americans who live in Southern Nevada.

As volunteers gathered to install a new irrigation system, plants and vegetation to the grounds, Moapa Elder Anthony Frank gave a blessing and Janet Myers, Chairwoman of the Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, acknowledged the original inhabitants of the land. Traditional music and performances by grass dancers followed and showcased the rich heritage of the first people of Nevada.

Other Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee community affairs initiatives supported through San Manuel’s $2 million investment included:

» The Business Connect Program, which engaged with small businesses in Southern Nevada and encouraged them to elevate their business profile by becoming vendors for the Super Bowl.

» The NFL Green Program, which is the League’s ongoing environmental sustainability initiative that

aims to leave a “green legacy” in Super Bowl host communities. For the Super Bowl, this included planting dozens of trees at parks and other locations to help mitigate the “heat island” effect.

» Las Vegas nonprofits such as Baby’s Bounty, Collaboration Center Foundation, Goodie Two Shoes Foundation, Inc. and The Moonridge Foundation.

» An internship program that allowed UNLV students to get hands-on experience working within various Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee’s departments, such as events and operations, media, hospitality, graphic design and community affairs.

Similar internships with previous Super Bowl Host Committees were unpaid. But thanks to San Manuel’s generous investment, 44 UNLV students not only were involved in planning the world’s biggest

annual sporting event, but they were compensated a fair hourly wage for their efforts.

“The Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee approached us not only because of our business, but also because of the values we carry in principle philanthropy and our values of unity,” Hernandez said. “When you think about this partnership, it was about bringing people together. So, we see this as a reflection of who we are as people.”

Joffray, for one, is thrilled that his call was answered by the Tribe, which has given nearly $400 million in philanthropic gifts over the past two decades.

“We’re forever indebted to San Manuel for the investment, the trust they put in us and for their partnership, which ensured this Super Bowl happened for Las Vegas instead of to Las Vegas.”

“Charitable GANGSTERS”

San Manuel partners with a Southern Nevada nonprofit to fight food insecurity and build community.

By Matt Villano

THE SAN MANUEL Band of Mission Indians has become an organization of charitable gangsters –at least in the eyes of a Southern Nevada nonprofit.

That nonprofit, The Just One Project, aims to increase access to food, resources and services to build a stronger, healthier and more connected community. Palms Cares, the philanthropic arm of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA) recently partnered with The Just One Project to support its programs.

Because The Just One Project refers to donors as “charitable gangsters,” the nickname has stuck.

The Just One Project has made quite a difference since it was started 10 years ago. Founder and CEO Brooke Neubauer said the organization now serves more than 20,000 individual clients every month, delivering tens of thousands of meals in the process.

“We couldn’t do what we do without support from partners like San Manuel,” she said. “When you have an organization that has the ability to create innovative programs that fill gaps and you partner them with a funder who believes in their mission, it’s like magic.”

Several initiatives enable The Just One Project to address food access in Southern Nevada. Most revolve around eliminating “food deserts,” urban areas where it’s difficult to buy or access affordable or quality fresh food.

On the most basic level, The Just One Project serves as the last mile, connecting individuals struggling with food insecurity.

This began in 2016 with an effort to serve groceries to food-insecure communities across the Las Vegas Valley and then evolved with its first program called Pop Up & Give. This program is a monthly distribution of free groceries, strategically located at 65 sites in the most food-insecure communities

in Southern Nevada. Ten locations are Clark County School District (CCSD) sites and 55 locations are senior housing communities. This program is open to all Southern Nevada residents who need supplemental groceries.

The Just One Project has expanded over the years by working on ending the cycle of hunger. Not only do they have food programs, including a no-cost community market that enables those in need to “shop” for free, but they now have resources and programs that help build a solid foundation and gain self-sufficiency with housing, self-development and wraparound services. They are targeting the root cause of food insecurity. The annual budget for the organization is nearly $16 million.

According to Neubauer, while these programs help address food insecurity, they also provide a sense of community for those who have been or felt marginalized for years.

“One of the biggest things is just connecting people and making them feel that there is no stigma for coming for services,” she said. “We try to create a space where someone can come for service and feel good about themselves while they’re being served.”

Neubauer added that food support can be a “welcome mat” to other helpful services.

Currently, some of these other offerings include classes in financial literacy, case management and help with homelessness prevention. More are on the way soon.

ganizations that focus on one of these four pillars: Empowering Lives; Reinforcing Healthy and Resilient Communities; Inspiring Our Future Through Education; and Preserving Cultural Traditions and Empowering Indian Country.

“We recognize the importance of coming together for the greater good and appreciate that a community effort becomes the motivational drive for all involved,” said Prieto.

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS JUST connecting people and making them feel that there is no stigma for coming for services.”

PALMS’ INVOLVEMENT

San Manuel partnered with The Just One Project through Palms Cares, the philanthropic arm of the SMGHA. These philanthropic endeavors are a central tenet of the Tribe’s philosophy – particularly at a time when so many people need so much help.

“Philanthropy has been a part of the Tribe since time immemorial,” said Latisha Prieto, Chairperson for SMGHA. “We are led by the spirit of Yawa’, to act on one’s beliefs, especially when we understand the many challenges our neighbors face.”

These charitable partnerships are determined through a rigorous grant application process.

Prieto explained each grant application undergoes the same evaluation to identify opportunities of support. Generally, SMGHA partners with or-

WHAT’S NEXT

The Just One Project has big plans, and support from charitable gangsters such as Palms Cares will be critical to making these hopes and dreams come true.

The Just One Project continues to strengthen its programs, emphasizing sustainability and innovation. Notable initiatives include the Food Rescue Alliance with the Venetian, recognized by the White House, which takes leftover food from events and restaurants with the goal of rescuing up to 200,000 meals per year; and the Groceries on the Go program, a mobile low-cost market offering fresh, nutritious food to Southern Nevada at an extremely affordable price. Expansion plans aim to tackle food desert challenges in rural areas. Until then, Neubauer said The Just One Project will continue fighting food insecurity one meal at a time.

“We don’t want to put a band aid on food insecurity; we want to move the needle to the point where people can shop at their own grocery store and also create awareness that some of these communities are becoming food deserts,” she said. “If we can create awareness of food deserts, maybe we’ll have less of them.”

Small caption to go here maybe about this long.

A NIGHT OF PURE IMAGINATION

San Manuel hosts a whimsical night in honor of the people at the heart of the organization.

By Thomas LaRocca

WHILE AUGUSTUS GLOOP, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike Teavee and Charlie Bucket had the luck and good fortune to secure a Golden Ticket to visit Willy Wonka’s famous Chocolate Factory, it took hard work and determination for 130 San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ team members to earn their exclusive invitation.

On Tuesday, March 5, more than 300 guests piled into Yaamava’ Theater for a special event –the Wonka-themed Team Member of the Year Celebration dubbed “Pure Imagination.”

