Hamiinat Magazine - Fall 2023

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HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | c
COMPLIMENTARY
THE MAGAZINE OF THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
HAMIINAT SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 2 | FALL 2023 COMPLIMENTARY
Fall 2023
SEP 15-17, 2023 CAL STATE SAN BERNARDINO SOCALPOWWOW.COM

the magazine of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The title translates to “hello” in the Maara’yam (Serrano Indian) language, and that is just what we want to extend to you – a warm hello.

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 happy to offer you a glimpse into our Tribe, enterprises and our vision for our Tribe and community.

Our cover story is about perhaps the most serious issue facing Indian Country today: Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). We explore the tragedy of Native people who go missing and the challenges faced by law enforcement to solve MMIP cases, some that have been on the books for decades, as well as the efforts to raise awareness about the disparity and policy efforts made to bring about change. We also look at how federal and other Indian boarding schools nearly destroyed Indigenous culture, languages, families and communities over more than a century. Turning our attention to the Tribe, we learn how the people of San Manuel are fulfilling their duties as caretakers of their ancestral lands.

We meet tribal citizens who have made impacts on micro and macro levels through their desire to help and create community; we spend time with an elder who shares memories from his childhood; and we see how members of the San Manuel Youth Committee are learning to become effective philanthropists. We also learn how members of a local church stepped up in the midst of a natural disaster to help their neighbors when they needed it most.

Finally, we get a behind-the-scenes look at a groundbreaking Indigenous fashion show experience, which was also an opportunity for the Tribe to support Indigenous art, language and culture; we prime our palates for two new dining destinations at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and embrace the warmth that comes from our favorite fall ingredients. We also meet up with three bands that played high-energy, fan-favorite shows at Yaamava’ and learn what we can expect from them in the future.

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.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 1
Welcome
I am delighted to share the Fall 2023 issue of Hamiinat,

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6 COVER

An in-depth look at the many facets of the violent crisis impacting Native people and what advocates and lawmakers are doing to change it.

12

PERSPECTIVE

An elder recalls growing up next to the Reservation and how he came to live there with his family.

14 HERITAGE

The Serrano people use modern ecology and traditional methods to protect and preserve natural resources on their ancestral lands.

18

NEXT GENERATION

Members of the Youth Committee prepare to carry on the Tribe’s mission by getting a comprehensive education in philanthropy.

22 PROFILE

With sustainability at the soul of the business, two brothers find success making customized hats – just as their grandfather did. 24

TRIBAL HIGHLIGHT

Warm childhood memories and a love of edgy, luxurious style inspire a tribal citizen to build a business where everyone feels like family.

26 HISTORY

Indian boarding schools tore families apart and nearly killed Native American language and culture. A government program looks to heal those wounds while one of those original schools transforms into a place of healing and hope.

32

TRIBAL HIGHLIGHT

A young tribal citizen expresses her dedication and passion through the traditional Native artform of beadwork – and creates a burgeoning business in the process.

Puyu’h pkcav

34 CULTURE

A new documentary explores the history and harm of Native American mascoting.

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TRIBAL HIGHLIGHT

A personal connection and a passion for helping in the community led one tribal citizen to play an active role in the fight against breast cancer.

40

FAMILY

Only one employer in the Inland Empire says thank you with a day of fun at one of Southern California’s most iconic destinations.

42

PHILANTHROPY

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians honors the organizations that work to create healthier and happier communities.

44 RECRUITMENT

Yaamava’ revamps the hiring process, creating an immersive experience to find the right person for the right job.

46

GIVING BACK

A community church steps up to help neighbors trapped without food, heat or medicine.

48 TEAM

Through unwavering commitment, San Manuel team members conquer goals together.

50

INNOVATION

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians works with Claremont Graduate University to find new approaches to healthcare for vulnerable populations.

54 SAVOR

Fall flavors and comfort food go hand in hand. Find a few dishes to make you feel like you’re home again.

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ON TREND

A curated collection of gifts and treats – all available at Yaamava’.

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WELL READ

A tribal community member shares her top five current titles by Indigenous authors.

66

ENTERTAINMENT

The Bacon Brothers break the confines of genres to create their own style.

70

TRAVEL

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s prestigious Forbes Star ratings herald a new era for Inland Empire luxury.

72

STAY

These suites at Palms Casino Resort offer the ultimate indulgent experience.

76

INDULGENCES

A new cigar lounge at Yaamava’ beckons connoisseurs with rare offerings.

78

ENTERTAINMENT

New Kids on the Block stops at Yaamava’ Theater for two unforgettable nights.

80

TASTE

New dining concepts bring Cali vibes and Mexico City energy to Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

82

ENTERTAINMENT

Nearly five decades into its lifespan, Doobie Brothers are still pushing boundaries.

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RECIPE

A chef shares the right way to serve up the fall favorite: roasted Brussels sprouts with a touch of maple.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 3 Contents

Fall 2023

H amiinat

TRIBAL COUNCIL

CHAIRWOMAN Lynn Valbuena

VICE CHAIRMAN Johnny Hernandez, Jr.

SECRETARY Audrey Martinez

TREASURER Latisha Casas

CULTURE SEAT MEMBER Karina Torres

FIRST GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER Ed Duro

SECOND GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER Laurena Bolden

CONTRIBUTORS

Elizabeth Abbinante

Peter Arceo

Summer Barron

Afsi Bird

Elizabeth Brierty

Nicole Canfield

Celeste Casas

Everton Clarke

Jacob Coin

Christopher Dennis

Drew Dixon

Nicholas Dukes

Christopher Fava

William Fulbright

Kevin Glass

Darcy Gray

Lydia Guerrero

Celena Haas

Kenji Hall

Serena Harper

Juan Herrera

Alberto Jasso

Jennifer Johnson

Cynthia Kiser Murphey

Tyler Lesch

Angelica Loera

Chelsea Marek

Tiffany Melendez

Marcus O’brien

Anthony Olivas

Luke Palladino

Tina Ramos

Steven Robles

Michael Rubinstein

Ken Shoji

Jasmine Takeshita

Kelley Tucky

Trevor Tyler

Gregory Vanstone

Brandi Vega

Laurens Vosloo

Jessica Washington

Oliver Wolf

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:

Presley Calderon

Raven Casas

Carolann Duro

Tray Henry

Anabella Hernandez

Audrey Hernandez

Nekoli Hernandez

Roman Hernandez

Sophia Hernandez

George Murillo

Ken Ramirez

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 Laurena Bolden

MANAGING EDITOR Karina Torres

VP TRIBAL BRAND MARKETING Jessica Stops

TRIBAL BRAND MARKETING Julie Lopez

PUBLISHER Peter Gotfredson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lauren Clulow

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jessica Villano

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OUR HERITAGE

Pümia’ čakimiv: 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 epidemic of violence against Indigenous people and how Indian Country is working together with non-Natives to bring about change. We then look to the past to see how government-funded institutions attempted to destroy Indigenous culture; we learn how the Serrano people are acting as stewards of their ancestral lands; and we get a look at how tribal youth are growing and learning to make a positive impact on the community. Finally we meet two brothers who have taken what they learned from their grandfather and turned it into a thriving business with sustainability at its core.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 5
(puh-mee-ah chah-kee-meev)

The fight to give voice to thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

Cover
‘We want to keep our community safe’

Wilma Colhoff, Oglala Sioux, wiped her eyes as she told a reporter for KELOTV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, about the deaths of three of her children.

Colhoff’s daughter, Shelly Poor Bear, was beaten to death. Her killer was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison. Colhoff’s son, Daniel Bad Milk, was beaten to death with a baseball bat. His killer was sentenced to five years. Another daughter, Annie Colhoff, was shot three times at close range. Her killer was sentenced to 12 ½ years.

“An Indian kills an Indian – three years,” Colhoff said. “An Indian kills a wasicu (non-Native person) –15, 30, 40 years. I just don’t think justice is good.”

The perpetrator who kidnapped and threatened to kill Joanna Saubel, a Morongo Band of Mission Indians citizen, and her three children in 2017 received a prison sentence of 7 ½ years for attempted murder and domestic violence assault. He was brought to justice because of an advocate who learned authorities were going to drop the charges due to erroneous documentation that Saubel was not willing to testify.

In October 2014, actor Misty Upham, Blackfeet, was reported missing by her family at the Muckleshoot Reservation in Auburn, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Upham, who had been undergoing a mental health crisis stemming from a sexual assault by someone in the film industry, was last seen at her sister’s apartment. Auburn Police declined to investigate, saying she didn’t fit the department’s missing-person criteria.

A search party organized by the family found Upham’s body 11 days later in a wooded area at the bottom of a cliff, not far from the sister’s apartment. They believe she fell and that her death could have been prevented by a quick response to her family’s missing person report.

The stories go on and on – 5,712 of them – of missing Indigenous women and children crying out to be found and several thousands more who have been killed and are crying out for justice and closure for their families.

“More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime and more than one in three in the last year,” Assemblyman James Ramos, D-San Bernardino, said at a Feb. 7, 2023, rally on the MMIP Day of Action at the State Capitol. (MMIP is the abbreviation for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, a term that encompasses Indigenous peoples of all genders and ages.)

“Our people – one in three in the last year. Other areas, other groups would be marching in the streets to make sure their voices are being heard. We’re here at the State Capitol to bring awareness to these issues, that homicide is the third-leading cause of death

for Indigenous women and girls… We need to make sure that their voices are being heard in the state Legislature and that law enforcement and our people are working together.”

Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. have been historically slow to respond, if they respond at all, to reports of missing Native Americans and slow to investigate Indigenous homicides for complex reasons.

One, there is jurisdictional conflict in several states, including California, to which the U.S. ceded civil and criminal jurisdiction over tribal lands in a 1953 law known as Public Law 280.1 The law affected 376 tribal nations – 65 percent of Indian Country. And it created a law enforcement structure that slowed response to MMIP and other criminal cases on Indian reservations.

State jurisdiction “added to a complex matrix of jurisdictional conflict that defined the prosecution of crimes and civil litigation at the end of the 20th century,” the U.S. Administration for Native Americans, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reported. “In various states, a mix of local police, tribal police, Bureau of Indian Affairs police, and the FBI are the arms of a law enforcement system that enforce laws of tribes, states and the federal government.”

States impacted by Public Law 280 have, at best, a confused law enforcement structure, especially as it affects tribes. This is one of the biggest problems with the MMIP crisis – no one takes responsibility for MMIP investigations, prosecutions, cold cases and others .

As a result, MMIP cases fall through the cracks.

But law enforcement is just one of three elements to the MMIP issue. Often prosecutors aren’t aggressive enough and court systems don’t always understand the extent of the crisis affecting Indian Country.

Consider a 2014 case from South Dakota. (South Dakota is an “optional” PL-280 state, meaning the invocation of the state criminal jurisdiction on tribal lands was made possible by Congress, but the law does not, in fact, currently apply there.) A non-Native man attacked his Native wife in the parking lot of a gas station on a tribal reservation. When she ran out of the car and into a women’s restroom, he followed her and continued the assault, according to a report on the National Congress of American Indians website. An apparent jurisdictional misunderstanding by local law enforcement, that only the federal government had criminal jurisdiction over such a case, meant that the assailant was never arrested or criminally charged.

The second reason law enforcement is slow to respond is data is seldom collected. And if they are, they are not standardized. The Urban Indian Health Institute reported that in 2016 there were 5,712 reports of missing Native American and Alaska Native women and girls in the U.S. – but the U.S. Department of

Justice’s federal missing persons database, NamUs, listed 116.

To date, about 1,500 Native American and Alaska Native missing persons have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and about 2,700 cases of homicide have been reported to the federal government’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the U.S. Department of Interior reports.

However, the Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates there are about 4,200 unsolved murdered and missing Indigenous person cases. “These investigations remain unsolved often due to a lack of investigative resources available to identify new information from witness testimony, re-examine new or retained material evidence, as well as reviewing fresh activities of suspects,” the Department of Interior reported.

Three, there is a lack of resource and information sharing between local and tribal law enforcement agencies. While city police departments can call upon neighboring police and county sheriff’s departments for assistance, tribal police departments are on their own.

State law enforcement agencies argue that even though PL 280 gave them criminal jurisdiction over Indian lands, the federal government didn’t give them any resources to implement that law.

Sixty-five percent of all federally recognized tribes are potentially impacted by PL 280, and that’s one of the biggest reasons MMIP continues to be such a big problem. The 35 percent or more of Indian Country that retains criminal jurisdiction and authority to have their own law enforcement, jurisdiction and courts, don’t have resources to handle their workload.

TRIBAL NATIONS RECLAIMING JURISDICTION

Tribal nations have the jurisdictional authority to investigate, prosecute, convict and sentence Native Americans ¬– but not non-Natives – who commit crimes within their territory. The 2013 and 2022 reauthorizations of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), with expanded powers, changed that.

VAWA reaffirmed tribes’ inherent sovereign authority to exercise criminal jurisdiction over nonIndians who commit domestic violence against Native spouses or dating partners or violate a protection order within their territory. As of 2022, 28 tribal nations were exercising authority under VAWA.

Wizipan Garriott, principal deputy assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, told the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs that VAWA authority has resulted in increased enforcement and protection on Native lands and is likely preventing new MMIP cases.

According to the National Congress of American Indians website, one suspect awaiting trial in

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 7

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation court made serious threats of further violence. A defendant in Choctaw Nation court had beaten his wife in front of their three children. On the Tulalip Tribes Reservation in northwest Washington, authorities arrested and prosecuted a suspect who had 19 prior contacts with tribal police. A defendant in Pasqua Yaqui court had three felony convictions, including one for domestic violence. On Eastern Band of Cherokee lands, a domestic violence assault suspect made threats of a mass shooting and assaulted a tribal law enforcement officer.

“The Pascua Yaqui Tribe has conducted 101 investigations of domestic violence perpetrated by 64 non-Indian defendants, resulting in 37 convictions,” Garriott told the Senate committee on Dec. 8, 2021. “Similarly, the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation has prosecuted 16 non-Indian defendants for domestic violence or protection order violations. Additionally, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma increased its [special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction] cases from 5 to 54 cases in one year.

“The number of domestic violence cases investigated and prosecuted are significant across Indian Country, and they highlight that these crimes were generally not prosecuted before the implementation” of VAWA’s jurisdictional expansion.

Garriott added, “The special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction provisions affirmed the inherent sovereign authority of tribal governments to exercise criminal jurisdiction over certain non-Indians who violate protection orders or commit domestic or dating violence against Indians in Indian Country. This limited restoration of inherent tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians on tribal lands has allowed tribal governments to significantly increase safety throughout Indian Country and effectively find justice for victims.”

In 2020, Congress passed Public Law 116-165, also known as Savanna’s Act, which directs the U.S. Department of Justice to review, revise and develop law enforcement and justice protocols to address missing or murdered Native Americans. The law is named for Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind of the Spirit Lake Nation of North Dakota, who was murdered while she was eight months pregnant. She was 22 years old.

The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center summarized the law: “Savanna’s Act aims to improve data collection of missing or

murdered Native Americans, clarify the responsibilities of tribal, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies responding to cases of missing or murdered Native Americans, and empower tribal governments with resources and information necessary to effectively respond to such cases. The law also directs the Justice Department to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols to address missing and murdered Native Americans.”

The federal Not Invisible Act was passed by Congress and later signed into law on Oct. 10, 2020 – the first bill in history to be introduced and passed by four U.S. congressional members enrolled in their respective federally recognized tribes, led by then-U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo. As secretary of the Interior, Haaland is working to implement the law and further address the MMIP crisis in the United States.

Haaland, in coordination with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, established the Not Invisible Act Commission – an advisory committee composed of law enforcement, tribal leaders, federal and service agencies and survivors. Among the commission’s tasks, it will track data on MMIP and human trafficking cases, coordinate tribal-statefederal resources to combat MMIP and human trafficking on tribal land and increase information sharing with tribal governments on violent crimes investigations and other prosecutions.

YOUNG LEADERS, LEGISLATORS ARE DEMANDING CHANGE

Other initiatives are increasing awareness of the crisis and improving response to missing person reports and homicides.

The U.S. Senate proclaimed May 5, 2018, as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People’s Awareness Day, and every May 5 since there have been call-to-action events from coast to coast. Many participants wear a red handprint across their face to represent the thousands of women who have been silenced and display red dresses from trees to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women who have been forgotten.

Young women leaders from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians created an advocacy group in 2019 to bring awareness to the MMIP crisis and connect affected families with resources; and in February 2023 the Tribe donated $350,000 toward the hiring of an investigator to solve MMIP cases.

The advocacy of Presley Calderon, Raven Casas, Destiny Duro and Annabella Hernandez spurred the non-profit research center Sovereign Bodies Institute to document MMIP cases in Central and Southern California. The report documented 259 MMIP cases in those regions.

Calderon, Casas, Duro and Hernandez testified in 2019 before the Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs regarding crimes against Native

women and the small number of suspects that are prosecuted. Their testimony is credited with building momentum for AB 3099.

That bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Ramos – a citizen of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the only Native American in California’s legislature – requires the California Department of Justice to provide training to law enforcement agencies and tribal governments to reduce uncertainty regarding criminal jurisdiction and improve public safety on tribal lands. It also includes funds to study challenges related to the reporting and identification of missing and murdered Native Americans in California, particularly women and girls.

California is investing nearly $12 million over three years in law enforcement training to improve public safety on tribal lands and study challenges related to the reporting and identification of missing and murdered Native peoples.

For their advocacy work, Calderon, Casas, Duro and Hernandez received “30 Under 30” awards in 2020 presented by Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes. The awards recognize the achievements of 30 residents under the age of 30 who live or work in the 47th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Ramos authored AB 1314, which established the Feather Alert system; similar to the Amber Alert, the Feather Alert requires law enforcement agencies to immediately broadcast to the public when an Indigenous person is reported missing. This bill was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Hernandez spoke in June 2022 in support of Assembly Bill 1314. The Feather Alert system “brings violence against Indigenous people out from the shadows by allowing for proper identification of, and creating visibility for, Native American victims of violent crime,” Hernandez said. “This alert system will restore faith in law enforcement and judicial systems for Native people across California and allow our voices to be heard. This alert system will help save many Native American lives.”

Hernandez said the voices of missing and murdered Indigenous people are being heard, but there is a lot of work to be done. “I’m happy to see this issue is being taken more seriously throughout California,” she told Hamiinat magazine. “It makes me feel like we could eventually end the MMIP crisis.”

Lynn “Nay” Valbuena, chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, said, “We want to close those years of so much hurt and so much agony. We want to think of policy solutions and to raise awareness. And we want to keep our community safe.”

1There were six mandatory states (CA, AK, MN, OR and WI) and up to 10 optional states (AZ, FL, ID, IA, MT, NV, SD, UT and WA), however subsequent amendments to PL 280 in 1968 provided an avenue for the retrocession of state jurisdiction, and the passage of TLOA in 2010 authorized tribes to request the re-assumption of concurrent federal jurisdiction.

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Ramos legislation designed to improve MMIP prevention, response

H ISTORICALLY, WHEN AN INDIGENOUS PERSON was reported missing, precious time was lost as information made its way through various jurisdictions before trickling out to the greater public –if it made it out to the general public at all.

That has changed.

The California Statewide Feather Alert Program, established in 2022, ensures that information about a missing Indigenous person – of any gender or age – is immediately issued by California Highway Patrol over radio, television and social media.

The Feather Alert was established by Assembly Bill 1314, authored by Assemblymember James Ramos, D-40 th District, and is similar to Amber Alert for missing children and Silver Alert, for older and developmentally challenged individuals.

Many law enforcement agencies say the first 72 hours after someone is reported missing – and a mere 24 hours for a child – are critical. That’s what makes the Feather Alert and other alert systems so important.

Law enforcement agencies, including tribal police, can ask CHP to initiate an alert when an Indigenous person has been kidnapped, abducted or reported missing after certain criteria have been met:

• The missing person is an Indigenous person.

• Investigators are using available local and tribal resources.

• The person has gone missing under unexplainable or suspicious circumstances.

• The missing person is believed to be in danger.

• Information is available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.

California has the largest population of Native Americans in the United States, according to data from Ramos’ office, yet cases of murdered and missing Indigenous women are seven times less likely to be solved than any other demographic.

MMIP advocates say anytime any person is reported missing it’s cause for public concern and swift response. They hope public awareness and initiatives like Feather Alert will improve the chances that missing Indigenous people will have an equal chance of returning home.

The dome of the State Capitol was lighted red this past May 1-5 to call attention to the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. A candlelight vigil took place May 3 on the Capitol’s west steps, and the next day Ramos opened a session of the Assembly with prayer and song. Ramos then introduced a resolution designating May 2023 as Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Awareness Month in California.

“For many years, we have known that MMIW has always been an issue in Indian Country,” Ramos said on Feb. 7 at a MMIP Day of Action press conference at the state Capitol. Commending legislators from both political parties who are working together on this issue, he said,

“It’s now that it’s gaining momentum and gaining allies [that we’ve been] able to bring legislation forward.”

Other bills authored by Ramos include Assembly Bill 273. This bill is currently working its way through the legislative process and has received bipartisan support. The bill is expected to reach the Governor’s desk. AB 273 requires social workers or probation officers to immediately report to law enforcement when a child is missing from foster care or the child’s wellbeing is suspect.

Assembly Bill 44 unanimously advanced in May to the state Senate, where it was scheduled for committee hearings over summer. AB 44 would give tribal law enforcement and tribal courts access to the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, or CLETS, “so we can know who’s coming onto [tribal lands] and where those serious offenders are in our communities,” Ramos said at the MMIP Day of Action.

Tribal governments have law enforcement jurisdiction over tribal peoples but not over non-Native people, and there is often a breakdown in the sharing of information about non-Native suspects and offenders. Thirteen states have laws that empower tribal police departments to enforce state law if they meet their state’s accreditation requirements, but California doesn’t have that. “AB 44 would close that gap,” Ramos said.

In addition, the state budget invested $12 million over three years in law enforcement training to improve public safety on tribal lands and study challenges related to the reporting and identification of missing and murdered Native peoples, particularly women and girls. The state earlier invested $5 million toward that effort.

At the Day of Action, Yurok Tribe Chairman Joseph James told those in attendance that there is a lot of work still to do – in California and across the United States.

“You’ve heard their stories,” James said of the individuals whose stories were shared at the Day of Action. “This is about us and we together as a family. When you travel home – north, south, inland to the mountains – hug your family, give prayer, give thanks, thank the Creator. We’ve got some work yet to do and that’s why we’re here today. It’s us and we’re moving this forward – as tribes, as a state, as advocates, as organizations coming together, ringing that bell.”

Racing for

MANY PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA that murder is the third highest cause of death among American Indian and Alaskan Native women, and 82% of Indigenous men are victims of violence in their lifetime. They also don’t know that these people often fall through the cracks, their disappearances, assaults or murders never coming under investigation due to jurisdictional confusion. That’s all changing.

In the past two years, several bills have been signed into law that will make it easier to act quickly when an Indigenous person goes missing or is harmed, increasing the odds that the person will be found or the perpetrator brought to justice.

But legislation is only one part of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) equation. The other is awareness.

On May 6, 2023, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ MMIP advocacy group held its first annual 5K walk/run at California State University, San Bernardino to shine a spotlight on the epidemic of violence and injustice that Indigenous people face.

The event – held during MMIP Awareness Month and a day after Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Day – raised funds to support the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women and Strong Hearted Native Women’s Coalition, Inc., two organizations that advocate for native communities.

10 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 11
Perspective
Tribal community member, George Murillo, Sr. holding a photo of his late wife, tribal member, Pauline Murillo

You grew up near the Reservation. What was it like when you were growing up?

Reflection

George Peña Murillo grew up next to the San Manuel Reservation in Highland, CA. The young man spent so much time there, exploring the canyons and mountains with the children who lived on the Reservation, that he eventually became like part of their families. It was at a young age that he met tribal citizen Pauline “Dimples” Ormego; later Pauline and George got married and created a family of their own, having two daughters, one son, eight grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren and seven great, great grandchildren.

Pauline and George went on to become philanthropists in their own rights, donating time and money to hospitals and schools with the goal of improving the lives of those who live in the local community. George gathered with his daughters and reminisced about life near, and later on, the Reservation from the 1930s until today.

Well, I was born in 1931 and I lived down the road in a house where the hotel and casino are now. The house I lived in is gone and I was born in that house. I think there were about eight homes on the Reservation at that time. Across the wash was York Nursery where they grew fruit trees, plants, small trees. They had a good business going. And the boys and myself, we used to work there. Poor kids, they’d hire us to pull weeds and do little odd jobs. We were raised right there, where the casino is. And we played on the whole mountain.

What did the Reservation look like then?

It used to be just groves. Down this way, there were orange trees, some homes and the apricot grove there. Water came down from Big Bear and the Tribe used it to water the groves. Certain rows belonged to different members of the Tribe. They had different sections. People would come up to the Reservation just to buy apricots. So, they made a little money off of it.

Did you spend time on the Reservation?

I was here a lot because there were kids here my age. And we used to hang around together. I was a little bit older than they were. Not much – a couple years or so. We used to hang around together. Tommy Manuel, David Marcus,

Roy Manuel and Richard Manuel. They all lived here. I came up here all the time and we became good friends, like family. I spent a lot of time on the Reservation. I ended up on the Reservation.

Did you ever explore the land here?

Yes, deer hunting. We just walked up the mountain just for the hell of it. You could hike up Sand Canyon as far as you can go. Tommy. Alton. We went hiking all the time…way back in the canyon and then climbing up the hill to the top. There’s a lot of Indian people that live up there. People don’t even know because they don’t come this way.

Tell us about the Big House.

It’s where the tribal families got together for meals, meetings, ceremonies and funerals. When I was 15, the tribal elders had a meeting there and said since Pauline and I were together so much, we should get married. We finally got married in 1952. And then I went to the service and was stationed in Alaska.

What did you do after the service?

I worked at Santa Fe Railroad. I was a car man. I started as a laborer, then got promoted and worked on railroad cars, repairing railroad cars. I worked at Santa Fe for a good

many years. I took apprenticeship, graduated, got up in the world. You could get good pay at that time. I retired from Santa Fe Railroad and went to work at Kaiser Steel in Fontana. When I retired from Kaiser Steel, I worked at the San Manuel Bingo Hall for a while. When it opened in 1986, we got a big crowd. The place was packed. You wouldn’t believe it.

Do you remember when things started to change on the Reservation?

Oh, everything changed. Everything got more modern. People changed. Some stayed around here, some left and went their own way, but most of ‘em stayed around here. Some went to college down in San Bernardino. Some got married, moved off.

Tell us about your family.

My parents’ names were Emilio and Vivian. They were married a long time. Pauline and I were married for 58 years before she passed away in 2011. We have three children: Audrey, George “Boy” and Lynn “Nay”.

All three of your children have been on Tribal Council over the years. What is it like to have your children work for the good of the Tribe?

Well, I’m proud of them. Everything we do is to keep the Tribe going. Yeah, everything we do is to better the Tribe, and to help out people.

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Land Mana gement the Ancestors’ Way

San Manuel exercises its sovereignty, and honors its sacred duty, by how it cares for its traditional lands.

Heritage

The Maara’yam people are caretakers of lands that have sustained them since ancient ancestors of today’s Yuhaaviatam entered into a covenant with the Creator that put their ancestors here. It’s an incredible responsibility. The aboriginal territory of the Maara’yam, or Serrano, people is 7.4 million acres, or 11,562 square miles – an area almost as large as Belgium.

It’s also a sacred responsibility. The people’s creation story is rooted in these lands. One Maara’yam clan became the Yuhaaviatam, or People of the Pines, for the tears they shed for the dying Creator – tears from which the pine trees grew at Big Bear Lake. The people followed the plants each season from valley to mountains, harvesting at each elevation as food plants emerged amid warming temperatures.

The land could always be counted on to produce plants that were used for food, medicine and for making shelter, clothing and utilitarian objects. This timeless tie between the people and the land that sustained them is told in their oral history. These ancestral lands and the Yuhaaviatam people, who now comprise the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, are one.

“Every culture, every people across the face of this world have a connection to land,” said Deron Marquez, former San Manuel Chairman who currently teaches tribal administration at Claremont Graduate University. “If you don’t have land, you don’t have culture. That connectedness to land is key to your existence.”

“San Manuel Serrano ancestral lands are a record of our existence and our interactions with the natural world,” said Tribal Council Culture Seat Officer Karina Torres. “These lands hold the remains of our ancient ancestors, our sacred places, religious sites and places where we gathered food, medicines and materials for clothing and shelter.”

But those lands are under increasing threat from changes in climate and from modern developments. Once-predictable rain seasons have been replaced by unpredictable rain events, altering the harvesting times for chapparal yucca, white sage, buckwheat, black oak acorns and other plants that seemingly hide in plain sight in the washes and hillsides.

Orange County Register reporter Brooke Staggs

2017. So, the loss of a yucca plant to vandalism is significant.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is working to protect cultural resources and enhance plant and animal habitats on its lands. The work gives Laurena Bolden, Second Governing Tribal Council Member, confidence that plant and animal habitats will continue to thrive.

“The plants across our lands are resilient and despite being pushed by extremes, they thrive. The same could be said of our Tribe and its history,” said Bolden, who oversees activities that enhance and strengthen the Tribe’s culture, language, history, religion, spirituality and cultural resources. “There is a cultural and spiritual connection behind why we

wrote in May of several large flowering yucca that had been vandalized. The region’s Indigenous peoples harvest the yucca’s spring blossoms for food and use fiber from yucca fronds to make rope, sandals and clothing. A research team from University of California, Irvine found that vegetation cover in the region’s desert ecosystems had decreased by about 35 percent between 1984 and

are so intent on preserving and propagating these plants. The people and the plants are connected.”

San Manuel established departments and programs to protect, manage and consult on the sustainable use of land within its ancestral territory, including thousands of acres of ancestral lands in the San Bernardino Mountains and foothills, Cajon Pass, the high deserts and the Summit Valley. The Tribe actively pursues habitat restoration, including stream restoration and reintroduction of native plants.

As weather fluctuates wildly from year to year, plants can’t be counted on to be in the same locations, so the Tribe is incubating native plants in a full-time greenhouse nursery and reintroducing those plants to its 1,100-acre Reservation and its 1,700-acre Arrowhead Spring Resort property for future harvests. Seeds for the greenhouse are supplied by a seed collection managed on site by San Manuel’s Environmental Department.

“Over the next few years, visitors to the Reservation and Arrowhead Spring Resort property may notice more native plants, particularly the tall yucca stalks dotting the hillsides,” said Torres. “The Tribe has cultivated 72 species of native plants, including yucca plants, whose spring and summer blooms will bring both color and pollinators to local hillsides.”

San Manuel works with state and local fire agencies to protect the lands it manages against wildfires through the Community Wildfire

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 15
“Caring for native plants and maintaining the land through culturally and ecologically appropriate means ensures that our culture endures, and the environmental uniqueness of these lands is preserved for generations to come.”

Protection Plan, a plan developed in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

In addition, San Manuel staff members and consultants trained in biology, ethnobotany, geology and cultural monitoring work with neighboring governments and agencies to identify and preserve Serrano cultural resources on ancestral lands. This cooperative work helps neighbors become more knowledgeable and sensitive stewards.

“This expertise – coupled with philanthropic partnerships with conservation groups like Native American Land Conservancy, National Parks Conservation Association, The Wildlands Conservancy and the Southern California Mountains Foundation – are extending the stewardship ethic and support across the ancestral territory for the benefit of all,” said Torres.

An Appetite for Preventing Wildfires

San Manuel Fire Department uses goats to eliminate fuels and reduce fire risks.

The Office of Wildland Fire (OWF) within the U.S. Department of Interior states that removing fuels that include grasses, shrubs, trees, dead leaves and fallen pine needles can help guard against catastrophic wildland fires. The OWF adds that when conditions are right, excess fuels on the forest floor allow fires to burn hotter, larger, longer and faster – making the fires more difficult to manage and extinguish.

Grazing goats were credited with helping save the Reagan Library and Museum in Simi Valley in 2019. The so-called Easy Fire stopped short of the museum grounds, which had been cleared of dry brush by goats. Goats were brought in to do preventive work again the following year after rains resulted in a burst of chaparral growth.

Preservation of the Tribe’s traditions and culture has always been of utmost importance to Vincent Duro, former San Manuel Vice Chairman and Tribal Unity and Cultural Awareness co-founder. He joined with other tribal citizens to create cultural awareness programs in the 1990s to preserve and revitalize many aspects of Serrano language, culture and traditions so it all can be passed on to a new generation. Key to these efforts is regularly visiting culturally significant places that bring to life the world of the ancestors to tribal citizens and their families.

“Being in these spaces stirs my spirit. We’re not just visitors to the Big Bear Lakes region and Arrowhead Springs. These are our ancestral homelands; our origin and future as a people are in these lands.”

Proper management of ancestral lands is a critical part of that cultural preservation.

Duro said, “Caring for native plants and maintaining the land through culturally and ecologically appropriate means ensures that our culture endures, and the environmental uniqueness of these lands is preserved for generations to come.”

Indigenous peoples across the hemisphere historically used differing methods to prevent catastrophic wildland fires and manage wildfires when they occur within their lands. Most well known is controlled burning to keep lands clear of dry brush and other wildfire fuels. Now there’s a new fire prevention tool being deployed on lands owned and managed by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians: goats. Nearly 400 goats are used in spring and summer by the San Manuel Fire Department to clear grasses and brush on the 1,100-acre Reservation and tribal properties, including the 1,700-acre Arrowhead Spring Resort, to help minimize wildfire risk. The San Manuel Fire Department is rated a Class 1 fire department by the Insurance Services Office, or ISO, an organization that provides property and casualty insurance risk information to insurance companies. ISO placed San Manuel Fire Department in the highest tier for training, equipment, fire prevention activities and overall capabilities.

Goats have a history as effective firefighting tools in drought-prone Southern California. The San Bernardino County Fire Department used goats in July and August 2020 to gobble up potential wildfire fuel in the East Little Mountain area. The goats cleared about 32 acres in eight weeks, the department reported.

And in June 2013, the U.S. Forest Service put 1,400 goats to work to remove vegetation – specifically, chamise – in the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County. The forest is within the ancestral territory of the Cahuilla, Cupeno, Kumeyaay, Luiseno and Northern Diegueño peoples.

The goats thinned a 100-acre swath of forest at Cleveland and cleared a 300-foot fuel break between the forest and the communities of San Vicente and Barona Mesa. “This community fuel break was designed to help defend the communities from wildfires originating on forest land and those that originate on private lands and spread onto the forest,” Palomar District Ranger Joan Friedlander reported at the time.

The goats were kept on task by six border collies and protected from coyotes and mountain lions by two Anatolian guard dogs, the USFS reported.

Using goats for fire prevention is costeffective, conserves resources and is easier on the environment, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Clearing a fuel break normally means a lot of human power and machinery, including chainsaws, hand tools and burn piles,” the agriculture department reported. “Goatpowered fuels reduction cost between $400$500 per acre, nearly one-third of the cost of more labor-intensive methods of brush clearing.”

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“If you don’t have land, you don’t have culture. That connectedness to land is key to your existence.”

An E ffective Alternative

Studies support what scholars and federal agencies have long suspected: Indigenous methods of land management make for healthier forests and prevent wildfires.

“For many millennia, fire was integral to many Indigenous peoples’ way of life,” the National Park Service reported. Native Americans, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians used fire to clear areas for crops and travel, to manage the land for specific species of both plants and animals, to hunt game and for many other important uses. Fire was a tool that promoted ecological diversity and

reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

According to the University of California, lack of controlled fires since the arrival of Euro Americans and accompanying development have led to a denser forest canopy and overabundant plant growth that sucks up water, making drier trees, bushes and plants vulnerable to parasites. The result: fuel that has fed the massive wildfires that have consumed whole communities.

Controlled burns are difficult to conduct in areas where urban and rural meet. Goats are

proving to be an effective alternative.

“Goats may seem like an unlikely choice for removing fire fuel, but they are well suited for this crucial task,” said Karina Torres, Culture Seat Officer for the Tribe. “Because they prefer their food at eye level, they target brush as a food source. And their ability to navigate terrain makes them a better and less disruptive option than heavy machinery. Using a natural brush clearing also helps preserve the land and any cultural artifacts that have yet to be uncovered.”

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Youth Give Back

Since 2021, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ Tribal Youth Grantmaker program has worked with young tribal citizens to foster a sense of community responsibility – and provide them with a chance to give back in a meaningful way.

The Strategic Philanthropy Department along with tribal leadership, worked together to create the program to teach tribal youth about the importance of philanthropy and the positive impact it can have on the broader community.

“I was inspired to be a youth grantmaker because I like to help people,” said Audrey Hernandez, 13. “And when I had this opportunity, I said, ‘I’ll do it!’”

This year, the Tribal Youth Grantmaker program was made up of five participants, all siblings and cousins, ranging in age from 11 to 16. In an eightweek program, running March 6 to April 24, the team selected two local organizations to help fund.

All funding from the Tribal Youth Grantmakers program comes from the Strategic Philanthropy Department of the Tribe, which already has a

substantial budget for charitable donations given to community nonprofits.

During the two-month program, the youth took workshops that covered topics including: why the Tribe gives back to the larger community; a presentation from nonprofit Academy GO discussing community needs in the Inland Empire; what makes a good nonprofit; how to select a nonprofit to fund; and mock presentations to the Tribe’s CEO.

“With this recent cohort, we were able to introduce new concepts such as the importance of storytelling and volunteering in the community,” said Johnny Hernandez, Jr., Vice Chairman of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “It’s important for us to continue to bring forward new learning opportunities that can further expose tribal youth to the rapidly changing landscape in philanthropy.”

The team also had the opportunity to go on a field trip to Garner Holt Productions to learn about the history and value of the partnership between the foundation and the Tribe – a partnership stemming from the Tribe’s charitable giving program.