“When we looked at the nominees, we saw consistent themes,” said Brigitte Saria, Chief People and Infrastructure Officer. “These team members show up to work every day with a positive attitude, are results- and solution-oriented, want to teach others and, most importantly, they care about

others – above and beyond themselves – either with our guests or other team members. They embody the Tribe’s values and are what makes this a great place to work.”

The doors opened at 6 pm with honorees and their plus-one guests flooding the Yaamava’ Theater –arriving to cheers from the management team, passed hors d’oeuvres and roaming Oompa Loompas. Even Willie Wonka was available for photo ops while cotton candy and other treats adorned the tables.

The guests enjoyed a three-course meal during the presentation honoring 2023 Team Members of the Year, Leaders of the Year and Honorable Mentions as well as 2019 Team Members of the Year – since the event has not been hosted since the COVID -19 pandemic hit in 2020.

“The event was so fun and I loved all the sweet

“FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE BEST AND THE MOST OUTSTANDING TEAM MEMBERS.”

treats, plus the dinner was absolutely incredible,” said honoree Anthony Santiago, interactive graphic designer. “It was so nice celebrating with tribal leadership and it made me feel very appreciated as an team member.”

Fellow honoree William Howell, Information Technology GIS Manager, agreed saying, “No detail was spared in this presentation. When I walked out of the resort with that trophy in my hand I felt like, Wow! I really did something here!”

Chief Gaming Officer Peter Arceo, who also served as emcee, Chief Executive Officer Laurens Vosloo, Yaamava’ General Manager Kenji Hall and Saria, as well as tribal leaders Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, Secretary Audrey Martinez and Culture Seat Member of the Tribal Council Joseph Maarango were all on stage, handing out trophies and honoring the team members.

Valbuena sang a few bars of “Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive and reminisced on how the enterprise has grown from a bingo hall with a couple of hundred team memberss to a WorldClass resort with over 7,000 team members.

“For almost 40 years, we have been blessed with the most outstanding team members,” Valbuena told the audience. “We’re here tonight as you all represent a high standard with your performance, dedication and commitment that has become a hallmark of San Manuel. We are so grateful that you have chosen to be a part of our team and we wish you continued

success as you pursue your own personal and career goals here at Yaamava’.”

Creative Services Manager Milla Voloshkina, winner of Leader of the Year Award, complemented the phenomenal job from the event staff and said, “It was an honor to be recognized amongst so many talented team members and leaders in the organization. I truly felt valued and appreciated.”

The winners’ name scrolled on 23-foot-tall monitors flanking the stage as their names were called. Each walked across the stage to pick up their trophy, shake hands with leadership and pose for pictures. All 130 winners stood on stage for pictures as confetti fell from above.

“I’m thrilled and flattered to have received the Leader of the Year award,” said Promotions and Special Events Manager Antoinette Conant. “To have been nominated by the multi-talented and resourceful visionaries that I look up to makes this award even more fulfilling. Their encouragement, support and recognition have been invaluable in reaching this milestone.”

The accolades also came with a cash bonus of up to $2,000, which several team members already have earmarked: Voloshinka said it would go toward her wedding and honeymoon later this year and Santiago said it would go toward a trip of a lifetime.

“This event is a great way to demonstrate the gratitude the Tribe has for its team members,” Saria said, “and the gratitude the team members have for the Tribe.”

Honoring A Cultural PRESERVATIONIST

A

statue of culture bearer William J. Franklin Sr. was unveiled to the cheers of many during November’s Native American Heritage Month

CALIFORNIA’S CAPITOL PARK was created 160 years ago with the goal of exuding “beauty and luxuriousness.” Since then, the park has memorialized firefighters, soldiers, peace officers and religious leaders. However, until last year, it had never had a statue acknowledging the Native American tribes of the Sacramento region.

“Houpk, Woh,’ Paahi ’ ,” said California Assemblymember James Ramos in the Serrano language on a breezy November day. It translates to “one, two, three” in English.

The countdown was part of an event unveiling a statue bearing the resemblance of Miwok leader William J. Franklin Sr. – known largely by his family as Bill Franklin. Over 500 people, made up of California tribal leaders, lawmakers, dignitaries and Native students, celebrated the first-ever Capitol monument acknowledging tribes residing in California.

The eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Franklin was erected after protestors toppled the previous monument of Roman Catholic priest Junipero Serra in 2020. Serra is largely credited for establishing eight of the 21 Spanish missions, from San Diego to San Francisco – by forcibly colonizing California’s original inhabitants. Serra personally oversaw the planning, construction and staffing of each mission and was canonized as a Catholic saint in 2015.

“This monument–now a centerpiece of Capitol Park–adds a new and long overdue chapter to California’s relationship with its tribes. As a state, we are beginning to tell our history from a broader, more complete and accurate perspective by including

By Aliyah Chavez HISTORY

“My dad taught us to be honorable and to be proud to be Miwok”

–Terisa Yonemura

the voice of California Native Americans,” Ramos said. “As Native Americans, we have been invisible, romanticized, minimized or disparaged for centuries. That is not easily or quickly undone.”

The late Franklin is depicted as a Miwok skirt dancer–a fitting portrayal of the cultural preservationist who elevated his Tribe’s dances, traditions, songs and language. He was born in 1912 in Nashville, California, a small town east of Sacramento. By the 1940s, Franklin and other Indigenous leaders founded the Federated Indians of California to voice their concerns about Native people’s loss of land, language and identity.

Around the same time, Franklin began researching Miwok ceremonies, an essential undertaking as cultural teachings were becoming lost, both in California and around the United States, as Native people were forced to assimilate into dominant American culture.

In his research, Franklin interviewed elders, collected songs and assembled regalia. He also helped build three Northern California roundhouses as a consultant to the Department of Parks and Recreation. By 1979, Franklin was nominated by former California Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. to serve on the state’s Native American Heritage Commission.

“Every tribe across the state has their own Bill Franklin, a leader who fought to keep our cultures and traditions alive during a time where it was dangerous to do so,” said Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango. “This monument serves to thank and honor each one of them.”

Photos courtesy of the Democratic Communications Office

The statue stands tall, facing the Capitol rotunda, but the road to actually making the project possible was long. A year after protestors toppled the Serra monument, Assemblymember Ramos introduced AB 338, paving the way for the construction of a monument honoring California Native people.

The legislation gained support from tribal nations – including Sacramento area tribes such as Wilton Rancheria, Ione Band of Miwok Indians, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians, Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians–all of whom are memorialized on the base of the monument. Support for this piece of legislation also included tribal nations throughout the state: the Barona Band of Mission

Indians, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, among others. It also garnered support from prominent Native organizations including the California Tribal Business Alliance, the California Nations Indian Gaming Association and the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations.

After receiving support from lawmakers in the California House and Senate, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the legislation into law. By November 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the statue.

To Franklin’s relatives, including his daughter Terisa Yonemura, the honor was surprising but welcome. Yonemura told Spectrum Local News at the time: “My dad taught us to be honorable and to be proud to be Miwok.”