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Members of the Tribal Youth Grantmaker program awarded $100,000 to support community organizations in 2023.
Next Generation

In November 2022, the Tribe approved a $400,000 grant to support the Garner Holt Foundation. The nonprofit organization aims to cultivate curiosity and imagination for youth through career-focused learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Funding from the Tribe supported a project through the foundation called Garner’s Garage – the STEAM Learning and Career Exploration of the Future. The grant went toward purchasing technological equipment to serve 10,000 youth K-12 in the San Bernardino and Riverside Unified School Districts.

In March, the Tribal Youth Grantmakers received a tour from Garner Holt himself and learned about why the funding and partnership with the Tribe is important for the foundation.

“During the program, the youth learn about the importance of supporting the local community and how the Tribe works closely with nonprofit organizations to help address the core issues impacting the community,” said Hernandez, Jr.

In week six of the program, the youth participated in a session called “Nonprofit Review and Nonprofit Presentations.” In a discussion following the presentations, the youth grantmakers identified community needs and had a conversation about which of the organizations they had learned about were working to address some of the most pressing issues impacting the community.

Ultimately, the cohort nominated the Special Olympics Southern CaliforniaInland Empire and SAFE Family Justice Centers for grant funding.

On April 24, the group presented to the San Manuel Tribal Council, recommending $50,000 in funding for each organization. Both organizations were approved.

Since its founding in 1968, the Special Olympics has provided sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for both children and adults with intellectual disabilities. According to its website, the organization’s mission is to foster acceptance, inclusion and well-being through sports for people with intellectual disabilities.

Offering 13 sports through all four seasons, the organization serves thousands of athletes in the broader community and in school-based programs in 11 counties across Southern California.

The $50,000 donation will go toward providing more opportunities for community members through the Special Olympics Southern CaliforniaInland Empire chapter.

“We selected these organizations because they help those who can’t really help themselves,” Annabella Hernandez, 16, said. “This grant will help them [kids and adults] participate and compete in sports.”

The other organization nominated by the youth grantmakers was the SAFE Family Justice Centers to help fund their client-support efforts, with an emphasis on youth services. Funds from the $50,000 grant will help establish a youth program coordinator position to provide clerical support to the agency and youth within its programs.

Founded in 1998, the organization works to provide a safe space for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking and child abuse. The organization provides support and advocacy to those at risk, with four regional locations in California across Riverside County: Riverside, Murrieta, Temecula and Indio.

“I hope the grant for SAFE Family Justice Centers helps them protect more people from domestic violence,” Sophia Hernandez, 12, said.

In just two months, the five tribal youth grantmakers of 2023 got a chance to experience what it is like to give back to their community and learn more about what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to funding and tribal community partnerships.

“I remember when it was just me, my brother and sister doing the program for the first time. Donating the money to the organization felt really good,” Nekoli Hernandez, 14, said. “So I wanted to continue doing it. I’m happy more Youth Committee members joined us this year.”

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“I was inspired to be a youth grantmaker because I like to help people.”

From Then to Now

A look at the resilience and determination of the Yuhaaviatam to remain self-su icient and sovereign.

Early to Mid-1900s

Tribe adapts and adjusts to reservation life. U.S. government continues to dictate what the Tribe can and cannot do.

1975

1700s-1820s

Spanish missionaries and military encounter the Yuhaaviatam (one clan of the Maara’yam), which they call “Serrano” or “highlander.” Many Maara’yam are forced into the mission system as slave labor for Spain.

CREATION

Since Time

Immemorial

Maara’yam

people inhabit the mountains, valleys and deserts of Southern California.

1850s-1860s

American settlers invade Serrano territory. CA governor instructs militias to exterminate Native people.

Yuhaaviatam are killed and chased out of their territory.

1880s

Native American boarding schools are established in the U. S. with the primary objective of “civilizing” or assimilating Native American children and youth into Euro-American culture, while destroying and vilifying Native American culture.

TREATY MAKING

THE NEW DEAL

1966

Articles of Association are adopted by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

President Ford signs the Indian SelfDetermination and Education Assistance Act, a federal policy of Indian selfdetermination, first declared by President Nixon.

ASSIMILATION

1934

1866

Raids and bloodshed decimate the Tribe.

Kiika’ Santos Manuel makes a decision to courageously bring the remnant of his people from the mountains to safety on the valley floor.

1891

U.S. government passes the Act for Relief of Mission Indians, which recognizes the Tribe as a sovereign nation and establishes the Reservation. The Tribe chooses the name San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Indian Reorganization Act is enacted by U.S. Congress, aimed at decreasing federal control of American Indian a airs and increasing Indian self-government and responsibility.

1970

In address to Congress regarding the federal policy of terminating relationships with tribes, President Nixon states, “This policy of forced termination is wrong.” He then outlines a policy of self-determination rather than termination.

20 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE Progress
Photo courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library A.K. Smiley Public Library, Gerald Smith Collection

1978

Indian gaming movement begins with Seminole Tribe of Florida.

1986

San Manuel Indian Bingo opens.

1987

California v. Cabazon: U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision a irms right of tribal governments to conduct gaming on their lands.

1990s-2000s

Tribe takes an active role in passing Proposition 5 and Proposition 1A.

1998

Proposition 5 is supported by 63 percent of voters in favor of gaming by Indian tribes in California. A lawsuit by a labor union causes the measure to be struck down by California Supreme Court.

SELF-DETERMINATION

1988

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passes, creating statutory framework for Indian gaming.

1980s

SMBMI seeks new business opportunities to strengthen sovereignty and journey towards self-su iciency.

1994

San Manuel Indian Bingo adds gaming operations and advances goal of economic selfsu iciency.

2017

Tribe transforms bingo hall into Rockin’ Casino area.

2021

Residence Inn by Marriott opens in Washington, DC. The project is from the Four Fires intertribal economic partnership, which includes San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2019

San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority forms to explore economic growth opportunities.

2006

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians breaks ground on San Manuel Village in Highland, CA, a mixed-use, o -reservation, commercial development.

2007

Residence Inn by Marriott opens in Sacramento, CA. The project is from the Three Fires intertribal economic partnership, which includes San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2008

Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel opened in Highland, CA, at San Manuel Village, a development of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2000

Proposition 1A, supported by 65 percent of California voters, changes the state constitution and provides exclusive right to Indian tribes to operate a limited scope of casino-style gaming on Indian lands, in accordance with federal law.

San Manuel Casino becomes Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

Yaamava’ expansion project opens including gaming spaces, new restaurants, lounges and hotel tower, as well as retail, spa and pool amenities.

STRENGTHENING OUR FUTURE

2018

Opening of the Autograph Collection, The Draftsman Hotel, in Charlottesville, VA, a joint venture that includes the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2016

SMBMI acquires sacred lands in San Bernardino Mountains with purchase of Arrowhead Springs Hotel.

2023

Tribe invests in Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach. Leasing begins at San Manuel Landing.

2022

San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority opens the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 21
Profile
Photos provided by Thunder Voice Hat Co.

Q: Why did you start repurposing hats?

A Tip

of the Hat

The influence of their father and grandfather leads two brothers to build a successful business fueled by sustainability, creativity and heritage.

There is just something about a hat. The way it makes you feel, the way it makes you walk. The mystery, charm and style it adds in a way that nothing else can. This was the lesson that Thunder Voice Hat Co. founder Lehi Thunder Voice Eagle Sanchez and his brother Moroni Freedom Eagle Sanchez, Master Hatter for Thunder Voice Hat Co., learned from the generations that came before them.

LTV: Our dad always wore a cowboy hat and encouraged us to do the same. As kids we weren’t into it. We wanted ball caps. We thought cowboy hats were for old people, but as we grew up we found our own hats and I was really drawn to the style my grandfather wore. I remember going to Boot Barn with him as a kid. He would buy a hat and ask to use their steamer. He would reshape that hat and make it his own before he purchased it. So I was familiar with the idea that you can customize a hat.

The brothers, of Diné and Totonac descent, are known for their rustic, highquality, reclaimed and repurposed hats, which are hand sourced, steamed, shaped creatively and lovingly made. Each hat holds stories, purpose and meaning.

We sat down with the brothers to talk about what it’s like being a sustainable milliner, how their culture influences what they do and why sustainability is so important to them and the Native community.

Q: How did your business get started?

LTV: The style of hats I was making for myself were reminiscent of the generation before our parents and a lot of people in the Native community were like, ‘I want a hat like that!’ At the time, I was an artist, I was traveling and involved with Native advocacy. I was making a lot of friends in the community and through my travels, I would find old hats, dust them off, clean them up, shape them and give them as gifts. MFE: People wanted to know where they could get one. And that’s how it all began.

Q: Why is reclaiming and repurposing so important to you?

LTV: Because we're from Navajo Nation. We’ve experienced a lot of harm to our community –people taking resources, the uranium mines and lack of water. So we know how precious natural resources are. Everything in the fast fashion industry is the exact opposite of my beliefs. The way it was built, how workers are treated, etc. As humans we carry a lot of weight from the things we do and so repurposing is one way to lighten that load so we can coexist with the idea that all life is sacred. We want to create things that will last a long time.

Q: How do your culture and heritage impact your designs?

LTV: As Navajos, every decision we make is based on how it impacts the 10th generation from now. Our professions, the way we build our life

and the way that we interact, is all based around that. So if we’re building our own business, we’re gonna build it around those ideas.

Q: What is the process of creating one of your hats?

MFE: When we get a hat, we remove the insert and the sweat band and then clean and sanitize. We heat it up and, if it's really roughed up, do some sanding and burning. I spray alcohol in certain spots then light it. It gets off all the little stuff. Then I scrub, stretch and shape it. Depending on the felt and hat, I’ll add stiffener to ensure it holds its shape.

Then I’ll make a band that harmonizes with that hat. The only new things we add are the sweat band and the liner. Even the hat band that we put on is from reclaimed leather from old saddle straps, belts and saddles. Things that have been worn and have a patina already on it, which makes it look really rugged, just beautiful worn leather.

We build out one-of-a-kind art pieces and showcase it as something that you can wear, but also if it’s sitting on the wall, it’s gonna be the centerpiece of conversation. And everything is done by hand. It’s a very intimate way of building a hat.

Q: What is something you want everyone to know about your designs?

LTV: That everyone can wear them.

MFE: A lot of people feel hesitant because they're afraid of appropriation, but we actively tried to fight that. Our designs are for everybody to wear.

Q: How has social media helped grow your business?

LTV: Social media is so great because it’s an open source. Something really interesting about our upbringing is that we also built computers, and I used to work for a company in Camarillo where we hosted servers, so I’m really in touch with technology. A lot of people think Native, they think wilderness and outdoors. But we’re fluent in technology, so understanding the open source, what is available online and what that offers to us, is what we built from. It has given us a leg up on being able to get out there and showcase what we have.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 23
Tribal Highlight Hairajuku Salon 606 N Eureka Street Redlands, CA 92374 909-463-3439 @hairajukusalon

Looking Good, F l g G d

When did you open Hairajuku Salon?

Hairajuku was always a dream of mine and, in 2008, we opened our doors in the Victoria Gardens district of Rancho Cucamonga, CA – during the market crash. I said I’d give it a year and see how it went. I learned hair is recession proof, and we made a name for ourselves. After a few years we relocated to a new building, quadrupling our size and, in 2020, I decided to bring Hairajuku home to Redlands. I purchased a unique building in the growing downtown area, and after a year of renovations with the help of my husband Andrew Henry (owner of Henry Plastering), we moved into our forever home. There was always concern about changing locations, but Redlands welcomed us with open arms and currently all of my stylists have waiting lists, which is just incredible.

Tell us about the name?

Hairajuku is a homage to the Harajuku district in Japan known for its eclectic, funky, cutting-edge style. Anything goes in Hairajuku and I wanted to translate that to our clientele. We have guests of all ages and styles, no matter how on trend, conservative or even if they want to shave it all or dye it purple… I want our guests to feel welcome and at home.

Why did you choose to open a salon?

My passion for entrepreneurship started with Miso Fly, a high-end clothing store I owned in downtown Redlands. But the desire to have a salon goes back to my childhood. My grandmother (Tuut), a tribal elder, was a “beautician.” She took us to work and I was always so intrigued by her clients’ transformations – from how they walked through the doors to the confidence they had when they left. I have seven children and they’re always here hanging out, sweeping hair etc. So it’s exciting to know they will carry the same childhood memories. When people walk into Hairajuku its like therapy, you watch their whole mood change; they walk out happier.

What’s your favorite thing about Hairajuku?

The camaraderie! We are like a family, we are very tight knit and everyone is always willing to help one another out. Almost two years ago our family was hit hard with tragedy when we lost one of our own to COVID. Chandara (Chanee) Rou was our front desk and brand manager. He was an essential part of our day-to-day operations and we will never be the same; he loved it here and we can still feel him in the salon. Losing him was hard on all of us but it brought us closer and I can’t thank them enough for being such troopers during that horrible time. My staff has been with me through all their major milestones and watching them get married, have children and grow in their careers has been a real joy in my life.

Are you a stylist as well?

I went to school to learn because I wanted to know the business and craft. But I learned this is a relationship business and I’m a bit shy. With my attention to detail and organization, I was drawn to a behind-the-scenes role. I knew this was the business I wanted to be in and that I could lead a successful team. Especially in Redlands with my huge family and our crazy schedules I am still able to be in the salon daily with my staff and guests.

Your mission is to bring something new and fresh to the Inland Empire. Do you feel you’ve accomplished that?

The Inland Empire needed a luxury salon like you’d find in Beverly Hills, Vegas and Scottsdale. When we first opened, the area was lacking that. In the last 15 years, the area has grown but we stay at the forefront of service, talent and guest experience. I’m proud of offering the highest quality work at competitive prices. We also are passionate about giving back. We run a successful toy drive during the holidays and offer a discount on services for donations that benefit local food pantries and Redlands family charities.

What kind of experience do you hope your clients have?

I want them to feel like part of the family. Our guests are like family to us and I want them to feel like it is a safe place to come and unplug, have a snack, enjoy a glass of champagne, watch their favorite movie and get a therapy session with their favorite stylist.

You opened a service-based business in an economically

Start small and scale up. When we moved into the larger location we did steady business but we could have been booming with lower overhead. If I could go back I would keep it small. Start with what’s manageable for you.

other salons?

We are one of the only commission-based salons in the area. We offer a turnkey business model with competitive pay for stylists. If a stylist is part time, new to the area or building their career, they don’t have to worry about overhead like booth rental or product. We provide the color and product, front-desk booking, a team environment, refreshments and an overall experience for their guests. Our stylists have the option of hourly pay until their books outweigh a wage. We also offer free education throughout the year. It’s important to master your craft and offer the latest knowledge and trends. We also offer incentives. Our top retail stylist this year earned a trip to New York City to further her education at the respected Vidal Sassoon academy. I love my team, they spend a majority of their time here and I want them to not only like where they work but love where they create.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 25

DIFFICULT ROAD AND THE LONG

History
e U.S. faces up to the unfathomable pain and losses caused by the boarding school era.
Photo provided by Sherman Indian Museum Archives

From 1819 to 1975, hundreds of thousands of Native American children were removed from their families and placed in boarding schools, operated by the U.S. government and churches.

Many children didn’t return home alive. Some did not return at all, leaving families to wonder to this day what happened to their children who were taken from their homes under the guise of education. Those that did return were shells of their former selves.

An army of 408 federal boarding schools were deployed across 37 states, or then-territories, including Alaska and Hawai’i. Just one more link in the chain of unspeakable attempts to break up Native families and communities and finish the job that treaties, wars, forced relocation, termination and introduced diseases had failed to complete: take Native lands by every means necessary and make the lands available to whites.

“Beginning with President Washington, the stated policy of the Federal Government was to replace the Indian’s culture with our own,” a U.S. Senate committee reported in 1969.

Boarding schools where Native children would be forced to abandon their cultures and adopt white ways were considered “the cheapest and safest way of subduing the Indians, of providing a safe habitat for the country’s white inhabitants, of helping the whites acquire desirable land, and of changing the Indian’s economy so that he would be content with less land. Education was a weapon by which these goals were to be accomplished.”

Social justice advocate Amanda Blackhorse, Navajo, said in the PBS film Unspoken: America's Native American Boarding Schools : “I think that was a time when the government really felt like that was their last option with the so-called ‘Indian problem’ they had to deal with. It was the last option – to go for the children.”

In the end, Native cultures survived. But the assault was devastating.

Five hundred children are documented to have died in residential boarding schools, but investigators with the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative – launched in 2021 by U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo – believe the death toll may number in the tens of thousands.

Haaland launched the initiative to recognize the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies, address the intergenerational trauma they caused and facilitate healing. The initiative is documenting marked and unmarked burial sites of Native American children, and locating records regarding the health and mortality of Native children and the oppression of Indigenous

languages, cultural and religious practices.

After the initiative’s report was issued, Haaland visited reservations across the U.S. to listen to the experiences of Native people who attended federal Indian boarding schools. The report recommends that the remains of Native children buried at boarding schools be returned to their homelands for reburial; funding be provided for Native language revitalization programs; and a federal memorial be established to recognize the generations of Indigenous children that experienced the federal Indian boarding school system.

The Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative’s initial report details the harsh treatment experienced by Native children, many as young as 5: each child was stripped of traditional clothing and personal belongings, they were bathed with lye soap or kerosene, their hair was cut, and they were dressed in uniforms. Children were forbidden from speaking their native languages and practicing their religion.

Many schools were overcrowded – at White Earth Boarding School in Minnesota, for example, there was one bed for every two children, the Initiative reported. At Kickapoo Boarding School in Kansas, children slept three to a bed.

Violation of a school rule drew a slap, a whipping or the withholding of food. At times, older Indian children were made to punish younger children, the Initiative reported. Repeat offenses might draw flogging or solitary

confinement. At Haskell Indian School, children were handcuffed and placed in a so-called confinement room, which was akin to a jail cell.

“Rampant physical, sexual and emotional abuse, disease, malnourishment, overcrowding, and lack of health care in Indian boarding schools are welldocumented,” the Initiative reported.

Children were taught trades that were useful in the white economy. Boys were taught carpentry, painting, plumbing and tailoring; girls were taught cooking, dress making and laundering. Schools made the children available locally as laborers in a program called an “outing system.” It was a system of child labor that today would be called exploitation.

In testifying before Congress in support of establishing a Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the U.S., ethnic studies professor Jean Pfaelzer of the University of Delaware said the outing program transformed Indian boarding schools into employment agencies that matched white settlers with child workers who, the schools promised, were accustomed to taking orders.

Within a year from opening their doors, Pfaelzer testified, most of the Indian boarding schools “were offering up a reliable stream of ‘compliant’ young workers who could be ordered to dig ditches, pick fruit, or scrub kitchens.” To add insult to injury, the federal boarding school system was funded in part by Indian trust funds and from

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 27
Photo provided by Sherman Indian Museum Archives

the sale of lands that the First Peoples ceded to the United States.