A year later … back under the trees of Capitol Park, at the unveiling of Franklin’s statue during Native American Heritage Month, adults took the podium to share their reflections but perhaps most significant were the Miwok children tucked in the audience. Their eager eyes can be seen on camera watching the Tuolumne Me-Wuk dancers closely, their ears paying attention to the sounds of rattles.

Tribal leaders shared thoughts about the event and the larger meaning it carried, looking both past and to the future.The Chairman of the Chicken Ranch Rancheria, Lloyd Mathiesen, said aptly: “We are so excited for this day–for this day and this statue to forever be a reminder of where we came from and that if we stand together, we can accomplish anything.”

EMBRACING OPPORTUNITY

A San Manuel team member reviews her nearly three decades with the Tribe and the encouragement and opportunities she had along the way.

By Angelica Loera / Photography by Robert John Kley

LESLIE ROMO is a lot of things: payroll specialist, team player, mother. And, undoubtedly, a lifelong learner. Leslie has spent her 28-year career at San Manuel mastering skills and gaining wisdom in every department she’s worked in. In fact, she was not only named Employee of the Month last November but also Employee of the Year in 2023. Since the Tribe’s bingo days, she’s performed each task with an open mind and taken every opportunity to learn and advance. Even landing her dream job in the payroll department hasn’t sated her thirst for knowledge. She remains committed to her education and today finds joy in guiding others looking to grow.

Tell us about your journey with San Manuel. I started in 1996 as a food runner. I did that for about a year and a half, then transferred to the bingo department as a bingo office clerk. After that, I was an administrative assistant in facilities. I came here to payroll in 2008 and I’ve been here ever since because I love it! I was also part of the Tribal Administration Certificate Program at Claremont Graduate University. It was good to learn about the history, culture and experiences of the Tribe.

What do you like about working here?

I like seeing the growth that everyone gets to experience and the fact that I’ve grown along the way. There have been different opportunities to transfer, grow and progress. I also love the fact that they help the community. I take pride in working here because they give back so much.

Where do you see yourself going next?

My plan is to be promoted to senior payroll specialist and see where I go from there. I would like to go back to school at some point to get a master’s in business.

What have you learned that you would like to share with others?

Never give up and always strive for more. Growth is important. I always tell my children to be lifelong learners and that you can never know too much. Never think that you know everything because there are always opportunities to know more.

“I like seeing the growth that everyone gets to experience and the fact that I’ve grown along the way.”

A Sense OF SECURITY

San Manuel team members work together to give comfort to thousands of children removed from their homes for suspected abuse or neglect.

By Nika Bartoo-Smith

FOR MANY KIDS, a warm blanket is a given, providing a sense of comfort and security. Many grow up with “blankies” that follow them into adulthood, fraying over the years but always a constant reminder of childhood innocence.

When children are taken from their homes for suspected abuse and face the possibility of foster care, many leave with just the clothes on their backs. That’s why staff at the Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity (RICA) give them warm, handmade blankets with bright colors and patterns: the blanket provides comfort and gives kids something to call their own.

“It means the world to these kids,” said Teri Lay, Coordinator of Community Resources for RICA and its parent organization, the Children’s Assessment Center. The Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity is a public/private partnership between San Bernardino County and Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. RICA works with local law enforcement and foster care agencies, conducting physical and sexual assault assessments, abuse interviews and offering mental health services for children who have experienced trauma.

One of the tie-blanket events organized by Stacia Gullien that helped bridge the gap for RICA.

In 2022, RICA was short almost 2,000 blankets. When San Manuel Band of Mission Indians CEO Laurens Vosloo learned there weren’t enough blankets for the kids, he committed to bridging that gap. This endeavor wasn’t the first time San Manuel had committed to strengthening RICA’s ability to help the kids: the Tribe also awarded the organization $1 million to support its work.

According to Tribal Sponsorships for San Manuel, making the blankets seemed like an easy undertaking. With more than 7,000 employees, it was assumed they would complete the task with just a few blanket-making parties.

San Manuel soon realized that making blankets takes time and effort: from rolling out fabric, measuring to size, cutting, then cutting edges into strips and tying knots. It was a huge undertaking, but team members were up for the challenge.

San Manuel team members were persistent and soon they were joined by team members at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. Starting in April 2023, the Tribal Sponsorships Department organized events and encouraged team members to meet the goal. Despite all the obstacles, the departments came together to get this done.

In fact, San Manuel team members surpassed their original promise, making more than 2,100 blankets. This year, those blankets will provide a sense of comfort to children throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

“We’re very excited because we know we are going to be okay this year,” said Lay, about the blankets donated by San Manuel. “It will help carry us through 2024.”

More than 2,500 kids, ranging from infants through early adulthood, come through the RICA each year. Many have experienced trauma, and staff work to make them as comfortable as possible in an intense situation. Part of this means each child walks away with a brand-new, handmade blanket. In fact, some staff members at the center were first served there as children, and still have the tie blankets they were given.

“It shows that somebody took the time to think of them and care for them,” Lay said. “It’s brand new and it’s theirs.”

RICA is always appreciative of donations, both monetary and items to give to the children such as tie blankets, unopened toys, bed sheets and more. If you’re interested in donating, contact Teri Lay at tlay@llu.edu.

...TRIBAL CITIZENS AND SAN MANUEL team members surpassed their original promise, making more than 2,100 blankets.

A SHARED SPI R IT

San Manuel supports those organizations that work to create strong, healthy communities.

By Jessica Villano

YAWA’ IS A SHORT Serrano word that captures a big idea: to act on one’s beliefs. And one of the beliefs of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is that the Tribe has a duty to help where it can.

“We are proud to support communities throughout the Inland Empire and Indian country through the spirit of Yawa’,” said San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, as she addressed the guests of the 14th annual Forging Hope Yawa’ Awards. “Since our creation, we have seen firsthand how Yawa’ can create a stronger community for all of us.”

The event honors nonprofit organizations that share the Tribe’s values and demonstrate outstanding service, accountability and collaboration.

“Yawa’ is the cornerstone of how we manage our giving program; it forms the basis of our philanthropy as it has since the time of our ancestors,” explained Valbuena. “And like them, we strive to support those who exhibit a spirit of giving in their service to their communities.”

The event, held March 19 at Yaamava’ Theater, was a celebration of Serrano culture: traditional Bird Songs and dances welcomed guests, attendees spoke in their tribes’ languages and traditional Serrano rattles were presented to representatives of four organizations in appreciation and acknowledgement of their tireless work to build strong and thriving communities.

“We are so proud to partner with organizations that care for the basic needs of the community as well as inspire and mentor individuals,” said Valbuena. “We challenge all of you to never stop doing the work because it takes all of us working together to make a better tomorrow, and to build a brighter future for all of us.”

HERE’S A LOOK AT THE

RECIPIENTS:

Keres Children’s Learning Center: The Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC) in Cochiti Pueblo, NM is a nonprofit organization founded to reclaim

the responsibility of educating the Pueblo children.

Trisha Moquino, co-founder of KCLC, thanked San Manuel leadership for the grant and the Yawa’ award saying, “When I think about what we do at the school, it’s for the sake of our children but also our language and our people all over Indian country.”