For most, if not all, children, the forced removal from loving family and community to a harsh, uncaring place was too much to bear. Virginia Antelope, Arapaho, from Wind River, Wyoming, had been at Sherman Institute – called Perris Institute then – for three months when she broke through a fence and hitchhiked all the way home.

“When my cousin and I went to visit her one summer – she could barely speak English – and I told her I was going to Sherman, she got really scared for me,” said her great-grandson, TJ WhiteAntelope, Lummi/Arapaho, Sherman class of 2009. “She asked me, ‘Why would you want to go there?’

“She had been there for three months and she hated it and ran away. She went to gas stations and people would pick her up. Back then, it was different. People just understood she was trying to get home to where she was from – to Wind River –and would give her a ride.”

The young girl hitchhiked from distant gas station to distant gas station, making it home in about two weeks – 995 miles, in two weeks, at age eight

When an unfamiliar white person would drive up to her home at Wind River, she’d run out to the canyons and hide, fearing they were coming to take her back to the school, WhiteAntelope said. “They could never find her. She told me, ‘I never wanted to go back to that school. It was horrible’.”

Some students died trying to get home. Sherman Institute student Olin Zhe be nulli, 19, fell to his death from a freight train in 1921 while running away to his home in Keams Canyon on the Hopi Reservation.

Children who returned home often felt like foreigners in their own tribal communities. They

dressed differently, their hair was short, they had forgotten their language, they forgot the ceremonies.

Forrest S. Cuch, Ute, is former Utah state director of Indian Affairs.

“Assimilation affected the Utes in a very tragic way,” he said in the PBS film Unspoken. “It was so ineffective that it did not train us to become competent in the white world, and it took us away from our own culture so much so that we weren’t even competent as Indians anymore.”

The statistics bear that out. Of the 334 students who graduated from Sherman Institute between 1951 and 1954, 43.11 percent were employed offreservation, according to statistics in the school’s archives. Some 17.37 percent of graduates had returned home but were unemployed; only 7.78 percent of graduates were able to find work on their reservations. Nearly 10.5 percent of graduates went into the military and 4.5 percent continued their education. Nearly 11.5 percent of female graduates reported being housewives.

Reform-minded sociologist John Collier, commissioner of Indian Affairs in President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, began implementing changes in how federal boarding schools operated between 1933 to 1945. After a decade studying the results of federal Indian policy on reservations and in boarding schools, he wrote: “The administration of Indian affairs is a disgrace, a policy designed to rob Indians of their property, destroy their culture and eventually exterminate them.”

But the self-determination and educational reforms for which Collier advocated were blunted in 1953 by the federal Termination Act, in which the U.S. considered certain tribes terminated and began to sell their lands; and the 1956 Indian Relocation

Act, which sought to relocate Native people into urban areas with promises of jobs.

In the ensuing years, more than 100 tribes were terminated by the federal government and 2.5 million acres of land removed from trust status and made available for sale to non-Natives. Meanwhile, an estimated 750,000 Native Americans migrated to cities.

“For us, it was a declaration of war on our culture,” Cuch said of the boarding school era. “We were forbidden to speak our language and practice our religion. It’s like our war was prolonged and assimilation policies were how they implemented it, how they carried it out, and it was very destructive and it caused historical trauma among most of our people, including myself to this day.”

Dr. Jennifer Nez Denetdale, Diné, is a professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico. She echoed Cuch’s sentiments, but said, “More accurately it should be called ethnic cleansing, rather than assimilation. And it has had devastating effects on my people.”

RECOGNITION AND RESTORATION

Federal policies came under new scrutiny before the decade ended. “[It is] absolutely unthinkable . . . that consideration would be given to forcing upon an Indian tribe a so-called termination plan which did not have the understanding and acceptance of a clear majority of the members of the affected tribe,” U.S. Interior Secretary Fred Seaton said in 1959.

In 1961, the Kennedy administration created a special task force on Indian affairs, which recommended that the termination policy be abandoned. This happened in 1970, when President Richard M. Nixon condemned the forced termination of tribes, reiterated the federal government’s responsibility to Native Americans

28 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
Photo provided by Sherman Indian Museum Archives

and proposed new policies to encourage Native self-determination.

In 1972, Congress enacted the Indian Education Act providing increased federal aid for Native education. In 1975, Congress enacted the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, which enabled tribes to contract with the federal government to provide certain federal services and programs to tribal members. In 1978, Congress enacted the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, which states: “It shall be the policy of the United States to protect and preserve for American Indians their inherent right of freedom to believe, express, and exercise the traditional religions of the Indians.”

Today, the Bureau of Indian Education operates four off-reservation schools: Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Oklahoma; Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, California; Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon; and Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, South Dakota. Additionally, there are three tribally controlled boarding schools: Sequoyah Schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma; the Pierre Indian Learning Center in Pierre, South Dakota; and the Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Haskell is now Haskell Indian Nations University.

But the impacts of the boarding school era and other federal policies are still felt today. Since the beginning of the boarding school era, Native peoples and communities have lost ownership and control of two-thirds of their reservation lands. All told, lands considered to be Indian Country comprise 56.2 million acres, according to the U.S. Census – down from the estimated 1.5 billion acres ceded to the United States by the lands’ First Peoples. About 175 Indigenous languages remain today of more than 300 Indigenous languages spoken at the time the United States was founded, according to the Indigenous Language Institute.

The boarding school era left generational trauma in its wake as well, with memories that, for many, are hard to shake.

To help bind the wounds, Interior Secretary Haaland launched “The Road to Healing,” a yearlong commitment to travel across the U.S. to allow survivors of the federal Indian boarding school system the opportunity to share their stories, help connect communities with traumainformed support and facilitate the collection of a permanent oral history.

“I know that this process will be long and difficult,” Haaland said when she launched the initiative. “I know that this process will be painful. It won’t undo the heartbreak and loss we feel. But only by acknowledging the past can we work toward a future that we’re all proud to embrace.”

THE EVOLUTION OF SHERMAN INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL

A review of the Perris Indian School band’s performance in the 1898 Fourth of July Parade in Los Angeles reflected the prevailing view of the day toward Native American children, even those being taught white ways, albeit without choice, in the nation’s Indian boarding schools.

“The Perris Indians were also well received, and in addition to playing excellent music, they made a creditable showing in their new uniforms,” the Los Angeles Herald reported on July 5, “and many persons who saw them went home thinking that after all there must be a few good Indians, besides dead ones.”

Cultural genocide was the mission at Perris Indian School and other Indian boarding schools in the United States and Canada. “Kill the Indian but save the man,” said Brig. Gen. Richard Henry Pratt, founder of the U.S. Indian boarding school system. Force Native Americans to abandon their Indigenous ways in favor of American ways. The breakup of Native families and communities, Pratt and other federal policy makers said, would speed the availability of Indian land.

Ultimately, however, Native cultures survived – although at great cost and unfathomable pain.

Indian boarding schools – including Perris Indian School, which became Sherman Institute in 1903 and Sherman Indian High School in 1971 – became indigenized. On these grounds, where there once was sadness, there is now drumming and singing at weekly pow wow nights. Where children were once punished for speaking their languages, students participate in language study groups in the school’s Indigenous Language Center. Where students once marched in starched shirts and dresses and uniform

shoes, the ground once again knows the sound of dancers in ribbon skirts and shawls, of hand drums and big drums and ancestral songs.

Sherman’s pre-pandemic enrollment was 400; it was back up to 250 in 2022-23, said longtime counselor Stephanie McMorris, Hidatsa/Ho Chunk/Potawatomi. Of 55 seniors, all graduated.

“A lot of it is legacy and opportunity,” McMorris said of the reasons why students choose to attend Sherman. “There’s still a lot of racism out there and our students want to learn more about their culture and be around other Native students. Just because we’re Native, we’re not all the same. This year we had 53 tribes represented. We’re a diverse population.”

There’s a beautiful irony in the fact that a place once committed to cultural genocide is now a center of cultural education, opportunity and pride. Any day of the week, you’ll find students at Sherman studying uses of native plants and traditional uses of tobacco, learning traditional values from Indigenous leaders and culture bearers, participating in cultural resource field trips and visiting local archeological sites, tribal museums and cultural centers.

Sherman Indian High School Museum curator Lorene Sisquoc, Cahuilla/Fort Sill Apache, said the school’s journey toward indigenization gained traction in the 1960s as the U.S. Department of Interior and members of Congress began recognizing the injustice of U.S. Native education, termination and relocation policies. One highprofile visitor to Sherman in 1965 was U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, D-New York, who remarked on the dearth of school library books on Native American culture and history.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 29
Once a symbol of cultural oppression, it’s now a center of education and opportunity.

“People were asking questions then,” Sisquoc said. “It was the 1960s – the Civil Rights Movement, the Red Power Movement. Then came the 1970s and it got stronger with the American Indian Movement, the Self-Determination Act and the Native American Religious Freedoms Act.”

The 1970s was a transformative time. The U.S. loosened its policy grip on Sherman and other BIE-operated boarding schools, and Sherman was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 1971. Teachers began teaching Native American studies and literature, Sisquoc said. Boys grew their hair long in accordance with their cultural customs. Students wore eagle feathers in their graduation caps. A teacher and Navajo Nation citizen, who as a Sherman student in the 1960s had been punished for speaking her language, began teaching Navajo language and culture.

TJ WhiteAntelope, Lummi and Arapaho, grew up at the Lummi Nation in northwest Washington state. He graduated from Sherman in 2009 and went on to earn a sociology degree from University of California, Berkeley.

His home was unstable and he saw Sherman Indian High School as a place where he could attend school with other Native American students and get the educational support he couldn’t get at home. And there certainly were no public schools that taught subjects such as treaty rights, hosted an annual pow wow or offered cultural activities as part of campus life.

“There’s a reason that Sherman stayed open,” WhiteAntelope said. “There’s a purpose for that place and it’s more than just the teachers saying ‘We need this place open.’ It’s for people like me who had a tough time. I wouldn’t be here today if not for that boarding school. I don’t know where I’d be, maybe sitting on the couch worrying about what I was going to do for a job. It’s all thanks to Sherman and those staff members and teachers that sparked my mind to think about things. And I know they’re still doing it. They’re still there, snapping through all the kids who need that push on the right path.”

PATHWAYS TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS

A program established by the school and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is elevating the education experience for students and providing a bridge to careers in eight in-demand fields.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has contributed approximately $12.1 million since 2009 to the school’s Career Technical Education Pathways Program, which was founded to address a skill shortage within Indian Country by linking a student’s academic courses to real-world experiences. In 2022, $2.7 million was approved to

continue supporting the program through June 2025. Students who complete courses offered in the Pathways program receive achievement certificates in their related fields. Those who participate are also eligible for student internships and job-shadowing opportunities.

About 3,000 students from Sherman have participated in the Pathways program since its inception, according to the school, and many students have secured summer employment, begun careers in their chosen fields or gone on to post-secondary education in fields related to their Pathways experience.

In the 2022-23 school year, 12 Sherman students interned for six weeks at Hal Hays Construction, a Native-owned company in Riverside, setting up their own mock company and learning about the business and human resources side of the industry, including accounting, estimating, purchasing and jobsite safety. One student earned her forklift operator certification; another was offered a job with Hal Hays in Tucson, Arizona.

Eleven other Sherman students earned certification in animal care. Others competed in a Culinary Boot Camp at Cal Poly Pomona, studied health and fitness at Western University, interned at the Indian Health Service Riverside Sports Clinic or graduated from the BIA Wildland Fire Academy.

The program is of particular benefit to Sherman students, many of whom are from rural Native communities where access to such training may be limited. Sherman’s 2022-23 student body came from 53 tribal nations and from states as far away as Mississippi and Florida, said counselor Stephanie McMorris, Hidatsa/Ho Chunk/ Potawatomi. Sometimes, family needs preclude returning for the following school year, so the opportunities provided by the Pathways program

are invaluable.

“We’re a residential boarding school, but students choose to come here and they have to reapply each school year,” McMorris said of Sherman. “Because we’re Native people, there’s stuff that happens where a student might not return because they decide they need to be home to take care of family or responsibilities there, and they finish school at home.”

Should one of those 2022-23 Wildland Fire Academy graduates not return to Sherman for 2023-24, they still carry a certificate from the BIA Wildland Fire Academy. “There were 12 graduates of the academy this year and not all were seniors,” McMorris said. “That training was the first step toward working on a crew back home. They’ve got the experience and we’re going to build on that. The BIA [Division of Wildland Fire Management] wants to build on that and use our site for training.”

At Hal Hays Construction, students learned construction “is not just swinging a hammer,” said Lori McDaniel, the company’s controller. “They spent a week with each of the departments and learned about estimating, bidding, project management and job-site safety. We try to expose them to everything. We want them to see that they can have a career in construction, even if they choose to go into human resources or marketing or estimating. And they’re good-paying jobs. We encourage them to find what’s interesting to them and pursue that.”

(The hammer-and-nails end of the business pays well too. The median annual pay for an entrylevel apprentice carpenter is $48,260, according to the Pathways program.)

“There are a lot of opportunities for our students,” McMorris said. Noting that Sherman has a 100 percent graduation rate, she added, “We’ve got great kids. We’ve got great, great kids.”

30 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
Photo provided by Sherman Indian Museum Archives

NATIVE STORIES AND DANCERS OF POW WOW

Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | NOON & 3PM | Yaamava’ Theater

FREE EVENT

NEW CLUB SERRANO MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE $10 FREE PLAY AFTER ATTENDING THE EXHIBITION

Team members and guests 21 and over are welcome to attend.

EXHIBITION
Free Play offer is for new Club Serrano members that sign up on the day of the event.

With Love, PRESLEY

To Presley Calderon, beadwork is a mix of life’s shiny little moments and her entrepreneurial spirit. Every piece she makes by hand represents a part of her that was inspired, challenged or eager to learn. And each piece is charged with love and hope for the person it adorns. From balancing schoolwork to her creative influences, the young tribal citizen shares how she learned to bead and what keeps her going.

How did you start your beading business?

I started posting on Instagram and eventually people asked, “Can you make this for me?! I’ll pay you!” It was just for fun because I really liked it and then it turned into a business. I started off with simple loom work and then went to making medallions and earrings for pow wow.

Did you have a mentor?

My teacher helped me a lot. We did Zoom calls every Wednesday during COVID and she helped me learn everything I needed to know. And there is still so much more I can learn.

What inspires your designs?

Not that long ago I went to throw the first pitch for the Dodgers game, and I made blue earrings to wear on the field. Little things like that inspire me.

Who are some artists that you look up to?

Cheyenne Faulkner and my teacher, Bridgid Pulskamp.

How do you balance your orders with school?

I see beadwork as a reward. I’ll do my homework first, or whatever I need to do, because I want to bead without stress.

Do you make and sell other jewelry?

I make little charm earrings, necklaces and bracelets that I also give as gifts. It doesn’t have to just be beadwork. I also sew. I love to use a thread and needle. But beadwork for me is my main gift because it comes from the heart and shows how much time I put into the gift.

32 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
Tribal Highlight
Photo by Tiffany Melendez

Puyu’h pkcav

TOGETHER

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

In this section we hear from documentary filmmakers who have turned their lens on Indian mascots in popular culture in an effort to change something deeply ingrained in society. We learn why philanthropic efforts are critical to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and see these efforts in action. We also meet two tribal citizens who are helping their community members lead healthier and happier lives, both in their own way. And we see how the leadership at Yaamava’ has not only committed to creating a healthy culture, but also a unique way to build a successful team at the resort and casino – and how the Tribe says thank you to that team.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 33

REFRAMED

Native American mascots

The practice of using Native American people, symbols and racial slurs as sports mascots is coming to an end thanks to a decades-long effort and a recent groundswell of activism on the part of leading Indigenous scholars, artists, athletes and government leaders.

Such mascoting has impacted the emotional and psychological health of Native people for generations, while reinforcing racial stereotypes in mainstream society. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is playing a role in bringing the use of such harmful mascoting to an end.

“For years now, pleas from Indian Country for schools and professional sports teams to stop using Native Americans as mascots, and their negative images, have not been heard,” said Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “All ethnicities and cultures that contribute to the strengths of America deserve to be respected and honored.”

We can now say goodbye to the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians, as well as the Squaw Valley Ski resort, which now goes by Palisades Tahoe. New York State recently banned the use of Native mascots such as braves or chiefs at 60 schools, adding to similar efforts in 20 other

states. And yet the fight for cultural awareness and sensitivity goes on.

The award-winning documentary Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting, captured and amplified this nationwide movement, winning hearts and minds across the country and positively impacting Native communities.

Major newspapers, including the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, have given critical acclaim to the film. The Washington Post recently listed it as “one of the best films so far of 2023.”

The film was completed with an essential donation of $1 million from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which served as co-executive director along with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. The donation also provides for educational materials to continue the mission of enhancing mainstream society’s knowledge of Indigenous perspectives.

“We supported Imagining the Indian because it can be a great tool to help develop understanding and

34 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE Culture
How one film is changing the way we think about
and helping to end racial stereotypes.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) during her interview in Washington DC

teach others about humanity,” Valbuena said. “San Manuel was proud to support the production.”

“Native American mascots are a public health issue,” said co-producer and co-director Ben West, Cheyenne. “This is not political correctness or wokeness. It’s a scientific fact.”

The Indian supplies a powerful history lesson for sports fans and others who might not be aware of the genocidal policies, dehumanization and erasure that Native communities have endured for many generations. Mascoting is an extension of those policies: it reduces living human beings with rich cultural histories to mere logos, tokenizing actual human beings who continue to thrive in America but have been marginalized by society. As a result, many Americans think Native American culture and identity is a thing of the past. This is a self-serving colonial idea that followed years of genocidal policies meant to eradicate Indigenous people.

“It’s as though we were in the way of progress,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the film. “And that we should get out of the way so that innocent pioneers could tame the land.”

Imagining the Indian reveals the egregious practice of stereotyping Native Americans over generations in the media, including television shows like The Lone Ranger, Disney’s Pocahontas and 20th century

cartoons. The film also captures the stubbornness of some sports fans and politicians unaware of the shifting sympathies and increasing awareness and sensitivity of a new generation of Native youth activists and their non-Native allies.

Legendary Native American activist Suzan Shown Harjo is shown in one clip on Oprah Winfrey’s television show addressing the inherent racism at the core of the Native mascots; Oprah stands speechless, reflecting the surprise of many Americans when faced with such a stern lesson in cultural sensitivity. Harjo has been a stalwart advocate for Native American Rights since the 1960s.

A poet, lecturer and curator, she served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians in the 1980s, and helped Congress develop the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and the National Museum of the American Indian Act.

Some professional athletes and politicians appear in the film to be undeterred by recent changes sweeping the nation, while others, including sportscasters, change their views after realizing how important the issue is for Native Americans.

The Washington Redskins (now Commanders) provide a flashpoint as the nation’s representative in the National Football League. The team was owned by George Preston Marshall when it was the last team to be racially integrated in 1962. During Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, the former

owner’s name and legacy were removed from the Ring of Fame at FedEx Field and from the team’s history wall outside the locker room at their practice facility. Marshall’s statue was also removed from RFK Stadium after city leaders in Washington D.C. publicly denounced his racist legacy.

U.S Rep. Jamie Raskin spoke during an interview for the film about his own personal experience as a Redskins’ fan while growing up. The term was used historically as an allusion to the taking of Indian scalps.

“I feel a little ashamed that I went through my whole childhood without thinking of the meaning of the association with it,” Raskin said.

Marshall McKay, former Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Chairman, recalled in the film California’s grotesque policy of offering cash bounties for Indian scalps during the Gold Rush of the 1840s and 1850s.

“I was born only a generation and a half away from that,” remembered McKay. Adding that the historical trauma he experienced as a young man has been exacerbated in others by the ongoing use of Native mascots and stereotyping more generally.

“The trauma has caused us to try to lessen our pain by drinking, drugging and abuse, self-abuse and family abuse. And our young people are paying the price,” McKay said.

San Manuel’s donation stemmed from the nations’ Four Pillars of Charitable Giving, which amount to $300 million in funding for programs that: 1) inspire future generations through education 2) empower lives 3) reinforce healthy and resilient communities and 4) preserve cultural traditions and empower Indian Country.

Co-producer Yancey Burns (a non-Native ally) said the San Manuel donation came through at a time during the COVID pandemic when the Washington Redskins had already decided to change the football team’s name to the Commanders following a great

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 35
This award-winning documentary captured and amplified this nationwide movement, winning hearts and minds across the country and positively impacting Native communities.

deal of social change in the U.S. Burns said some supporters thought the film had lost its purpose as a result.

“What’s so wonderful about their support is that they understood exactly why the film was still important,” Burns said. “They understood right away that this is an issue that’s still ongoing, that the fight continues. We’re incredibly appreciative of San Manuel’s financial support, but we are just as appreciative of their emotional support.”

West said the donation will help develop a curriculum to be used by PBS and other organizations to continue the educational mission of the film. “One of the things we are proudest of is that this film came out of Indian Country and San Manuel

is a huge part of that,” West said. “And it’s important for Native people to tell their own stories.”

The film has been screened dozens of times, from major film festivals like Sundance to an event at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington D.C. (NMAI), which was held in part to celebrate the activism of Suzan Shown Harjo.

“The NMAI event was most memorable for me,” said Burns.

“To have that opportunity to celebrate the woman who is the most underknown civil rights hero of our time. This made it just such an incredibly special moment for us.”

West said some of the smaller screenings in Native communities moved him the most, including one at the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society in Edmonton, Alberta. The screening was preceded by a soup lunch with bannock, a traditional Native bread made from roots, followed by a discussion circle.

“We talked about what we’d seen and what we thought – and that’s where it really hit home for me, during an intimate gathering with other tribal

people,” West said.

Many professional teams, including the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Blackhawks, continue to use Native mascots and gestures, while some college teams, like the University of Utah Utes and the Florida State Seminoles, have entered into agreements with tribes to use them in ways considered beneficial to tribal nations.

The fight to retire insulting and misappropriated Native mascots continues alongside a broader reckoning of historical and ongoing social injustices that tribal citizens have survived for hundreds of years, to become leaders on the national stage in politics, land stewardship and economic development.

But as many as 2,000 high school teams still use mascots.

“It’s not easy to fight cultural fights because you don’t have a lot of victories,” said Harvard Professor Philip Deloria, Dakota, in the film. “You need incredible amounts of endurance, resilience, good humor and character.” Imagining the Indian can surely be counted as one such victory.

Watch the trailer and follow the film’s progress at www.imaginingtheindianfilm.org.

36 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
“One of the things we are proudest of is that this film came out of Indian Country and San Manuel is a huge part of that. And it’s important for Native people to tell their own stories.”
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Ben West (Cheyenne), Amy West (Cheyenne), W. Richard West, Jr. (Cheyenne), Mary Beth West, Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena (San Manuel), Yancey Burns, Aviva Kempner
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BIG WIGBecoming a

Tell us about the Big Wig program?

The Big Wig program raises awareness and funds for the resources Susan G. Komen offers to women and men with breast cancer – as well as their families. These funds go to breakthrough research, patient care centers, financial assistance, education and advocacy for their clients.

Why did you get involved with Susan G. Komen?

In 2017, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage two. And at that time, I didn’t know where to start. My first phone call was to Jill Eaton, who I have known since she was 16 years old when she came to work for San Manuel as a food runner in the bingo hall. That was in 1986. Jill heads up the Inland Empire and Las Vegas chapters of Susan G. Komen and it was a natural fit for me to reach out to her. Through Jill and Susan G. Komen, I found resources and counseling so I could help my daughter and my grandkids as we were going through this journey together. Since then, I’ve helped with smaller fundraisers here and there because it was in alignment with my vision for community awareness. So when Jill and my sister, who was a Big Wig for 2022, asked me to be a Big Wig for 2023, I was happy to participate.

Tell us about the support the foundation o ers.

There is a lot of fear when someone is diagnosed. It’s traumatizing for the patient to navigate the system. Susan G. Komen is a resource to help them through the journey, help the family members understand what they might encounter. I was very happy with the counseling I received to help my own family so I wanted to raise funds to help other families through the trauma.

This past spring, San Manuel tribal citizen Ken Ramirez stepped up big time for breast cancer research and awareness by becoming a Susan G. Komen Big Wig. His requirement? Setting a fundraising goal and meeting it in a three-month time frame. It only took a few days for Ramirez to blow right past that goal, so he set his sights higher. And met it again – and again. By the time the fundraising window closed, Ramirez had brought in close to $70,000 on his original $15,000 goal. Now he shares why he got involved with the foundation and what he hopes to see in the future.

What kind of hope can you share with people who have loved ones with a cancer diagnosis?

Nowadays there are so many treatments out there so there’s hope: cutting-edge treatments that minimize the growth and maybe even stop or capture it sooner so they can live a happy, healthy life. I met a woman last year named Patti Calderon, who was stage four. When we came together for the final Big Wig bash in June, she had started a new treatment and was stabilized. That’s the kind of research and programming Susan G. Komen funds, for cutting-edge medications so people can

Do you also work with the American Cancer Society?

My focus with the American Cancer Society is to bring awareness to the Native American community. Native Americans often go untested and therefore untreated. So I did a recording to bring awareness to Native Americans, but my work around awareness and advocacy is with Susan G. Komen.

What work will you do this coming year?

My hope is to be an ambassador in the cancer arena. I want to bring awareness to the general public to encourage them to get screened sooner so they can get treatment earlier. My work with Susan G. Komen will continue. We have the Three Day Walk coming up in October and I’ve nominated Johnny Hernandez, Jr. the Vice Chairman for San Manuel, and my daughter, Tray Henry, for the class of 2024 Big Wigs. I’m looking forward to helping her and Johnny with their campaigns.

For information on the Susan G. Komen foundation or to participate in fundraising, visit komen.org.

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Tribal Highlight

TEAM MEMBERS MAKE IT HAPPEN

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians says thank you to its team members with an epic day of fun for the whole family.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians knows it’s the team members that make the Tribe’s enterprises successful. Here’s one way the Tribe shows gratitude.

Throughout the year, the Tribe acknowledges the people who work to make the resort, casino and other ventures great: handshake greetings, positive feedback and expressions of thanks are just part of being on property.

There are also programs such as Employee of the Year, High 5 days at Yaamava’ and food truck events at the office spaces that create camaraderie and rapport within the organization. The Tribe has even forged partnerships with local colleges and universities so team members can pursue higher education and personal development while receiving tuition reimbursement.

But there is one event that is hotly anticipated every year, especially for team members with children: Employee Appreciation Day. The all-expenses-paid event

is held at one of the most popular attractions in Southern California – and the whole family is invited along.

Team members choose the location by vote and for the fourth time in a row, Universal Studios won hands down.

This year, like every year, the Tribe covered parking and meals, as well as treated team members to extended hours to explore the park and hit the premier attractions without crowds. A dedicated picnic area provided a chance to relax while enjoying DJ-hosted games and entertainment; photos, face painting, balloon artists, temporary tattoo artists and character visits; and ice-cold beverages and ice cream.

And just like every year, team members were able to create memories with family and friends, connect with colleagues and leadership – without the hustle and bustle of work – and enjoy the Tribe’s sincere appreciation.

Family

Hop e Forging

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians honors four organizations that help to improve the lives of Native people as well as the communities surrounding the Tribe’s ancestral lands.

Philanthropy

The spirit of Yawa’ is a simple word that describes a complex concept: a smile, a hearty handshake, a kind word. These are the building blocks from which Yawa’ springs forth. Yawa’ also comes from the heart, from actions and intentions, from beliefs held since time immemorial. To the Yuhaaviatam, Yawa’ is a call to manifest one’s beliefs through action.

At the 13th annual Forging Hope Awards this past May, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena said, “Yawa’ is the cornerstone of our giving program in the surrounding communities and across Indian Country…We gather as one community today, united to recognize some incredible nonprofit organizations that are making huge and positive impacts in the Inland Empire and Indian Country.”

At the event, traditional Serrano gourd rattles – crafted by members of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indian’s Youth Committee – were given to each of the four organizations that exemplified one of the Tribe’s philanthropic pillars: Empowering Lives; Preserving Cultural Traditions and Empowering Indian Country; Reinforcing Healthy and Resilient Communities; and Inspiring Our Future Through Education. More than 250 attendees from many organizations gathered as partners in following their call of Yawa’.

“We are proud to have partners that work to care for the basic needs of at-risk groups, inspire

students onto the path of education, support Indigenous communities and address healthcare disparities,” said Valbuena.

The Tribe presented the Yawa’ Award under the Empowering Lives pillar to The Academy for Grassroots Organizations (AcademyGO), an independent, nonprofit management support organization working to strengthen the capacity of community organizations and their leaders in the Inland Empire. “We are honored to have received the Yawa’ Award,” said President and CEO Debbie A. Cannon. “We rely on thoughtful and forwardlooking organizations like San Manuel who enable us to grow and strengthen our services.”

For its efforts under the pillar of Preserving Cultural Traditions and Empowering Indian Country, the Tribe presented the Yawa’ Award to the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, a Native nonprofit that tells the story of California Indians from a Native perspective. “The Tribe supported our Healing Through Cultural Arts programming,” explained Executive Director Nicole Lim, Pomo/Miwok. “This program engages our tribal communities in strengthsbased education ranging from harvesting and preparing traditional foods to basket weaving and regalia making.”

Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare were recognized under the pillar of Reinforcing Healthy and Resilient Communities. Casa Colina

has provided medical, surgical and rehabilitative services to hundreds of thousands of people in Southern California since 1938. This year’s Yawa’ Award recognized the new Interactive Musical Playground. “The overarching goal of the Musical Playground is to enhance our ability to provide pediatric therapies while increasing access to music for children with disabilities - a historically marginalized population,” said Director of Children’s Services Center Michele Alaniz. Walking Shield, Inc was honored under the pillar of Inspiring Our Future Through Education. For more than 30 years, Walking Shield has worked closely with urban Indian and tribal leaders to provide a variety of services to American Indian families throughout the United States. “We started about 12-14 years ago,” said Executive Director Dr. John Castillo, Apache. “We have over 100 American Indians that now have college degrees, some are lawyers, some are medical doctors and some are working for nonprofits. It’s just been an incredible program with a lot of young people giving back to the community.”

“We are honored to stand here on behalf of our tribal community and team members to recognize all of you gathered here today for the important work you are doing,” said Chairwoman Valbuena. “We challenge you to never stop acting for the benefit of others.”

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 43

FOR BUSINESS

At the San Manuel Recruitment Center, hiring is a full-time job.

Last year, at the Taste of Yaamava’, 13 restaurants handed out decadent lobster rolls, buttery croissants, fresh poke and other bites from Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel to nearly 500 attendees. To an unsuspecting visitor, it looked like a posh gathering held in an airy event space. In reality, it was a job fair hosted by the San Manuel Recruitment Center. BY KATE

The goal was twofold: to give prospective employees a literal taste of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino and to fill job openings. Many of those attendees indeed went home with a full belly, and an employment offer.

“The Recruitment Center at Ontario Mills allows us to create unique events for our applicants to experience and truly get a taste of our culture, as well as the multitude of career options we have to choose from,” said Kenji Hall, General Manager, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

It wasn’t exactly a traditional hiring fair, but the San Manuel Recruitment Center has been anything but traditional since it opened in April 2021. At that time, Yaamava' was expanding and opening its resort, and thousands of jobs were available in the casino and resort as well as in tribal government.

Rather than asking prospective employees to travel to the casino, the talent acquisition team instead opted to open a stylish, 8,000-square-foot space about 20 miles away: in the center of the shopping action at Ontario Mills. Tucked between Ulta and Marshalls, it would serve as a veritable billboard for employment possibilities with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and also offer access to a constant stream of people who may be looking for jobs.

“We’re open 10 to 6 Tuesday through Saturday, and we advertise for walk-ins,” said Jasmine Takeshita, Director of Talent Acquisition. “When we were mass-hiring, we’d go into the mall and say ‘Hey, you may have come here for lunch with your friend, but you can actually leave with a job.’”

The Recruitment Center is designed to be casual and welcoming to anyone – no suits required. That, said Takeshita, puts visitors at ease so they can focus on their talents and goals and share those with the recruiting team, whose philosophy is “recruit to include.”

“It presents a different kind of first impression that we feel allows for candidates to be the best version of themselves, instead of feeling as though they're on pins and needles for us,” said Takeshita.

In this day and age, when automated recruiting software relies heavily on AI and keywords, the approach here is surprisingly human. Rather than asking a prospective employee what skills they have for a specific position, Takeshita said the talent acquisition team asks visitors about skills they have, in general, and then they explore job possibilities together.

“We took recruiting to a consulting level,” said Takeshita.

It wasn’t always that way. In the past, Takeshita said her team noticed applicants were applying for five or even 10 roles at once. That led them to personalize the process and help match people to jobs with the belief that it would be better in the end for both the employer and the employee.

“What if we just brought a person in and asked, ‘Who are you? Where are you strong? What do you want to do?’” Often, there are surprises: a person might have come in expecting to apply for a casino position, only to learn they were a great fit for a position as a public safety officer in tribal government or even entry-level IT.

Whether the Recruitment Center is hosting over-the-top hiring events – often punctuated with musical performances – or sharing opportunities with curious shoppers, the methods are working. In a little more than two years, the center has met with more than 20,000 visitors and hired more than 6,000 of them.

“It truly has been a team effort and speaks volumes to what we can do collectively to achieve goals and continue to take things to the next level,” said Hall.

Takeshita added, “We’ve been able to increase our level of retention, because people now feel as though they did get the right job. They’ve been placed in a better position suited to their skills.”

Anecdotally, Takeshita said she hears success stories all the time: people whom her team hired who’ve been promoted to supervisor or gracious messages from people saying that a job changed their life.

“It just makes everything you do and all the hard work worth it,” she said. “It’s meaningful, it’s impactful and we get to see the fruits of our labor. There’s not a lot of jobs where you can actually say that.”

The San Manuel Recruitment Center is currently hiring. To learn more, visit sanmanuelcareers.com or visit the center, located at Ontario Mills, 1 Mills Circle, Suite 115, Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. No suits required.

44 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
Recruitment
HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 45

Coming Together

For the people of Lake Arrowhead, trudging through snow is just part of living on the mountain. But this past February, things turned deadly as a record amount of snow fell within several days. By early March, residents faced 10-foot walls of snow, collapsed roofs, house fires and empty grocery shelves – with no help from emergency services in sight.

“When the snow started rolling in, it was fun at first,” recalled Dan Zimbardi, Executive Pastor of Sandals Church. “Two inches, four inches, six inches…the kids were out of school, we were sledding on the streets and having snowball fights. But very quickly, six inches turned into two feet, three feet, four feet.”

People lost power, gas leaks caused house fires, roofs and decks collapsed under the sudden weight of the snow and the roads couldn’t be plowed with the equipment on hand, so it just kept mounting up. And once roads were blocked, the community was paralyzed.

For many it was literally life or death as elderly and ill residents were trapped in their homes with no heat, food or medicine. Families ran out of diapers and formula. For more than a week, residents pleaded for help. Many prayed for a miracle.

“Fire department couldn’t help; police and sheriff couldn’t help; emergency services couldn’t help. You can’t get down the road. You can’t move,”

said Zimbardi. “A real panic set in and that’s when we decided to mobilize our church and people on the mountain.”

They started by emailing the 1,000 or so people in the church database and asking them to fill out a form, stating if they needed help or if they were able to get out of their homes and provide help to others. By then, a few roads had been cleared and San Bernardino Sheriff approved the request to bring equipment and people up the mountain. Zimbardi and members from the church set up an emergency operations center at the Sandals campus in Lake Arrowhead and the team started to map the responses to the form, matching up the people who needed help with those who could provide it.

The command center is also where volunteers who had come up the mountain with shovels, chainsaws and picks ate, slept and prepared to make, what Zimbardi called, strategic strikes. “We sent people in on these strikes to deliver food and medicine. While county services were starting to ramp up, we were crawling through snow, climbing up balconies and walking across beams to deliver whatever people needed.”

Pretty soon the church’s form made its way around the mountain, and before they knew it, thousands of people had responded. Then other

46 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
Giving Back
A local church, with help from San Manuel, orchestrates delivery of critical supplies to stranded residents during a snowstorm that brought this mountain town to a halt.

churches and people joined Sandals’ efforts. “It didn’t matter if they went to our church, who they were or where they were from. Someone’s in desperate need of insulin, we couldn’t ignore that. It was a united effort to meet the needs of folks.”

Zimbardi’s role was to identify critical requirements and get the resources to make it happen. Other members of the church were key in getting the help where it was needed most: Mike Huntsman, a retired sheriff, ran the logistics from the operations center on the mountain; Kelwyn Wild, retired from the fire department, ran the operation center down the hill, coordinating up to 30 trucks a day filled with food, shovels, medication and more. Megan Renck matched those in need with those who could help, while Pastor Ian Price mobilized them; and Scot Camden, Advancement Director at Sandals Church, made strategic strikes and helped dig people out of homes with collapsed roofs.

After seeing what residents of Lake Arrowhead were living through, Scot reached out to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for help. Former Chairman Ken Ramirez traveled up the mountain to assist with the relief effort and see how the Tribe could be most effective. Ultimately, the Tribe gave funds for critical supplies to fill the gap until the government could respond with its resources.

This isn’t the first time San Manuel and Sandals have partnered to help the community. The Tribe also made a philanthropic gift for the first-phase launch of The Hill, a teen center on Sandals’ San Bernardino campus that offers hearty meals, clothing, counseling, job skills and more.

“Teens are struggling in that community so we asked educators what they needed most. Turns out the number one reason kids don’t go to school is because they don’t have clean clothes,” Zimbardi explained. “So, in partnership with San Manuel, we built a beautiful laundry facility at The Hill with brand-new washers and dryers. It was the most pressing need, and we couldn’t have met it without San Manuel.”