KCLC uses an intergenerational approach to immersion and dual language to teach children, from birth to 18, their native language. The goal of KCLC is to nurture Keres-speaking, healthy, communityminded and academically strong students.

The school uses the Montessori method for educating the “whole child,” which means supporting all areas important for the successful growth of Pueblo children: linguistic, spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical.

California Indian Nations College: California Indian Nations College (CINC) is a two-year, accredited college with a curriculum that incorporates indigenous culture, Native language revitalization and traditional Native American values.

President and CEO of CINC Celeste Townsend said, “This award shows that not only does San Manuel believe in the college, but you believe in our students as well. The Tribe’s support has allowed us to embrace the differential learning levels our students are at and prepare a pathway program that individually is crafted for each student.”

CINC was chartered by the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians in September of 2017 and in 2023, the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) approved California Indian Nations College as an Associate Member. And an instructional partnership with College of the Desert (COD), ensures that all classes offered by CINC are fully transferable.

Currently, students can complete general education and receive their associate degree before they transfer to any four-year institution. The vision held by CINC’s leadership is to become the first standalone, fully accredited tribal college in California.

The Salvation Army: Founded in England in 1865, The

Salvation Army is now an international movement serving those in need in 133 countries. The nonprofit is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church with a bible-focused message that shares God’s love with every person, without discrimination.

“Our motto is ‘doing the most good’,” said Salvation Army Business Administrator Steven Pinckney.” And we believe that the organization has been doing that in this area since 1888 and we plan to be here for generations to come.”

The philanthropic gift from San Manuel has allowed case managers to build a continuum of care that supports residents when they transition out into the community. This transitional aspect of programming is priceless because it goes beyond the initial critical need to long-term sustainability.

Pinckney thanked the Tribe for the support, recognition and partnership saying, “We are truly honored and humbled to accept the prestigious Yawa’ award on behalf of the Salvation Army…. And we are truly grateful for our decades-long friendship with San Manuel.”

National Indian Child Welfare Association: Dedicated to the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native children and families, the vision of National Indian Child Welfare Association is that all Native children have access to community-based and culturally appropriate services to help them grow up safe, healthy and spiritually strong.

The Oregon-based nonprofit partners with tribes, Native and non-Native individuals and private organizations to protect Native children and keep them connected to their family, community, and culture. It also supports tribes in creating change in state, federal and tribal systems to prevent child abuse and neglect in the first place.

“As a spiritually based and culturally grounded Native organization, we count on many partners to be effective advocates for Native children and families,” said Executive Director Sarah Kastelic. “This is only possible with the support of committed partners like San Manuel that share our vision for healthy Native families and children who grow up safe and spiritually strong.”

CULTURE

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

With the induction of an Indigenous leader into the Asian Hall of Fame, the nonprofit continues to expand its mission and vision for the future.

By Melinda Sheckells

COURAGE, CHARACTER and service are the qualities by which the Asian Hall of Fame judged their annual class of 22 inductees in 2023. The nonprofit –dedicated to overcoming bias by advancing the work and contributions of Asian and Indigenous people in the United States and globally – has been adding to its pantheon Hall of Famers since 2004, when it was founded by the Robert Chinn Foundation. The Foundation’s namesake fought for decades to achieve the American dream, despite systemic racism against Asians.

In 2023, Santos Manuel (1814-1919), tribal leader of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, became only the second Indigenous inductee into the Asian Hall of Fame. He followed Virginia Cross, Muckleshoot Indian Tribal Council chair and elder, who became the first-ever Indigenous honoree in 2022.

“Santos Manuel was on top of our list because of his tremendous contributions and the prevention of the extermination of his Tribe,” said Asian Hall of Fame President and CEO Maki Hsieh. “He peacefully secured the future of his people.”

In 1866, as anti-Native American sentiment ran high in California and across the United States, a skirmish between settlers and Native Americans in the Summit Valley triggered a month-long killing spree across the Big Bear area by a San Bernardino militia. The militia’s task to rid the mountains of all Indian people by exterminating them was supported by state policy and funded, at least in part, by the federal government. Manuel led the surviving 20-30 tribal members to safety.

Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena was able to attend the induction ceremony with her husband, Steve, on behalf of the Tribe. She took the opportunity to provide a historical glimpse into the life of Santos Manuel, born in 1814, and his role as a tribal and spiritual leader who served his people until he journeyed onto the Spirit World in 1919.

“It is a special honor and privilege that our Kii’ka Santos Manuel was held in such high esteem to be inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame,” commented Valbuena. “Our great-great-grandfather demonstrated his love for his people by being a wise and diplomatic leader during periods of great difficulty. He had a vision for the future where his descendants would be able to rely on their culture and proud history to make life better for everyone.”

The recognition of Manuel and other Indigenous people represents an important pivot for the Asian Hall of Fame.

“People look at our inductees and try to find a formula. There is no formula because they range from young to old, and in ethnicity and nationality. When Asian Hall of Fame began in 2004, the criteria were that the inductee was Asian American and had made significant contributions to society that had gone unrecognized,” Hsieh said. “Over the years, the focus shifted to Asian Americans who participated in a national sphere. With the escalation of Asian hate, we needed to take it to a more significant level.”

Since Hsieh assumed the leadership of Asian

Hall of Fame in 2019, one of her main initiatives has been to expand those who are recognized to include Indigenous people and Asians around the world. Hsieh affirms that by taking the global perspective, the organization’s representation will go from 25 million to 4 billion people.

“Seventy-five percent of the world’s Indigenous people live in Asia. There is a close connection with Native Americans regarding views of honor and respect for family, culture and systemic racism. It’s important to make sure the complete heritage and narratives are being told through the Asian Hall of Fame,” she explained.

Other posthumous honorees in Manuel’s class included Queen front man Freddie Mercury, Benihana founder Rocky Aoki and musician Johnny Cash. Sam Cho, commissioner president of the port of Seattle; legendary entertainment journalist Ben Fong-Torres; and producer Jennifer Lee, known as “Tokimonsta,” were also inducted.

“It is a significant capture of the premier influencers and dignitaries who carry the torch for the next generation. They are honored to have their body of work memorialized for all. I always say to the team, ‘Is this person someone you would like your grandchild

to learn from?’ If the answer is no, they do not belong,” Hsieh said.

A driving force for the Hall of Fame is to keep the truth about crimes and atrocities against Indigenous people alive in the national dialogue. “We must show the next generation they cannot stop the work. They cannot be content with where we are now. There is a lot of work to be done every day,” Hsieh said. “We’re very excited that the induction of Santos Manuel will pave the way for greater confidence and collaboration to come.”

Asian Hall of Fame has now expanded into a yearround season with the organization focused on developing clear metrics of impact in each one of its philanthropic pillars.

“We’re very excited that this incoming class, and the inductees before them, can help transform public perception of Asian and Indigenous contributions,” Hsieh said. “By working together through the Asian Hall of Fame on important initiatives, these inductees transform the way the next generation is mentored so they can feel confident about where they’re heading.”