Reflecting on the experience this past winter, Zimbardi said the thing that struck him the most was how unifying it was. “People donated what they could; they grabbed cans from their pantry or made runs to the store and filled up three or four carts with food and diapers. We even had a helicopter deliver the first round of supplies,” Zimbardi said. “It was just beautiful to see the community come together.”

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 47

MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE JOINED THE SAN MANUEL TEAM TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN ONE ANOTHER IN THEIR QUESTS TO OVERCOME LIMITATIONS AND ACHIEVE WHAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.

48 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE Team

In preparation for the 2023 OC Marathon – and through 37 training events over the course of six months – members of the San Manuel running team, aged 13-67, logged enough miles to run around the world at the equator and enough elevation to climb Mt. Everest four times. That’s a lot of ground to cover. And a lot of selfdoubt, pain and fatigue to push through. Especially for people who are not runners at heart, or by nature.

“I was coping with grief and loss and signed up to improve my mental health – and instantly regretted it. I am not a runner!” Inna Bagaeva Watson, Graphic Designer at San Manuel, said and laughed. “But in these six months, I’ve entered local races, pushed my dad and husband to run with me, made new friends and finally finished my first half marathon…turns out I am a runner!”

Diana Castellanos, VIP Services Concierge at Yaamava’, signed up because she wanted to get more involved with the San Manuel culture, something executive leadership is committed to fostering. She has a passion for community organizing and volunteering but hadn’t yet focused that same energy on herself. As a self-described “couch potato,” Castellanos wasn’t sure she’d be able to hold herself accountable – until she was inspired to keep going. “My father-in-law became

heavily invested in the team…seeing him find his motivation kept me going,” Castellanos said. “It felt great knowing we were both trying to do the best for our future selves.”

San Manuel covered the cost of entry as well as the coaching, which was provided by elite and experienced marathoners and ultrarunners. These coaches – who consistently focused on mindset, motivation and perseverance – helped participants develop habits of success that will carry over into other areas of their lives.

“I see a high correlation between training for a marathon and achieving goals, especially in work life,” said Brigitte Saria, Chief People Infrastructure Officer for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “The marathon training journey shares the exact same things as a career journey…you set consistent, incremental goals and then commit to improving your abilities. If you have a plan, follow through on it, prepare for contingencies, stay committed, help others and ask for help, you will be successful; even if it’s an incredibly difficult goal.”

All in all, 138 people on the San Manuel team ran the OC Marathon this past May, with 59 people completing the half and 74 crossing the finish line for the full marathon. For many, training had nothing to do with winning the race or even hitting

a personal best, it was about the relationships they made or strengthened along the way.

“We were a group of mere acquaintances when we started our training. We became a unified team by the time of the marathon. Over 23 weeks, we laughed together, experienced pain together and helped each other achieve the goal of crossing the finish line at the 2023 OC Marathon,” Saria said.

Liberty Reyes, Chief of Staff at San Manuel, agreed, stating that the experience was transformational for her family. “I was especially happy that I was able to experience this training with my twin daughters, KK and Nanie. It was such a wonderful experience for me to share with my girls and I will forever be grateful to San Manuel for creating this opportunity.”

For others, joining the running team was about breaking down internal barriers and connecting with people for the support and motivation to make it through. “Anything worth doing is difficult, and our team met the challenge head on with this marathon!” said David Kopasz, Chief Operating Officer, Hospitality at Yaamava’. “The sheer positivity and commitment shown by everyone was inspiring, and I am so proud to learn and grow alongside so many talented and caring people. We are all only as strong as our support systems, and you guys showed up big time!”

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THE QUEST TO LIVE BETTER

Seeking to improve the lives of vulnerable populations in the Inland Empire and Indian Country, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians partners with Claremont Graduate University to create space for innovation in healthcare.

When San Manuel made a $14 million philanthropic gift to Claremont Graduate University (CGU) – the largest the university has received to date – it was to fulfill the vision of advancing the health and wellbeing of underserved populations.

The funds allowed for the purchase of the Huntley building, which served as the university bookstore for half a century. Now, the iconic mid-century building has been transformed into the Yuhaaviatam Center for Health Studies, an interdisciplinary research hub and living laboratory.

50 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE Innovation
Photos Courtesy of Claremont Graduate University

“The people of San Manuel are proud to support the new Yuhaaviatam Center. This may be among the most vital initiatives that San Manuel has supported in some time,” said San Manuel Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena. “We believe there is a great benefit when we work in partnership to find solutions to the challenges we face as a society. We also believe the Yuhaaviatam Center can be a stellar initiative for bringing the various partners together for this important purpose.”

Deron Marquez, former San Manuel Chairman, CGU alumnus and CGU board member, expanded on this by saying, “The types of health and well-being research that will be tackled by the center are relevant to the needs of so many today. Its benefits will ripple out. To bring together the university’s pioneering approach to research with San Manuel’s philanthropic vision is truly exciting.”

CGU is a leader in helping others live healthy lives by focusing research on positive health psychology, which explores maintaining wellbeing despite harmful conditions; understanding

healthcare policy and social justice; persuasive technology; and identifying the root cause of chronic disease, including addiction. The university also works with more than 300 health-related organizations in its quest to improve quality of life and redefine what is possible.

“Real, substantial breakthroughs happen when people from many disciplines come together

and collaborate. That’s the hallmark of our transdisciplinary philosophy,” CGU President Len Jessup said, “and the purchase of the Huntley makes it possible to create such a space for that kind of engagement on our campus.”

The Tribe understands the obstacles facing many of the region’s underserved communities because of its own past economic and healthrelated struggles. For San Manuel, the center’s research focus won’t be on the Inland Empire alone but also extend to the L.A. Basin, which is home to the largest population of Native Americans found in an urban area of the U.S.

“More and more people are falling into the category of vulnerable and underserved populations when it comes to healthcare,” said Chairwoman Valbuena. “In the most powerful country on earth, many Americans cannot access quality healthcare. The Yuhaaviatam Center for Health Studies has the potential to help find solutions to overcome these disparities.”

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 51
“ “
We believe there is a great benefit when we work in partnership to find solutions to the challenges we face as a society.
52 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE POOL AT PALMS CASINO RESORT SCAN TO BOOK UPCOMING EVENTS 4321 W. FLAMINGO ROAD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89103 | 866-752-2236 | PALMS.COM

(muh-chish-chk)

FAVORITES

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

This section explores the indulgences found at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel and the newly revamped Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Both resorts offer delights at every turn: food and cocktails chock full of the comforting flavors of fall, an upscale cigar lounge with offerings you’ve only dreamed of, iconic bands from every era and high-end accommodations that range from whimsical to refined.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 53

and

Warm Welcome

The harvest season is upon us – and with it come our favorite comfort foods.

Autumn brings vibrant colors and brisk temperatures that hint at the chilly Winter Solstice just around the corner. Don’t look too far ahead though, because fall is best when you enjoy every moment of the fleeting season. And there’s no better way to do that than by embracing the deep satisfaction of comfort food served up at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel in Highland, CA and Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Chef Christopher Dennis at Yaamava’ said, “To me, comfort foods are those that remind me of home as a child during the holiday. From apples and maple syrup to venison and pork.”

Fall’s harvest season celebrates the delicious dichotomy of seasonal produce by providing emotionally resonant dishes that make our collective hearts beat; it’s the type of food that sustains not just our bodies, but our spirits.

“Using parsnips, celery root and squash for roasting, purees and sauces is a win-win,” said Chef Marcus O’Brien of Palms. “Other ingredients that work well are new varieties of apples, fresh figs, chanterelle mushrooms and whole artichokes.”

Foraged mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, walnuts, apple cider, tart cranberry and root vegetables all take center stage. And at Yaamava’ and Palms, both the kitchen and bar programs are prepared to execute a memorable fall menu to leave you feeling sentimental.

“We are hoping to bring back memories of childhood with a touch more technique and skill,” said Chef O’Brien.

Savor
Written by Danny Palumbo | Photography by Alan de Herrera | Styled by Judean Sakimoto

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Marc Vetri is an icon in the world of pasta; a celebrated chef and restaurateur whose impact on modern Italian food in America cannot be overstated. And at Vetri at Palms, guests discover nothing less than pure pasta perfection. Take the Sweet Potato Gnocchi, for instance. Delicate gnocchi are untraditionally prepared by combining sweet potato puree, eggs, breadcrumbs and Parmigiano Reggiano. The sweet potato filling is then placed into a piping bag before being pinched into boiling water, spaetzle style. The gnocchi are served with a rich, butter sauce and another load of parm creating ethereal, cloud-like pillows that melt in your mouth. And it’s one of those things you’ll want to savor when you can – they’re only on the menu once a year.

Butternut Squa sh R igatoni with Sausa ge

No fall menu would be complete without two things: butternut squash and pasta. At Serrano Vista Cafe at Palms, the Butternut Squash Rigatoni with Sausage tantalizes with its comforting fall flavors. The savory Italian sausage, hand-picked from only the best butchers and sausage makers, gives depth while a coconut milk reduction adds something unexpected to the butternut squash puree. While not traditional in Italian cuisine, the result is a deeply satisfying twist that is just right for the shorter days and cooler nights.

Pumpkin Cranberry Walnut Salad with Chicken

Salads aren’t just for summer, like this hearty salad at Serrano Bu et at Yaamava’, which satisfies without slowing you down. Great for a robust lunch or light dinner, this dish elevates fall ingredients to their highest. Hearty pumpkin is cubed, roasted with olive oil, honey, salt and pepper to bring out its autumnal flavors; grilled marinated chicken is sliced and fanned out on a bed of greens with toasted walnuts and tart cranberries; and a simple agave syrup, fresh lemon juice and olive oil dressing is drizzled over the top.

Iberico Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato, Iberico Chorizo and Brussels Sprouts

Iberico ham is the prize of Spain. The black Iberian pig is freeroaming and only eats acorns, giving “a complex flavor similar to venison with a higher minerality and earthy tones,” explained Chef Dennis. In this dish from The Pines Modern Steakhouse at Yaamava’, imported Iberico ham is used in two ways: tenderloin and chorizo. The pork tenderloin is seared, roasted to perfection, then served with sweet potato puree, spicy Iberico chorizo and Brussels sprouts. A hint of maple syrup and apple cider ties the flavor profile together nicely.

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Autumn Spiced Vanilla Sauce

When it comes to concocting a memorable fall dessert, warming spices and pure decadence must be embraced lovingly, and perhaps no dessert does it better than this British classic: Sticky To ee Pudding available at Scotch 80 at Palms. Medjool dates, cinnamon and vanilla work together to layer in spice, sweetness and richness. But the real star is the to ee sauce. The buttery, sumptuous sauce flows over the pudding like a river of candied joy. This quintessential British classic celebrates all the wonderful flavors of fall wrapped into a single sweet dish.

Pear and Almond T art

Is it a dessert or a breakfast pastry? Perhaps both. The light, sweet pear and almond tart from Big Mo’s at Yaamava’ is a classic French short crust pastry. With a dollop of fragrant frangipane (almond cream) custard, a layer of thinly sliced pears and a touch of melted butter, this pastry is baked until golden then sprinkled with granulated sugar and cinnamon. An apricot glaze and choice of berry sauce or ice cream finishes o this tart that tastes like it came out of Grandma’s kitchen, if your grandmother was a decorated pastry chef.

1. Berry Nostalgia

This martini is based on Tito’s vodka, to which Créme de Mure Blackberry Liqueur, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur and cream are added. A citrus smoke bubble tops it o . “It’s youthful and reminiscent of nighttime milk and cookies,” explained Nicholas Dukes, Assistant Manager of the beverage program at Yaamava’, like an adults-only late-night snack in a glass.

2. Orchard Thyme

Cider’s light, tart taste and slightly carbonated impact on the palate make for a refreshing beverage. The Orchard Thyme available at Serrano Vista Cafe at Palms takes hard apple cider and adds a bite with Bu alo Trace Bourbon, loved for its smoothness and slightly sweet notes, cinnamon thyme syrup and fresh lemon juice.

3. Brown Butter Manhattan

In its 100-plus years of existence, the Manhattan has always been a quintessential American cocktail. It’s wonderful as is, but the notes of vanilla, to ee and caramelized brown butter from Ta er’s Brown Butter Bourbon transform the classic into something covetable. Antica Formula Sweet Vermouth, Angostura Bitters and a Luxardo cherry garnish round out the flavor-forward iteration available at Vetri at Palms.

4. Pears Perfectly

Fresh pear is a quintessential fall flavor, so naturally the award-winning bar team at Yaamava’ built this cocktail around it. With El Silencio Espadin Mezcal, St. George Spiced Pear Liquor, Gi ard Orgeat and fresh lemon juice, the Pears Perfectly is layered with sweet and tart elements. But the pièce de résistance is the torched cinnamon stick, adding smoky, spicy earthy notes.

5. Campfire Ember

You could gather around a campfire on a brisk fall night…or you could sip a Campfire Ember and get the same feel – but without the mosquitoes. Made with Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey, maple syrup, Aztec chocolate bitters and an orange and Luxardo cherry garnish, the drink from Yaamava’ stands tall on flavor alone. “Pair it with a hearty steak dinner or sip it as a dessert on a cold night,” suggested Dukes.

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COOL collected

Each issue we gather a few things that stand out from the rest. This time we’ve found accessories that add low-key luxury. Find elegant pocket squares, exquisite jewelry and chic scarves to add color and texture for a finishing touch, all available at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

On Trend
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Photography by Robert Kley | Styled by Christie Moeller MEDICIS Mini Toi & Moi Vermeil Pink Ring by Baccarat available HERS MEDICIS Silver Riviera Solitaire Ring by Baccarat available HERS

MEDICIS Mini Toi & Moi Vermeil Pink Ring by Baccarat available HERS

HARMONIE Whisky Decanter by Baccarat available HERS

Everyday Tumbler set of 6 by Baccarat available HERS

HARCOURT Etched Glass set of 2 by Baccarat available HERS

Pocket Squares by Bugatchi available at HIS

AccessorizeIt Statement Earring by AccessorizeIt available at 1891

MEDICIS Silver Riviera Solitaire Ring by Baccarat available HERS

MEDICIS Mini Toi & Moi Vermeil

Pink Ring by Baccarat available HERS

MEDICIS Silver Riviera Solitaire Ring by Baccarat available HERS

Wild Spinach Chiffon Scarf by Virgil Ortiz available at 1891

C ann’s INDIGENOUS

BOOK REVIEW

Carolann Jane Duro, Maara’yam-Kumeyaay descendant, is the founder of the pop-up bookstore Quiet Quail Books and host of podcast NDN Book Nerd, both of which feature Native authors from around the country. Here she shares her top five Indigenous-authored reads of the past year.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

If I stay up into the waking hours to finish a book, that book always makes my favorites list. The Sentence was one of those books. Set in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tookie – a recovering incarcerated woman – gets out of prison and starts to work in a Native bookstore in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tookie has an Ojibwe background and finds herself working in one of her dream jobs: surrounded by fellow Native coworkers and books. However, Tookie’s ideal working environment takes a turn when a recently deceased customer begins to haunt Tookie and the bookstore, searching for something Tookie does not understand.

This novel is based on the author’s life, as she is the owner of Birch Bark Books, a Native bookstore in Minneapolis. Erdrich even writes herself into the book as the owner – who is also a prolific writer. Though I usually don’t enjoy recent pandemic media because of how close to home it feels, I did enjoy this novel for the unique exploration of Native literature and believe it gives accurate insight into the joys of being a bookseller. I also was not expecting the ending and would urge you to explore what Tookie discovers for herself!

At the Mountain’s Base by Traci Sorrell

I would be remiss to make a list of book recommendations without including a children’s book, by far the most beloved genre by customers in the bookstore. I meet so many Native mothers and parents who are looking for the next nighttime read for their children. Months ago, I found myself in my living room with my great niece looking for things to do. I pulled out At the Mountain’s Base to entertain her and show her Native characters like herself.

At the Mountain’s Base tells the story of a Cherokee grandmother who was a pilot for the American military. The story weaves throughout generations of Cherokee women, with beautiful art by a California Indian artist named Weshoyot, Tongva. It is the perfect amount of text for a three-, four- or even five-year-old child who is beginning to read. It sparked a lot of joy to see my niece enjoy the book so much, often trying to turn the page before I could get the chance!

Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz

Though poetry books are not always my first pick, when I found out a California Indian woman, Mojava, won the Pulitzer Prize for her work with Postcolonial Love Poem, I was quick to show my support and learn more about how to enjoy poetry. This collection of poems is so relevant for its contemporary approach to the Native reality. Diaz even finds a way to bring both humor about Native basketball and a poignant tone to calling into question the pollution and environmental disasters that are affecting California rivers and waterways. Diaz also spends most of her collection reminiscing on her deep dives into love, which encourages the reader to contemplate their own expressions of affection.

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

One of my dad’s favorite genres is mystery but I never understood the appeal until I explored Firekeeper’s Daughter. This novel is a great young-adult perspective that follows Daunis, an Ojibwe teen girl, on her journey to discover who’s terrorizing her community with harmful substances causing tragedies among her people. My favorite aspect of this novel was how connected Daunis was to her traditional plant knowledge and how often she used medicine to guide her mental space. Of course, you must read to figure out who Daunis discovers is the mastermind behind the crime, while also uncovering Daunis’s romantic interest, which is a unique closure to a young woman’s relationship. Boulley has just released her second novel Warrior Girl Unearthed, which you can pick up after finishing this one!

Soldier’s Unknown by Chag Lowry

Of all the recommendations put forth, none had me crying like Soldier’s Unknown. The best part about a comic book is witnessing the characters and scenery right before your eyes, transporting you even more so, like a film. Soldier’s Unknown tells the forgotten story of Yurok World War I veterans, who were tasked with fighting for a country they weren’t even considered citizens of. The story follows a group of young Yurok cousins who left their traditional way of life and ceremony to fight a brutal and traumatizing war in an unfamiliar land.

This comic book brings the journey full circle and discusses my favorite takeaway: our Native veterans can physically return from war, but it will take time for their spirit to follow suit. The other message is that healing is not just the responsibility of the veteran; the community has to be part of that work. I absolutely adored the artwork in this comic and the details on the Yurok regalia and crafts were so stunning, I included this in one of my bookstore’s mystery boxes for spring. Don’t miss out on this newly released special edition of this comic book!

Join Carolann as she connects with Indigenous authors, publishers, bookstore owners, bookstagrammers and illustrators as well as people who uplift Indigenous voices and e orts via @NDNBookNerd on Instagram and her podcast NDN Book Nerd on Spotify!

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Well Read
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Entertainment
Photography by Je Fasano

A FamilyAffair

AN A BAND BE ON THE RISE, NEW TO A WHOLE GENERATION OF FANS, EVEN AFTER BEING TOGETHER THEIR WHOLE LIVES AND PLAYING TOGETHER FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS? WHEN IT COMES TO SIBLINGS KEVIN AND MICHAEL BACON OF THE BACON BROTHERS, THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES. THROUGH THEIR SONGWRITING PROCESS, THEIR GENUINE NATURE AND INTIMATE PERFORMANCES, THE BACON BROTHERS HAVE FORGED A SPECIAL BOND WITH THEIR DIEHARD FANS. AND THEY ARE ALWAYS REACHING FOR MORE.