Asian Hall of Fame will welcome its 2024 class at the 20th Induction Ceremony on October 19, streaming live on Roku from the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.

Steve and Lynn Valbuena

M ÜC ˇ I SCK

(muh-chish-chk)

Favorites

Müčisck: your favorite things. A word to acknowledge all those things in life you find yourself drawn toward.

In this section we meet Indigenous entrepreneurs, one in high fashion and one in the skincare industry. We take a look at summer styles from Native designers and get tempted by poolside food and drink experiences at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. We also see event spaces at Palms that are ideal for your next event, big or small.

Photograph by Robert John Kley

FROM THE FOREST FLOOR

A Native entrepreneur infuses her skincare line with ingredients valued by Indigenous people for centuries–and redefines the idea of beauty.

By Dakota Kim / Photography by Laura Bravo Mertz Solifoto.com

RUTH-ANN THORN IS FROM the Rincon Tribe and has lived on the Rincon Reservation, surrounded by oak trees bearing precious acorns (kwíila), since 2019. Today she harnesses the kwíila’s healing power for N8iV Beauty, the first Native American-, womanowned skincare brand.

The beauty line, which currently features the Daybreak Moisturizing Cream, Starlight Regenerative Cream and Starlight Regenerative Acorn Oil Serum,

has also piqued the interest of buyers at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, where it will debut this year.

“California Indigenous people, from where I am in San Diego County up to Northern California, have long held the acorn as one of our primary food sources, but also the oil has incredible properties for healing of the skin,” Thorn said. “Traditionally, our people used it for cuts, scrapes and abrasions – as an antiseptic and also as a very powerful healing agent. It was one of our treasures of Indigenous healing that was taken away from us by colonization, because it was almost considered primitive.”

Science has shown what Indigenous acorn gatherers from San Manuel to the Chumash have long known: acorns are packed with nutrients – including essential fatty acids like oleic, linoleic, a-linolenic and palmitic acids – vital for cell membrane function, as well as polyphenols and sterols, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. In other words, when properly prepared, acorns are wonder ingredients.

The seed for N8iV was first planted in October 2020, when Thorn ventured out to gather acorns with a friend living at the Pechanga Reservation, who she described as an “archaeologist and something of a medicine woman.” Then, an elder from her Tribe told her she should try to make acorn oil, which could unlock potent natural benefits for the body and the brain.

In 2021, Thorn sought out a tribe in upstate New York to cold-press acorns for her and then began her experimentation with acorn oil. First, she added it to Ponds Skin Cream. “It completely revolutionized my skin,” Thorn said. “I couldn’t believe it.” By partnering with a lab, Thorn developed and debuted her first three products, which feature black acorn oil, in 2021.

The startling effect of her acorn oil products was healing, because Thorn said she never felt beautiful as a Native person. “I didn’t have role models to look up to in the beauty culture, the fashion culture,” she said. Her daughter, at age 14 visiting a Sephora, asked Thorn whether any Native-owned and created beauty products existed; now, Thorn can say yes.

Thorn sought out a diverse cadre of Native models to not only represent the brand, but to mentor and find community with one another, as well as perpetuate Indigenous connections in the world. She said N8iV chose models who were beautiful

Ruth-Ann Thorn

Photos courtesy of the National Indian Child Welfare Association

and unique, and who wanted to tell their story and achieve their dream, from an aspiring doctor to a dancer who just started her own troupe.

Sustainability is important to Thorn. N8IV USES RECYCLED GLASS BOTTLES AND RECYCLABLE BOXES.

N8iV also donates a percentage of each purchase to organizations with missions the company supports including Indigenous organizations, such as the Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Inc. This coalition raises awareness about sexual assault, domestic violence, sex-trafficking and murdered and missing women within tribal communities in California.

Thorn is particularly proud that N8iV is a high-end luxury product, because of the history of discrimination and lookism against Native Americans. “I’m letting these young women have a space I didn’t have, and I feel like the ancestors opened the door for me. To me N8iV Beauty is a ‘land back’ – in taking land back that we’ve been pushed out of, and one of those areas is beauty. There was a time when we weren’t allowed in a luxury department store, not just because of a lack of money, but because we were second-class citizens.”

To that end, Native pride is written right on the packaging. Thorn said the “8” in N8iV represents the eight hunter-gatherer seasons in the ancestral Native migration calendar, while the gold star on the front of N8iV’s products represents the Luiseño/ Payómkawichum creation story of being the Star People from the Milky Way.

Sustainability is important to Thorn. N8iV uses recycled glass bottles and recyclable boxes, and Thorn hopes to further improve the packaging. “We are looking into incorporating hemp-based and sugar-based packaging, among other alternatives, to further minimize our environmental impact.”

Thorn is careful to harvest only where acorns are abundant, which sometimes means hiring tribes in Northern California and on the East Coast to help her gather the most nutrient-rich nuts. “We have some here locally in Southern California, but not enough trees, and I want to be respectful so our animal relatives can have their bounty and, obviously, our

elders need to be able to gather,” Thorn said. “We don’t over farm and over pick, so I go to areas where there’s such an abundance that it doesn’t affect the ecosystem.”

N8iV’s next project is a line entitled Moomat, which means “ocean” in the Luiseño language.

“A lot of people don’t know because Native Americans got pushed out of the coastline, but we have long used nutrients from the sea, including 25 types of seaweed and lots of types of kelp.”

The line will star a nutrient-rich sea serum high in natural iodine, as well as a sea cleanser and an acorn shell exfoliant. The company is also planning to release a sunscreen with cactus extract, since cactus has its own natural sun-protectant qualities; a “stone people mask,” infused with sage and sweetgrass, is made with white clay minerals from the mountain range at the Rincon Reservation. For spas, the company is developing full-body products, including an acorn and sage massage oil and an acorn shell body scrub.

Thorn wants to carefully steer N8iV, though nonNative investors have sought to gain a 51% stake in the company. “They don’t care about the culture; for them, it’s just the bottom line,” she said. Thorn said she won’t sell to such an investor. “I feel like my ancestors went through so much and what I’m sharing with the world is Indigenous wisdom, not just physically, but also to empower people to feel they are the most amazing, unique ‘one of one’ that they’ll ever be. I don’t want that to change, because that is why I’m here on this planet.”

TRANSCENDING DESIGN

At the intersection of creativity, cultural expression and social consciousness, this Indigenous designer pushes the boundaries of Native American art while addressing social issues.

By Christie Moeller

As a veteran grappling with PTSD, Osage Nation’s Dante Biss Grayson of the Eagle Clan uses art as a form of healing. Through his creations he transforms personal struggles into universal messages of resilience and hope, all while shining a spotlight on challenges faced by Native communities. His line of clothing, Sky-Eagle Collection, represents a fusion of fashion, social justice advocacy and artistic expression – elevating it above the limits of a typical fashion brand. We sat down with Dante to learn more about his unique creation.

Q: How was Sky-Eagle Collection born?

I grew up in the arts – specifically fine art – and studied overseas before I joined the military. When I came back from 12 years overseas, I opened my art studio. It was my own therapy and healing journey, which branched out into fashion. With the support of my wife, Yanti, we founded the Sky-Eagle Collection, named after our daughter. At the same time I began working on a platform of social justice to bring awareness to the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women movement [MMIW]. My daughter had just been born and I looked at her, my wife, my family, my tribe and wanted to do something about this epidemic. Having a fashion house was kind of a one-off, then it snowballed and took off.

Q: What does fashion mean to you?

It’s a unique way people can express themselves, and that’s empowering. A lot of people who buy my pieces write and say they feel great in them, that they walked into a room and turned heads. I love giving people that power and feeling.

Q: What are your sources of inspiration?

My roots are in the art world, I studied in Holland and Spain and lived in Italy for four years so I take a lot of cues from da Vinci and the Renaissance. Poetry is also a big inspiration for me. At the heart of my designs, I take traditional things like ribbon work and make it modern for everyone to enjoy.

Q: Who is the Sky-Eagle Woman?

I call them warriors in the modern world. Beautiful women who are leaders in their community. Educators, people who inspire others. And I want women to have pockets. I had a client reach out and say that I should start doing pockets, women need pockets. And I said, ‘Of course you should have pockets.’ So now my pieces have pockets.

Q: Tell us what you have in store for your Spring/Summer ‘24 Collection.

We’re dabbling in ranchwear. I lived on the Navajo Rez and there is a lot of Indigenous culture built around Rodeo and ranching. I love that and I get to use beautiful, bright colors. We’ll also have some red-carpet looks and had two pieces at the Oscars. And of course we are already started on Fall/Winter.

Dante Biss Grayson

Photography by Yanti, Models: Clockwise from top left, Claris, Edwin Felter, Kona Moon, and Maddie Sanders

“I

TAKE TRADITIONAL

THINGS LIKE RIBBON WORK AND MAKE IT

MODERN FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.”

Q: There has to be a balance between look and feel. How do you choose materials and fabrics for your designs?

I didn’t grow up in the fashion design world so my process is different. I look at it like a blank canvas. I want to use sustainable materials, like Tencel, which is made from eucalyptus trees, and incorporate that into the look. It also has to look good and feel good.

Q: Your designs represent a cultural bridge. How can fashion share your culture?

One of the biggest issues impacting Indigenous communities is MMIW. Fashion is an amazing and powerful tool to share a message and, if you do it right, it can bring change.

Q: What’s next for Sky-Eagle Collection?

We have grown from a collection to a fashion house with multiple brands in development. The ranchwear collection, a resort collection and we have also started a media and consultation fashion show production branch of our brand. We have a lot of things in the works!

Small caption to go here maybe about this long.

Pieces from the Sky-Eagle Collection can be found at 1891 at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and in Taos, NM at the flagship store.

Crepe Silk Bandeau and Maxi Silk

by Jason Baerg. Available at SWAIA Fashion Week and Instagram @ayimach_lodge.

Forget-Me-Not Engraved Silver Disc Earrings with abalone shell by Jennifer Younger. Available at jenniferyoungerdesigns.com.

STYLED BY CHRISTIE MOELLER

HAIR & MAKEUP BY KRYSTLE RANDALL MODELLED BY WASÉ CHIEF SHOT AT ARROWHEAD SPRINGS HOTEL

Skirt

Playing with CONTRAST

Behold a vision for stunning, summer style. It’s voluminous and streamlined; floral and graphic; joyous and restrained. And it’s all from up-and-coming Indigenous designers.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT JOHN KLEY

“Fearless” One Piece Bathing Suit by Sky-Eagle. Available at skyeaglecollection.com

Gold Tone 30” Metal Necklace with horsehair tassels by Jason Baerg. Available at SWAIA Fashion Week and Instagram @ayimach_lodge.

at skyeaglecollection.com.

at jenniferyoungerdesigns.com.

Victory Blue/Orange Dress by Sky-Eagle Collection. Available

Silver Disc Earrings by Jennifer Younger. Available

We are Warriors Silk Dress and Copper Breastplate, handmade by Rebecca Baker-Grenier. Available at rebeccabakergrenier.com.

Opposite: We are Warriors Top and Pleated Pants, handmade by Rebecca Baker-Grenier. Available at rebeccabakergrenier.com

Deep Blues Body Chain, gold-plated with vintage trade beads by Jennifer Younger. Available at jenniferyoungerdesigns.com.

Opposite: Three-Tone Bathing Suit and Transparent Reversible Silk

Pants by Jason

Available at SWAIA Fashion Week and Instagram. @ayimach_lodge.

New Sunset Tencel Dress, Scout Trench Coat and “Sky-Eagle Heels” Custom Bottom High Heels by Sky-Eagle Collection. Available at skyeaglecollection.com.

Horsehair Tassel Earrings by Jason Baerg. Available at SWAIA Fashion Week and Instagram @ayimach_lodge.

Chiffon

Baerg.

ISLAND PARADISE

Sammy Hagar has spent the last few decades cultivating a casual rock ’n’ roll lifestyle filled with great music, food and drinks – and now he brings that experience to Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

By Melinda Newman / Photography by Robert John Kley

“Say you’re trapped on a desert island. What do you want? YOU WANT GOOD MUSIC, YOU WANT GOOD FOOD.”

WHEN SAMMY HAGAR played Pearl Theater at Palms Casino Resort last summer with his band The Circle, he had nothing but praise for the property, but he had a lingering thought: “Man, I want to turn this back into a rock joint.”

After all, the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Famer knows a little something about how to have a good time as a world-class solo artist and former lead singer of Van Halen and also as a lifestyle entrepreneur since opening the Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas in 1990.

So he approached the Palms team and the idea for Sammy’s Island was born. This tropical pool paradise features invigorating cocktails made with Hagar’s signature spirits, delectable food and live music, all curated by Hagar.

Sammy’s Island is the first pool project for Hagar, and the fulfillment of a dream. “I’ve had a thing called Sammy’s Island in my head forever,” he said. “Say you’re trapped on a desert island. What do you want? You want good music, you want good food. You want sea, sun and salt. You want all these wonderful things that make you happy,” he said and laughed.

The oasis, which opened May 17, promises to be the perfect high-energy getaway. In addition to the poolside lounge chairs, visitors can kick back in the 39 cabanas and four exclusive Red Rocker Cabanas, decorated with bold rock ’n’ roll decor.

The attire is casual, as is the food, but avowed foodie Hagar said don’t confuse low key with low quality. “I’m a real casual guy. I don’t want to put on a suit, coat or a jacket. I don’t want to wear long pants if I don’t have to, but I love high-end dining. I love great food,” he said. “I have more chef friends than I have rock star friends, so I want the food to be the highest level, but still casual.”

As part of full beverage service, patrons can expect tropical cocktails featuring Hagar’s premium Beach Bar Rum (a partnership with rocker Rick Springfield); Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktails (canned cocktails); tequila flights from Santo Spirits, Hagar’s top-shelf tequila brand (a partnership with celebrity chef Guy Fieri); and, of course, ice-cold beer, including Hagar’s own Red Rocker Lager.