When asked about introducing new listeners to their music, Kevin acknowledged the challenge of selecting a single song to represent their style. “Good question. That’s tough to answer. People’s idea of what makes a ‘good song’ is vastly different. And one of the reasons the band has evolved is because we have two different sensibilities. A lot of our songs are super different.”

How different?

The Bacon Brothers’ span genres –including rock, country, soul and folk. Each composition brings something unique to the table, making it difficult

to pinpoint a single representative track. But Michael identified two songs that stand as a testament to the power of music to heal and connect with others.

“Over the 27 years we’ve been doing this, we’ve gotten responses to two songs that have been therapeutic

called ‘Angelina,’ which we’ve gotten mail about for years…some kind of a spiritual remediation for people who hear it. I think if you can write a song that checks someone in a visceral way and helps them, and isn’t just an entertainment thing, I am very proud of that. And both of those songs did that,” Michael explained.

As with their music, The Bacon Brothers performances resonate deeply with their audiences. By sharing stories and bantering between songs, the brothers strike

in a way,” he said. “One is called ‘Don’t Lose Me Boy’, which I wrote about my son. There’s a woman who lost her son who keeps in touch with me on email and comes to shows. And I feel like that song has in some way helped her.

‘’The other is a song Kevin wrote

a balance between entertainment and personal connection. Michael emphasized the importance of providing insight on stage into the stories and events that inspired their music, which becomes a form of storytelling, weaving a narrative that

gives listeners a glimpse into their lives.

“There’s two ways to look at performing: If you’re going straight rock and roll, you’re sending out things that demand a really intense response, crowd cheering and all that kind of rock and roll-y stuff. The other way, and the people I admired when I was growing up, is kind of personal and I guess a little more folky. I think the best thing my brother and I can do is try to reveal ourselves on stage through our music because a lot of people haven’t heard our songs.”

In discussing their unique creative process and collaboration, The Bacon Brothers are committed to being open to new ideas and exploring every concept, whether it originates from Kevin or Michael. In cases of musical disagreements, the songwriter ultimately has the final say. This collaborative approach, combined with their distinct musical sensibilities, creates a harmonious dynamic that enriches their compositions.

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By sharing stories and bantering between songs, the brothers strike a balance between entertainment and personal connection.
Photography by Je Fasano

SUMMER TOUR T

he Bacon Brothers kicked off their summer tour during Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s On The Pool Deck Series. For Michael, the evening marked the start of the season. “The first gig out is always kind of nerve-wracking but also special because you’re launching new stuff,” he said. “These are really exciting things and I feel like that was the start of the summer.”

Kevin echoed the enthusiasm by saying, “The dream is to look out and see somebody that knows the music and is actually singing along. And that happened a couple of times. You don’t always get that if you’re playing in an indoor space because you don’t really have a view of the audience in the same way you do when they’re standing right by the pool in front of your face.”

And while Michael loved the quintessential California vibe of the pool stage, it was the Yaamava’ Theater that caught his eye. “They have that beautiful theater, and I said to the people there, ‘We’ll get a hit song. We’ll come back and play at the big theater.’”

Kevin laughed and said, “I can’t improve on that perfect answer my brother just gave.”

“Even though we’ve never specifically laid this out as a philosophy, when it comes to bringing music live, performing or recording it, we try every idea. It’s like, let’s try it at least and see if it works,” Kevin said. “And if there’s a disagreement about where something should go musically, the songwriter has the final word. If Mike’s doing the lead vocal, he’s the main songwriter. I’m doing lead vocal, I’m the main songwriter and we just collaborate. That’s part of what’s fun about it.”

Looking to the future, writing and performing that numberone song on the charts is on their list. And while recognition is a goal, they acknowledged the complexities of achieving widespread acclaim. “I do think artists want to share their art. I mean, if you write a song and your wife and your dog like it, that’s nice. You have

to say, ‘Okay, that’s great,’ but I don’t want to make a movie that nobody sees just because I had a good time making it. Right? I’ve never been that

People say, ‘Wait a minute, you had the most amazing life. What are you worried about? You have so many great things, you’ve had so many

way. I want it to catch fire. You write a song, it’s the same thing. You want people to hear it.”

Michael added, “It’s a human foible that we want to be recognized for what we do. Most people who get enormous amounts of recognition, and certainly my brother is one of those people, would probably say it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. In all the years I’ve been doing this, trying to get a hit song, and it’s never, ever happened.

achievements.’ It’s the beast you have to keep up with as it takes you in all different directions.’’

Just like those different directions, there were different influences as well. Kevin said, “I wouldn’t pick one famous artist. One of the things that was great in my childhood – being the youngest of six kids, born in 1958 – was my ears got tuned up with the sixties music that my older siblings were playing. That’s what made its way into my brain: rock and roll and the British Invasion, but also Motown and the sound of [hometown] Philadelphia. And I feel grateful to have had that kind of exposure as a little kid.”

Attending live concerts from a young age further influenced their musical tastes. Michael expressed admiration for Pete Seeger’s timeless anti-war anthem, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.” Calling out its ability to resonate with people across generations and its powerful message of universal suffering, he noted it as one of the songs that shaped him as an artist. “That’s my song,” he said.

At the end of the day, The Bacon Brothers keep evolving – and that is rewarding, not only for themselves but their fans. “I never would’ve imagined we would still be playing or writing songs – or have 10 or 11 albums. And we’re going to put out another EP, maybe sometime this fall,” Kevin said. “I just try to keep the day-to-day practical: have a good show, play well, get better at singing, write a song. If we ever had a song that made its way into popular culture, that would be super exciting. But in lieu of that, we’re just making the best music we can.”

I just try to keep the day-to-day practical: have a good show, play well, get better at singing, write a song.
Photo courtesy of The Bacon Brothers Photo on left by Charles Chessler
HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 69 Enjoy an exquisite selection of American-style bistro specialties, 24/7 in-room dining, www.bearspringshotel.com | 27959 Highland Ave, Highland, CA 92346 | 833-258-4745 Relax and rejuvenate in a boutique hotel environment nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is heralding a new era for Inland Empire luxury travel, entertainment and dining – first with its comprehensive rebranding and renovation in 2021, and now by garnering three prestigious Forbes Star ratings for the resort, Serrano Spa and The Pines Modern Steakhouse. Yaamava’ is now one of only three Four-Star tribal-owned properties in the country, and one of only two properties that also holds a Five-Star spa and Four-Star restaurant.

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruises; all of its ratings are ascertained anonymously based on hundreds of demanding standards, with a focus on exceptional service. Hard work, strategic planning and superior hospitality were the mortar that built this luxury house, according to Yaamava’ VP of Hotel Operations, Afsi Bird. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, which owns and operates the resort, is proud of these developments, Bird said.

“Achieving our Forbes rating in the first year of our operation is one of the most accomplished times for all of us,” Bird said. “Yaamava’ is the Tribe’s first luxury hotel, and we have demonstrated our best-inclass service and received accolades for that service, which has been very rewarding for our team members and the Tribe.”

A first for the Inland Empire, these prestigious ratings for Yaamava’ bring distinction not only to San Manuel, but also to the region, elevating its profile for hospitality and tourism, according to Bird. “Yaamava’ will play a big role in raising awareness of the tourism industry in the Inland Empire as we are the only luxury hotel and casino establishment in this area. This will increase traffic for the local community,” she said.

It’s no wonder that Serrano Spa can now boast a Forbes Five-Star rating, since its hospitality team is at the forefront of creating the luxe spa of the future, fearlessly innovating new techniques for optimal relaxation and wellness. A destination for guests seeking a luxurious day, Serrano Spa implements the latest avant-garde technology, from infrared, ergonomic ceramic loungers to Oculus headsets that allow spa guests to travel the world or float in a meditative sphere.

The ultimate hideaway space, the spa offers a water sanctuary, terrace with a fireplace, tranquility spa and treatment rooms with symphonic massage tables that provide calming sound and light therapy using state-of-the-art Bose speakers. For shopping, the spa offers top-of-the-line skincare and haircare products guests can trust,

including QMS collagen products and Natura Bisse skincare.

Best of all, when guests leave Serrano Spa, they don’t truly leave it behind, as their spa technician provides homecare solutions that go beyond products, such as a stretch or sleep regimen, or even an SD card with the relaxing sounds played during their treatment.

The Pines Modern Steakhouse, which received a Four-Star rating, provides a flawless dining experience, fit for everyday dining or special occasions. The refined restaurant was named “Best Restaurant” by Inland Empire Magazine for three consecutive years. “The key elements are always service first, and an amazing culinary experience,” Bird said.

The Pines serves handcrafted pastas, fresh seafood, rare Japanese Wagyu and dry-aged beef, superior wines and signature cocktails. The restaurant was honored by Wine Spectator with the 2022 Award of Excellence, which is no surprise considering its diverse international collection, from traditional to natural and biodynamic bottles, old world to new world. The Pines also is one of only two restaurants in the Inland Empire to earn a Four Diamond rating from AAA’s travel guide.

The setting and service at The Pines brings Old Hollywood elegance, where guests can perch at the splashy cocktail bar, nestle deep into curved booths or enjoy the buzz of a lively main dining room. Throughout, there are subtle motifs of the Tribe, including a ceiling design that emulates a woven basket, which also serves a functional purpose of absorbing sound. These warm, thoughtful elements combine with a knowledgeable, talented hospitality staff that provides tableside service unparalleled in the Inland Empire.

Forbes Travel Guide has recognized the glamor, best-in-class luxury service and timelessness of this desert retreat. And Bird said, “the Tribe is grateful for the hard work the team has put into the resort to be acknowledged with this most prestigious accolade.”

When guests visit Yaamava’ they will experience the glory of the Forbes Four- and Five-Star experience. Whether they come for a Solid Gold Facial featuring Japanese Kane products at Serrano Spa, to enjoy fresh oysters, Japanese Wagyu steak and California Queen’s Reserve caviar at The Pines or to rest their heads on the luxury linens at Yaamava’ Resort, they will feel the warmth of the Yaamava’ family. “At Yaamava’ we provide a genuine and heartfelt service, consistently, to all guests,” Bird said.

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Travel
With its Forbes Star ratings, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel is confirmed as the first truly luxury destination in the Inland Empire.
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Hardwood Suite Real World Suite

Stay

Lavishly

Palms Casino Resort creates the ultimate luxury stay with attention to detail, whimsical design and best-in-class service.

Wake up in your queen-sized bunk bed and bowl a few frames in your personal alley before the massage therapist arrives for your morning treatment. Take an afternoon dip in an infinity pool with a view that stretches from Circa to South Point as your butler lays out your robe and shakes your martini. Host a half-dozen guests with a meal catered from three restaurants in a dining room full of multimillion-dollar artwork. Return to your penthouse after a night on the town to play a few hands at your personal poker table knowing your favorite pizza and the newest local beer will arrive within minutes. This is what it’s like to stay in one of the Palms Casino Resort’s luxury suites.

“A normal hotel may have a standard room and three or four suite types. But in the Fantasy Tower alone, we have multiple specialty suites,” said Kevin Glass, Vice President of Hospitality at Palms. And he does mean special: Palms’ themed suites range from spaces with basketball half courts and whiskey tasting rooms to blush-pink girls’ retreats with a cocktail bar and salon setup. There’s even a suite created by acclaimed artist Damien Hirst. “Nothing like it exists as far as I know, not just in Las Vegas, but in the world,” added Glass.

Indeed, it doesn’t. Hirst’s “Empathy” suite features unique artwork, from a prominent butterfly motif seen throughout the suite’s design to a pair of sharks in formaldehyde that require a single feather to be cleaned. The artist personally chose everything, from the lamp on the bedside table to the cage-like hanging chair that gives a view of The Strip. Turn your attention to the floor and you’ll see the dozens of multicolored butterflies in the marble quarried in China, then inlaid into the tiles in Italy and polished in California before being installed in Las Vegas.

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HAMIINAT
Kingpin Suite Empathy Suite

The sleek, 10,000-square-foot hardwood basketball suite not only includes the court, but a pair of professional-quality locker rooms for the full “I wanna be like Mike” experience. The “Kingpin” suite leans into bowler kitsch with orange glitter vinyl, red neon signs and vividly painted portraits of Bill Murray and Woody Harrelson from the eponymous film. Even the suites that don’t have a specific motif offer unique color schemes, artwork and epic views, as well as only-in-Vegas amenities like steam rooms, foosball tables and mini-cinema setups.

two do overnight. The two that do overnight are trained to do cocktails. We’ll often get a call like, ‘Hey, we just came back from the club, can you bring champagne and make cocktails?’ Absolutely we can.”

They also handle more youthful – yet no less sophisticated – desires. “We had a family who wanted a tent for their child,” James explained, “So we got the tent, the cushions, a little night light and books. And because it was an animal-themed tent, we even brought animal crackers for a snack.”

Butlers attend to scheduling in-room spa

“We recently had a guest who was part of the NFL draft,” James recalled. “The parents called down for food and, based on each of their tastes, we planned an entire menu from three restaurants and brought it into the same room. Mom and Dad wanted steaks from Scotch 80, the girls wanted noodles and pho from Send Noodles and the football guys wanted pizza. They loved it.’”

But the suite life at Palms is about more than just the space. For those in the penthouses, a butler is also available to attend to guests’ every want and/or need. James (no last name needed), one of several on staff explained, “We have six butlers who are here 24 hours. Generally, two of us do the mornings, two do the evenings and

treatments and booking front-row show tickets –and everything in between. “We do a bath service with champagne. We’ll have a massage brought up to your room. We pack, unpack, polish, iron and press.”

But a big part of James’ job is taking a guest’s simple request and turning it into an experience.

Does this star treatment draw in, well, stars? “Quite a few,” said Glass, “We often get A-list celebrities, professional athletes and professional teams that stay here because they know their privacy will be respected.” He explained that instantly recognizable faces can remain unseen while staying at Palms. “We have a private entrance where celebrities can take a private elevator right up to their room – they don’t have to go in public unless they choose to do so.”

One celebrity who has stayed in the suites is Gwen Stefani – and some of her habits have lingered as part of the Palms’ experience. “In the evenings we have seven options for turndowns – and each comes with its own story,” explained James. “Gwen Stefani opened the Pearl. She played it for two nights, sold out both nights and she was our first guest. She believes in the healing properties of chamomile tea, so her turndown includes chamomile tea with homemade biscuits or cookies.” Other turndown treats include chocolate petit fours from Scotch 80 and an Elvisinspired dessert with peanut butter and candied bacon.

Of course, suites aren’t just booked by people; businesses choose them to make a corporate retreat or convention meeting unforgettable. “Anyone can book a meeting in a boardroom or restaurant,” said Glass, “But when a corporate client wants to do something new, fresh and outside the box, they come here.”

They can even combine spaces for a truly special event. “On the 25th floor, we have the Kingpin suite, one of the Loft Suites right across from it and then a Blush Suite,” he explained. “If a corporate client wanted to rent that floor out, they could open the doors, set up food and drink stations and create a truly special event.”

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One thing we really pride ourselves on here is the service; we pay attention to our guests. You don’t get lost at Palms.
Blush Suite Cinema Suite

But one of Palms’ best-known suites remains unoccupied: the Real World Suite where the MTV reality show filmed in 2002. “That was a really popular suite in the early 2000s and people still ask about it,” said Glass. “It’s still themed and in its original state. As it relates to the decor, it definitely needs a refresh,” he said and laughed. (Or maybe just wait a few more years until ‘90s nostalgia turns to ‘00s throwbacks.)

All of the changes and comings and goings are what James enjoys most about being a butler. “No day is ever the same,” he said. “Some guests check in, take the keys, tell me they’ll call me if they need me and then check out. For some guests I spend the whole week running baths, booking shows, bringing food, mixing cocktails and really being part of their experience.”

“We take the time to make people feel special,” said James. Kevin Glass agreed – and extended the idea from the penthouse to the Palms in general with the property’s guest-focused philosophy, “One thing we really pride ourselves on here is the service; we pay attention to our guests,” he said proudly. “You don’t get lost at Palms.”

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Loft Suite Empathy Suite
Indulgences

Smoking Hot

Exclusive cigar lounge to establish new levels of coolness for Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

it’s no secret that Yaamava’ is a world-class destination for gaming, dining, food and beverage. With the opening of a new, ultraexclusive cigar lounge on the 17th floor, the resort will become a world-class destination for cigars, too.

The Cigar Lounge, inside the Y Lounge, opened summer 2023, and is a partnership between Yaamava’ and Fumar Cigars, a Phoenix-based company that specializes in curating stellar cigar menus.

Christopher Fava, Vice President of Food and Beverage at Yaamava’, said the objective of the lounge is to have best-in-class cigars available to give guests a bespoke experience and is an extension of Collection 86 – a world-class cache of rare, vintage and one-of-a-kind premier and Grand Cru Champagnes, Bordeaux, Burgundy and California cult wines; as well as spirits and the largest collection of 50-plus-year-old Scotches, cognacs and international whiskeys from all over the globe.

“It’s part of our goal to procure items that together make up one of the rarest collections in the world,” Fava said. “This way, when people come to see us, they know they can have access to spirits, wines and now cigars they won’t find anywhere else.”

Humble Beginnings

The cigar project began in early 2021, when Chief Gaming Officer at Yaamava’ Peter Arceo reached out to David Haddad, President of Fumar, and said he wanted to build the best cigar program in the United States.

Fumar certainly has experience in this area –the company provides services to about 400 resorts in about 39 markets across the country and has developed more than 150 lounges over the years.

For Yaamava’, the plan was to create a lounge that was ultra-exclusive – accessible only to the highestlevel members of Club Serrano, guests staying in the

resort’s 128 suites and other invited guests. Select players with casino hosts also may gain access on certain weeknights, depending on availability.

Outside, the Cigar Lounge has a bit of a speakeasy feel; if you don’t know the entrance is conveniently positioned behind a wall of liquor lockers, you might walk right by it.

Inside, the vibe is luxurious and cool: seven humidors flank a main seating area. Tufted leather couches and suede-covered chairs provide comfortable thrones from which to enjoy a delicious smoke. A swanky bar serves up craft cocktails to enhance the experience. And the liquor locker program gives celebrities and high-profile regulars the opportunity to store their favorite top-shelf elixirs for next time.

These amenities are only the beginning. Panoramic views of San Bernardino stretch for miles. There’s even an open-air patio – the only rooftop lounge in Highland, CA – for those who wish to smoke outside. And there’s even food prepared by Y Lounge chefs.

Fava said the lounge has a real “sense of place” and delivers a vibe guests can’t find elsewhere. “We want to create an experience,” he said. “Something guests can only have at our resort, in our lounge.”

One-of-a-Kind Selection

The experience at the Cigar Lounge is exceptional and the cigar offerings are eclectic.

Arceo asked Haddad to create a menu with a selection of cigars unlike any other – an inventory that had a mix of staple cigars and different options from some of the most varied collections and rarest editions anywhere on Earth.