Bites to fit all appetites will also be served to sunkissed pool-goers, including a Baja Breakfast Burrito, egg sandwich, chicken wings, quesadillas, a Veracruz chopped salad, Thai salad and poke bowl.

To keep the chill vibes going, visitors won’t even have to leave their lounge chairs for service. “We have taco carts and we bring the street food of Mexico to you, lying there in the sun, sitting by the pool,” Hagar said. “If you don’t want to get up and walk to the food, well, that’s all right. We’ll come to you. It’s going to be awesome.”

Sammy’s Island wouldn’t be complete without music. In addition to DJs spinning tracks Saturday through Monday, poolside events will include musical acts from national headliners to Vegas favorites.

Don’t be surprised if the Red Rocker jumps on stage himself to occasionally headline and join his pals. “I want my friends to play there and when they’re playing, of course, it’s more tempting for me to hang out and want to jump on stage with them,” Hagar said. “That outdoor stage, the PA system and lighting system are phenomenal!”

Hagar – who received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April and is on the road this year with his “Best of All Worlds” tour – hopes Sammy’s Island returns to Palms for every pool season.

“This is just the beginning!” he said, sharing ideas about creating an indoor space so his fans have something to do when the pool closes.

For Hagar, his music and hospitality offerings –including Cabo Wabo Cantina in Las Vegas, now in its 15th year; the original Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas; Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach, California; and Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grills in the Cleveland, Maui, Honolulu and Las Vegas airports –are all about creating joy. In fact, all proceeds from his Beach Club and airport restaurants go to the communities those establishments are in, namely to food banks.

“I want to spread a lifestyle for my fans that they can pass on to their children. And when I’m gone, this lifestyle can live on. That means a lot to me,” Hagar explained. “What I’m about is happiness. I’m about a good time. Everyone wins. You eat good food. You listen to good music. You just live happily. And I want to spread that on this planet.”

Ringo Starr

Stevie Nicks

THE LAST SIP

If you’re setting bar goals, a lofty place to start is with having the ingredients on hand to recreate The Catch 22 at home. Top this colorful cocktail with an edible flower that suits the season and a citrus twist for a pop of flavor.

RECIPE

1oz Vodka

.5oz Lychee Liquor

.5oz Lemon Juice

.33oz Blue Curacao

.33oz Crème de Violette

Add ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with edible flower or mint leaf and enjoy.

Photography by Alan De Herrera

Styled by Judean Sakimoto

DIVE RIGHT IN

When there’s only one thing on your to-do list — to lounge by the pool — but you still want top-notch sips and sustenance, indulge in crave-worthy handcrafted cocktails and dishes from the poolside cafés and bars at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Photography by Alan De Herrera

Styled by Judean Sakimoto

Put the Lime in the Watermelon

Laguna Pool House & Kitchen at Palms Place

El Tequileno Blanco, fresh watermelon, lime, hibiscus, Tajín rim

TRUE COLORS

Tempting you from the bar in shades of pink, green and orange, these suited-for-summer drinks are built on classic cocktails — think margarita or mojito — but with unexpected additions like passion foam and coconut cream.

Mezcal Blood Orange Sour

Lobby Bar & Y Lounge at Yaamava’ El Silencio Mezcal, lime sour, blood orange, egg whites

Maui-Jito

Sammy’s Island at Palms Pool

Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, fresh lime juice, pineapple syrup, fresh mint leaves, dehydrated pineapple

Laguna Blue

Laguna Pool House & Kitchen at Palms Place

RumHaven Coconut Rum, blue curacao, coconut purée, pineapple, fresh lime sour

“Each cocktail is a journey, an experience that takes you to NEW HEIGHTS OF TASTE AND PLEASURE.”

Bees Knees

Lobby Bar & Y Lounge at Yaamava’

Botanist Gin, Benedictine Liqueur, honey lemon sour

Cojito

Lobby Bar & Overlook Bar at Yaamava’

Bacardi Silver Rum, coconut cream, lime juice and mint

Lilikoi Rita

Lobby Bar & Y Lounge at Yaamava’

Azunia Reposado Tequila, Passoa Passion Fruit Liqueur, lime sour, passion foam

Big Burger STACK TOWER

Sammy’s

This dish is meant for you and your cabana mates: juicy Wagyu burgers are topped with American cheese, crunchy pickles and lettuce and then cradled on toasty brioche buns. Enough crispy onion rings for everyone finish off this classic.

Island at Palms Pool

Spicy

Salty, crispy, spicy, crunchy and cool, this dish hits all the notes. Avocado, wonton chips, unagi sauce and poke slathered with spicy mayo are paired with sticky rice and edamame and a hit of tobiko and macadamia nuts.

Tuna POKE BOWL

Sammy’s Island at Palms Pool

Churro PANCAKES

Radiance Cafe at Yaamava’

Is this the breakfast of champions? With ripe raspberries, a hearty drizzle of dulce de leche sauce and a sprinkle of streusel topping over fresh hotcakes, we certainly think so. Pro tip: pairs well with a pitcher of mimosas.

Smoked Salmon & AVOCADO TOAST

Radiance Cafe at Yaamava’

The brunch favorite is catapulted into new territory with the addition of smoked salmon and a citrus poppyseed vinaigrette. Peppery arugula, queso fresco, pickled red onions and a dash of everything spice round out the flavor profile.

Strawberry & WATERMELON SALAD

Radiance Cafe at Yaamava’

Here’s the ultimate light lunch for a 100-plus-degree day: juicy strawberries and watermelon on market greens, sprinkled with spiced pepitas and cotija cheese and then tossed with a cilantro lime vinaigrette.

BEACH BABE ESSENTIALS

Get outfitted for a full day of fun in the sun with cute suits, totes and sandals.

One-Piece Swimsuit and Halter Top by Tommy Bahama; Milo Hat, Venetta Blue Bag and Tia Bag by Pia Rossini; High Tide flip-flops by Rockin Footwear; and Plumping Gel Serum by Coola all available at 1891 Boutique. Hairspray by Moroccan Oil available at Serrano Spa; Quick Dry Towel by Dock & Bay available at Puuhia’t Gift Shop.

MAKE WAVES

Each issue we gather a few things that stand out from the rest. This time we’ve found everything you need for a day by the pool. All available at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

Photography by Alan De Herrera

Styled by Judean Sakimoto

WHERE DREAMS COME TRUE

KINGPIN

HARDWOOD

SUBTLE SPARKLE

Find metals that reflect the sun’s rays, blues as clear as the Mediterranean and charms that hint at the mysteries of the sea.

9MM Puffy Pave Huggie Hoop by Sydney Evans available at HERS. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings by Tela Bela and Santore available at 1891 Boutique.

APRES-SUN GLOW UP

After a day filled with UV rays, it’s time to nourish your skin with these divinely scented soaps, body washes and oils.