Haddad knew just where to look.

“I've been collecting rare cigars for almost 30 years now and I had items I’d been saving for just the right occasion,” he said. He added that some of the cigars he pulled for the Cigar Lounge collection were 50 or 60 years old and came from Haddad’s private and personal cigar lockers in London and Geneva, Switzerland.

Some of the standout cigars in the collection are Opus X Aged, Selection 1998-1999; Alfred Dunhill Partagas Seleccion: #150, Vintage 1969 Cuban; Alfred Dunhill Havana Club Coffins Double Corona, Vintage 1987; and the Cohiba Spectre, 2021 release.

This means beginners who want flavored or mild cigars will find options they like. It also means connoisseurs who want the very best will find options they like as well.

State-of-the-art air filtration and HVAC systems will keep the air clean 24/7, eliminating odors and preventing the space from being overwhelmed by a cigar scent that may turn off certain guests. Also, service in the lounge will be second to none, and servers will strive to make guests feel like royalty.

“The exemplary level of service is off the charts,” Fava said. “That’s another part of this desire to create a room that’s unlike anything else – we received our Forbes awards for a reason, now let’s show them off.”

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New Kids on the Block

Looking Back, Living in the Moment and Embracing the Future

Members of legendary boy band New Kids on the Block have forged a brotherhood and bond unmatched in the music world, one that is equal parts beautiful and challenging. Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg and Danny Wood have had the honor of walking a path not many other groups have had the pleasure of experiencing. And they choose to embrace everything that with it, step by step.

As the group prepared for their highly anticipated two-night stint at Yaamava’ Theater, the conversation quickly turned to their achievements, aspirations, the secret to their enduring brotherhood, the unwavering bond they have with their dedicated fans and their legacy.

When they looked back over the past few decades, Joey McIntyre noted why they still work so well together. “So many bands don't have the benefit of staying together. We took 14 years off but we had the opportunity to get back together. And we got better at staying together. That could look very simple – like leaving each other alone or letting people have their say and rolling with the ups and downs,” McIntyre explained. “It ends with gratitude. We really do love

each other, and often reflect on how lucky we are. And of course we wouldn't be anywhere without our fans. They have such a good time and really are the sixth member. Their enthusiasm and how much fun they have with each other and how much they're there for us…We feed off each other."

Wahlberg added, "The legacy part is secondary to the relationship with the fans…We have so much fun doing shows and doing them with a really deep connection to our fans… I don't think any of us are really thinking about the legacy, we're just living in the moment as the band."

In fact, each band member expressed a desire to live in the present, avoiding distractions that might take them away from their relationship with their fans. "It's the way we were brought up, our families. My family always made it about family," Danny Wood explained. "So when the five of us got together, it was another family. And I think even when we were young, we treated fans that way. We always tried to go out of our way for them, but now we're older and it's easier to have that connection with them. Everyone's grown up, everyone got families. And I think we can relate to them and they can relate to us."

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Wahlberg agreed, saying, "Absolutely. We've matured over the years and are grateful for all of it. Maybe when we were 25, and tired of touring for five years straight, and we walked out of a hotel and there were 50 fans there, it was like, ‘Oh gosh!’ But now it's like, ‘Oh wow!’ And that comes from gratitude."

That gratitude also makes them strive to do even more. As much as they live in the present, they all have a vision of how the future should materialize, agreeing timing is crucial and emphasizing waiting for the right moment to pursue such endeavors.

Jordan Knight acknowledged a Broadway production in the vein of Jersey Boys chronicling the band's journey would be very special. "Those are things we've definitely talked about. And we've talked about a biopic, but I think we're all waiting for the right time to do those things,” he explained. “But there are definitely things we've seen other acts do that we think our group would be able to do."

Having a Broadway show like Springsteen on Broadway might be the direction they end up taking. McIntyre, the only member of the group with Broadway experience under his belt, would love to see them dive into a similar show saying,

“Our fans just want to see us. I don’t think they want to see a show about us. They want to see us! Like what Springsteen did, he actually was there every night, that would be amazing.”

As the group navigates the future, while reflecting on what they have achieved, McIntyre acknowledged it hasn't always been easy. "It's not the most talented people that make it. It's the people that show up every day and roll with the punches,” he said. “The rollercoaster of creating something that's important to you and sharing it with the world is a trip. But retirement? Not an option."

With their hearts in the right place, NKOTB continues to thrive, united in their mission to deliver unforgettable performances and keep the spirit of their brotherhood alive.

One More Night

On their second night at Yaamava’ Theater, New Kids on the Block share how the intimate venue enhanced the synergy with their fans.

“We aren’t even having a little bit of a tour,” NKOTB’s Donnie Wahlberg noted, holding back a chuckle while he and the iconic boy band were getting ready for their fan meet and greet on stage hours before their anticipated second sold-out performance at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

Instead of having a summer tour behind them, they chose to do a couple of concerts at Yaamava’

Theater – for a couple of key reasons.

Considering they have performed on countless stages throughout their career, Donnie Wahlberg and Joey McIntyre and the rest of the band reflected on why Yaamava’ served as a canvas for their neverending career dreams to come true, and the New Kids were determined to paint a masterpiece that would leave a lasting impression for everyone in attendance.

McIntyre was first to note Yaamava’ Theater helped put that special touch on their performances saying, “Just sitting here is cool because it's a very big stage, so an act can do their thing just as big as an arena, but it’s also very intimate.”

Wahlberg noted there was still an element of surprise and excitement for them, even after years of performing. He confessed that when they walked into new arenas, they often experience those "wow" moments, taking in the magnitude of the space.

"I definitely had that here…what a beautiful room. When I realize we're going to play in it, it's going to be full of people cheering for us, it's very easy to tap into that feeling of being a kid and not knowing what to expect,” he said. “Realizing we're going to be the ones on stage…It’s what we always wanted to do. So whether it's a tour or a one-stop show or 20,000 people or 5,000 people, there's an energy. And sometimes, a more intimate room like this can be even more exciting than a larger room.”

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 79
Photo provided by 226 Collective Photo by Paris Visone

Eat + Enjoy

Palms Casino Resort adds two new spots to its already robust selection of restaurants with the Laguna Pool House & Kitchen and La Popular CDMX.

In just a few months since opening, Laguna Pool House & Kitchen, which sits on the 6th floor of the 600-room Palms Place tower, has rewritten Las Vegas history. The space – formerly home to the iconic Simon Restaurant and Lounge by late Chef Kerry Simon – had big shoes to fill in the eyes of locals and frequent guests. But Chef Luke Palladino and his Meta Hospitality are leading the poolside enclave into a new era.

Laguna Pool House & Kitchen is the place for meeting friends for a meal, sipping cocktails by the pool, working quietly in the lounge and getting social in the evenings. Offering lunch and dinner on weekdays, and brunch and dinner on weekends, as well as a poolside menu, the natural light-filled oasis promises an experience with every bite and sip.

Palladino first joined forces with San Manuel Entertainment Authority (SMEA) as a consultant to develop new food and beverage concepts at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino and then was recruited over to Palms for the same purpose. When Cynthia Kiser Murphey personally asked him to take on Laguna, it was a request he couldn’t deny.

“She said, ‘you have a compelling culinary vision for this beautiful and unique space’ and the team asked me to bring Laguna back to Palms Place!”

Since Laguna also powers the in-room dining program at Palms Place, Palladino created a menu of global cuisine that would appeal to all palates throughout the day and night.

Menu highlights include pizza, from Margherita (roasted tomato, buffalo mozzarella, basil) to Mediterranean (peppers, mushrooms, red onion, olives, feta cheese), with dough made from scratch; rotisserie chicken (lemon, honey, thyme brine); Creekstone Farms filet mignon and bone-in ribeye and, what Palladino says, is “the most amazing burger.”

“It’s a special blend of brisket, chuck and short rib, which I find are the three meats that really make up different textural and flavor notes from juiciness to richness, marbleization and fat content – they really make the burger wonderful,” Palladino said. “We grill it and use a potato bun, which I love. It has the right meat-to-bun ratio. Then we have a pimento cheese spread, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and house-made pickles, which are sweet and snappy.”

At lunch, catch Palladino eating the Buddha bowl with Tuscan kale, tricolored quinoa, black beans, chickpeas and crispy Brussels sprouts, dressed in yuzu vinaigrette.

And for the most important meal of the day, brunch, he says it’s all about the Hot Cakes. “I guarantee they are the best you’ll ever eat anywhere. They’re not made on a griddle. They’re made in pans. Every single pancake is a la minute. They’re buttery, they’re airy, they have a beautiful texture,” Palladino said.

Even the classic breakfast fare gets a spin, like the Challah French Toast with Frosted Flakes crust, mascarpone cream, dulce de leche and mocha coffee crumble; and the Smoked Salmon Dutch Baby with cucumber, boursin cheese, avocado, red onion, crisp capers and salmon caviar.

The bar program, created by Yaamava’ alum Chris Rosano and best enjoyed at Laguna Bar & Lounge, effortlessly transcends the varied menu, featuring the highest quality ingredients in every glass – freshly made juices, tinctures, mixes and syrups. Top sellers include the Laguna Blue made of coconut rum, blue curaçao, coconut purée, pineapple and fresh lime sour and the Put the Lime in the Watermelon, with tequila, fresh watermelon, lime and hibiscus sour.

Order a few drinks and then settle in for Friday Night Karaoke, with a live band, cocktails, prizes and more. “We now have a live karaoke band every Friday night along with our amazing menu.”

80 | HAMIINAT MAGAZINE
Taste

New to Palms Casino Resort, La Popular CDMX serving authentic Mexican cuisine with an agave-centric cocktail program, is a partnership between Mexico City’s premier restaurant group, Grupo Carolo, and California-based Eureka! Restaurant Group. Las Vegas is their third U.S. location, following Roseville, California and Austin, Texas.

Grupo Carolo Chef Cesar de la Parra from Mexico City passionately said La Popular is all about tacos.

“Tacos are in our DNA as Mexicans – they are our day to day – ’sin maíz no hay país (without corn, there is no country),” de la Parra said. “They’re tasty. They’re delicious. But they are wildly underrated as far as what you can get from a really good taco, or for really good Mexican food. It is probably one of the few foods that can be dated back 2,000 years. We have endemic products like chocolate, vanilla and tomatoes. Then we had a crossover of our technique, ancient foods and flavors that became refined by Europeans. Then we got pork and now we have al pastor. We started getting vegetarian oriented, and now we have every single protein. We have fish from the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The diversity in food and geography has just exploded.”

Staying true to the mission of the original location, de la Parra said you can always count on La Popular to have a fantastic ambience, to be a place where you can party if you want to – with straight up Mexican flavors, no shortcuts.

“You can hit so many different regions of Mexico with a taco concept that embraces different cooking styles – everything from the affordable to the decadent,” he said. “You can have Ribeye Tacos and really good tequila. But you

can also get a vegetarian taco with a beer and have the same experience because it’s very bold and flavorful. That is what La Popular means: for everyone. It means everybody’s welcome. It means everybody’s home.”

Must-try menu items include the Tuna Tostada, Al Pastor Tacos and Ribeye Fajitas. The corn tortillas and salsas are all made fresh.

“Twenty-five percent of the menu was made for Vegas. You can have the perfect ribeye taco. You can have an enchilada or giant prawns from the grill,” de la Parra said. “We’re not selling Mexican foods or drinks. We’re here for the Mexico City experience. That energy is what we’re trying to achieve. It’s a place that you walk in, and you know it ignites you a little bit.”

The agave-centric beverage program, overseen by Trevor Tyler, Vice President of Beverage Operations, features more than 80 labels of tequila and mezcal, sourced from a variety of small-batch distilleries in Oaxaca, Jalisco and Guadalajara and showcases experiential craft cocktails.

Walking through the menu, he hopes guests approach it three ways.

“We want to highlight Mezcal and tequila and then our premium margarita, made with Vulcan from Jalisco; and the Oaxacan Jellyfish that comes in a jellyfish glass with a lemongrass smoke bubble,” Tyler said. “We take a very culinary approach to our beverage program. Prep, character and attention go into these recipes – whether it’s making clarified punches or caviar pearls from passion fruit – really focusing on the small details. The flair and the presentation element, whether it be the glassware, or the garnish, brings a certain level of excitement that matches the Vegas market and being in an exciting place like Palms.”

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 81
“La Popular means: for everyone. It means

The Doobie Brothers kick of f the current leg of their 50 th Anniversary Tour, three years late, at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

Entertainment
Photography by Clay Patrick McBride

In the world of rock ‘n’ roll, few bands have reached the milestone of 50 years together.

The Doobie Brothers, however, have not only achieved this feat, but have left an indelible mark on the music industry and their fans in the process. As they embark on their ongoing 50-ish Anniversary Tour, singer, songwriter and guitarist John McFee reflected on the latest landmarks in his and his bandmates’ careers, and what they would change if they could.

“Time will tell!” McFee said jocosely, but then reverted to a serious tone. “Well, this is a continuation of our 50 th Anniversary Tour, right? Now it’s the 50-ish anniversary. One thing I would change would be that everybody could have seen it with no COVID, no lockdown. Because we were going to start the 50 th Anniversary Tour and then COVID hit, and we couldn’t perform. There was no tour, so by the time we started up, it was past 50 years. That’s the one thing I would change. But of course, we can’t change that.

“Otherwise all of us just feel so fortunate that people have liked the music to begin with, but the fact that people still want to see The Doobie Brothers play is just something we’re thankful for and that I wouldn’t change for the world.”

When asked about the motivation behind their ongoing passion for making music and touring with it, McFee explained the band’s constant quest for improvement and their love for the creative process were the major catalysts to keep the dream they all have been living, for 50-plus years, alive and thriving. The desire to push boundaries and discover new musical horizons keeps them engaged as a band, always striving

The iconic band has played on many stage throughout the world. So, what was it about Yaamava’ Theater that made McFee and his bandmates choose that stage over any other to star t the current leg of their 50 th Anniversary Tour?

“We like to play where our fans can get to the shows without too much travel pain,” McFee said, sharing the band’s perspective on why Yaamava’ Theater was the per f ect venue.

The Doobie Brothers, who recently played in Los Angeles and San Diego, want to connect with fans in di f ferent regions and make the experience more accessible and convenient for their loyal audience.

The allure of the on-proper t y casino added to the band’s excitement, as McFee knew the crowd’s exuberant mood would create an extraordinary energy during their per f ormance. McFee expressed even more enthusiasm for

to be better and explore new ideas for fans new and old. Nevertheless, he remains grateful for the enduring support of their fans, acknowledging that the band’s ability to continue performing and creating music is a privilege they cherish.

“I was a fan of The Doobie Brothers before I joined the band, and one of my standard jokes is, ‘Hey, I’ve been there almost 45 years. I’m still the new guy.’ I always admired The Doobies. And one of the reasons was because they incorporated so many styles. It wasn’t like this one formula of song or arrangement or approach to music. It was multifaceted,” McFee explained. “I always admire that about the band, and I hope that when people hear us for the first time, they can enjoy that. I think it’s important, as musicians, to promote quality and variety and freedom of thought in music as far as styles and approaches. If we can keep people’s minds open to that, they can realize, ‘Hey, this can all work together.’ That’s something I hope they take away and enjoy about the group.”

McFee’s hopes appear to be a reality as the group is clearly at an all-time high point in its career as far as its influence on fans and the music industry, McFee referred to his influences first saying, “I actually grew up playing country music. My idols were Joe Mathis, a multiinstrumentalist, and guys like that. But then The Beatles came along, boy did they open up things in a major way for me. They were an influence. And great jazz guitarists like Howard Roberts. We were also influenced by a group called Moby Grape back in the ‘60s, which was a pioneering San Francisco group. I’m always trying to get

Yaamava’ Theater’s size, saying it was a signi f icant draw for the band. “It’s my favorite sized venue,” he revealed. “It’s not too big, but it’s not jammed up, too small.”

The band had also heard positive feedback about the theater’s recent construction, with special attention given to the acoustics, ensuring an unparalleled concer t experience for its devoted fans. “They’ve learned a few things on what to do to make things acoustically appropriate for concer t s,” he said. “And we’ve heard good things about Yaamava’ Theater.”

The band f irmly believes in delivering its best, acknowledging the privilege of per f orming for its passionate suppor t ers. McFee described the thrill of witnessing the audience’s enjoyment as a power f ul energy boost, driving them to

better on the instruments I play, and I’m inspired by all kinds of stuff.”

The Doobie Brothers continue to create and inspire, leaving an enduring mark on the fabric of rock ‘n’ roll. But when it comes to Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and, of course, John McFee, the blessings they are counting are more of a celebration for us all – as their fivedecade legacy is a testament to their unwavering dedication to the craft of making music.

But McFee remains humble, feeling fortunate to have actually played a role in people’s lives. He finds it challenging to fully grasp the impact the band has made but acknowledges the appreciation and attention they receive from fans and fellow musicians. “It’s hard to conceive of being important or being perceived that way. The way I think of The Beatles or something… but I have encountered people that feel that way. It’s humbling. I just feel like I’ve been lucky. I snuck in.”

While The Doobie Brothers have garnered numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, McFee remains grounded. He reveals a personal goal of completing his long-awaited solo album. “The Holy Grail is to finish my debut album, my first solo project. I’ve been working on it for a while now, and I’m trying to finish that. So that’s a personal goal,” he said. “And when it turns back to the band, who knows what the future holds. We just want to keep making new music, doing good music, and hopefully getting better. We’ve done a lot and we’ve been really lucky, so we’ve just got to count our blessings.”

exceed expectations and create a memorable experience for everyone in attendance. McFee also emphasized fans’ dedication and f inancial investment required to attend concer t s in today’s world. “We better give them everything we have, everything we can!” he declared.

HAMIINAT MAGAZINE | 83

RETREAT FROM THE DEMANDS OF EVERYDAY LIFE AT SERRANO SPA

gift of tranquility

The Serrano Spa at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel is inspired by the Earth’s natural elements to create memories to last a lifetime. It’s the area’s finest destination for hair, nail, makeup and full-body treatments.

MUST BE 21 OR OVER TO ENTER. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. 1 - 800 - GAMBLER

The Last B ite

Ever tried to recreate the Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple dish we’ve all fallen so hard for, only to find it tasted so much better at the restaurant? Maybe there was an ingredient or two you didn’t realize had that much impact but most likely, it was technique. Now Chef Chris Dennis at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino shares his method for making on-the-mark Brussels sprouts so you can finally add them to your holiday table with confidence.

Serves 6

18 oz. Brussels sprouts, halved lengthwise

2 tbsp. vegetable oil or olive oil blend

4 slices bacon, thick cut

2 tbsp. butter

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees

• Cut bacon in ¼ inch strips and sauté in large non-stick pan on medium heat for 4 minutes

• Add shallots and butter, sauté until shallots are golden brown, season with salt and pepper

Recipe
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND MAPLE Photography by Alan de Herrera | Styled by Judean Sakimoto

Acting on our beliefs

Building a brighter future for all

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.

Connect with us at www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov

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