Hat by Travis Mathew available at HIS; Quick Dry Towel by Dock & Bay available at Puuhia’t Gift Shop; Luxe Soap, Eau de Toilette, Bath Truffle, Moisture Wash and Luminous Cashmere Bath Oil by Zents Water Collection all available at Serrano Spa.

Dream Party DESTINATION

From secret speakeasies and breathtaking rooftop spaces to opulent suites and tropical poolscapes, Palms Casino Resort redefines the event experience.

by Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Ghostbar

THERE’S SOMETHING about Las Vegas that draws people from all over the world to celebrate. Is it the extravagance, the excitement or the exquisite options only found in Vegas?

Step into one of the venues at Palms Casino Resort and you’ll see it could be any, and all, of those things. From an intimate wedding or massive corporate conference, BBQ-fueled guys’ weekend or cocktailsand-caviar anniversary reception, there are rooftop spaces, secret speakeasies, luxury suites and poolside restaurants to create the atmosphere of your dreams.

“No cookie-cutter experiences,” said Jacqueline Powell, Manager of Social and Celebration Sales. “However you envision your celebration – from space to menu to drink program – Palms can make it a reality.”

And it doesn’t have to be a one-and-done event either. Think: a progressive wedding or birthday – beginning with a Friday dinner, leading to a Saturday spa day, evening event and then a Sunday recovery brunch; or take over multiple spaces – like one company that booked the entire property for a conference, from the restaurants to the casino floors, which culminated with a poolside Beyonce performance. Here’s a peek at some of the venues available for your next celebration:

ROOMS THAT CELEBRATE THE IMAGINATION

Ghostbar

With its silver-white décor and panoramic views, Ghostbar is the place for a sleek and stunning celebration for a few hundred of your closest friends. Design not only your menu and signature cocktail, with the help of the chefs and mixologists of course, but also photo ops throughout the space for the ultimate Instagrammable experience.

Palms Pool

From the bar to the cabanas, the soak area to the second-level private pool, Palms Pool offers multiple outdoor event options, ranging from corporate-event buyouts to cabana takeovers for social groups. The entire space can host up to 3,500 or sections can be broken out for smaller events such as birthday parties, showers or weddings.

Two-Story Sky Villa

With a full bar looking out onto an infinity pool, which spills over into a view of the Las Vegas lights, the Sky Villa offers dividable spaces that can be set

up as lounges, activity spaces and dining areas for 30-100 guests. An on-call butler makes sure the host’s needs are also catered to.

Kaos

Kaos is two atmospheres in one: an indoor nightclub with DJ booth, massive sound system, array of lights, video and other special effects; and an outdoor space starring a pool that’s surrounded by two stories of cabanas. A glass wall between the two areas opens to accommodate 6,500 for fundraisers, networking events and other major parties.

Hardwood Suite

With its whiskey tasting room, pool table, locker room and half-size basketball court, the two-story Hardwood Suite is where hoop dreams meet suite dreams. The one-ofa-kind location can host up to 40 people for networking events, after-parties or the best championship games your guests could ever hope for.

Nove

Moon and View

The monikers of these spaces should tip you to the type of visual experience you can expect. And the fact that they are adjacent makes them well-suited for two-phase events, such as ceremonies and receptions or plated dinners and after-parties. With 360-degree vistas from 50 stories up, outdoor terrace and a retractable roof, these spaces offer spectacular settings for any event.

Vetri

Located on the 56th floor, Vetri Cucina offers dazzling views of the Las Vegas Valley alongside award-winning modern Italian cuisine. Chef Marc Vetri’s team can create brunch, lunch or dinner menus for parties, receptions and showers. The whole restaurant can host up to 100 guests, while the private dining room is perfect for smaller groups of 10-40.

Mr. Coco’s Speakeasy

The secret entrance with a passcode and private elevator gives a full VIP vibe that carries through to a sophisticated lounge. The sound of a jazz combo and cocktails shaking make a festive backdrop for groups up to 60 to enjoy an

anniversary party, welcome reception or holiday event.

Grand Blush Suite

Find sophisticated glam with a touch of Barbie girl in the Grand Blush Suite, with its marble-and-velvet décor, four custom vanities, rose gold beauty bar and Hollywood-style dressing rooms. It’s an Insta-ready atmosphere for birthdays, showers and bachelorette parties for up to 20.

Kingpin Suite

Like Vegas itself, the Kingpin Suite offers a world of entertainment. There are the two full-sized bowling lanes that give the suite its name, but also gaming tables, a full bar and queen-sized bunk beds for you and three dozen of your closest friends for a party that can last ‘til dawn.

La Popular

La Popular offers an elevated take on Mexican cuisine served with a creative cocktail menu and cozy-yet-cosmopolitan atmosphere. Private dining rooms are perfect for parties of up to 30, be they birthday, bachelor or bachelorette; corporate or social events can buy out the entire restaurant for 150 attendees.

AWARDWINNING AND CELEBRITY CHEFS OVER 150,000 SQ. FT. OF SPECIAL EVENT SPACE

Moon

Moon

Grand Blush Suite

Left page:

photos by Baylee Jo Photo. Planner: Hello Darling Events. Right page: Photo: Erin Marie Photo. Planner: Tory L Cooper

Sara’s Speakeasy

Nothing says celebration like flambé desserts and the clink of martini glasses! An elegant supper club that pays homage to vintage Vegas in setting and spirit, Sara’s Speakeasy is a chic setting for birthday parties, rehearsal dinners or any intimate special occasion for up to 60 guests.

Scotch 80 Prime

Named for an old-school Vegas neighborhood, Scotch 80’s multiple-sized, private dining rooms and patio offer a fresh take on mid-mod style and can host 10-50 people; or you can expand to the entire restaurant for 300 guests who can savor prime dry-aged steaks, Japanese-certified Wagyu and sustainable seafood as well as classic and contemporary cocktails.

Mabel’s BBQ + Game Loft

Mabel’s BBQ’s sleek, industrial space complements Michael Symon’s carnivorous comfort food. A patio, “man cave” and the entire space can accommodate groups from 10 to 300; custom menus mix and match beef brisket, pork belly, chicken wings and more for your bachelor party, family reunion or big game viewing party.

Laguna Pool House & Kitchen

With its lovely, airy bar/ restaurant and outdoor pool area, the Laguna Pool House & Kitchen offers multiple spaces for different events and activities: the bar can be arranged for cocktails and dancing; the main dining room for dinner or a buffet; and the private dining room for tastings, a photo booth or other fun activities.

To learn more about Palms venues, visit palms.com/meetings-and-events.

Grand Blush Suite

Ghostbar

Moon

Play at Yaamava’ with the most slots in the West—over 7,200—and table game limits of up to $25,000.

1

Catch A-list acts at Yaamava’ Theater, California’s top entertainment destination.

Stevie Nicks May 21

New Kids On The Block July

Keith Urban July 13

VEGAS CONNECTIONSM

For generations, our Tribe has answered to Yawa’—the call to act on one’s beliefs. It’s the reason we donated $300M over the last 20 years and why we continue to partner with communities across California. Because when we work together, we all prosper.