Videos on social media show heavily armed police  arresting “water protectors” today; San Diego rally planned Oct. 30

Update Oct. 7, 2016: Hear our interview on KNSJ Radio with Bobby Wallace by clicking the audio link

By Miriam Raftery

September 28,2016 (San Diego)—“We must, we will, bring more supplies. Our number one goal is to help the people,”  Barona tribal member Bobby Wallace told East County Magazine.

Winter will soon bring bitter cold to the Standing Rock Sioux encampment in Cannnonball,North Dakota, where “hundreds of tribes” have sent thousands of people camp out and take a stand against the Dakota access oil pipeline.  Wallace has been organizing relief supplies gathered by local tribes to support  the effort.

Speaking last week at an Activist San Diego meeting in San Diego,  Wallace told of the reactions when he arrived with the first caravan of supplies for the three camps.”Men, people, had tears in their eyes.  People hugged us…just knowing people far away cared.”

East County News Service

September 10, 2016 (El Cajon) – Kristin Kjaero sent in these colorful shots of the 27th annual Sycuan Pow-wow.  The pow-wow continues through Sunday at 5459 Sycuan Road on the Sycuan reservation in El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

Update Sept. 6, 2016 3 p.m.:  Federal Judge James Boasberg in Washington D.C. today issued a temporary restraining order in response to the tribe's emergency request to halt machines destroying recently identified sacred sites: "The Court ORDERS that no construction activity on the DAPL may take place between Highway 1806 and 20 miles to the east of Lake Oahe. Construction activity to the west of Highway 1806 may proceed."

September 6, 2016 (San Diego) – Thousands of Native Americans with support from hundreds of tribes have converged  in  North Dakota, seeking to protect their water,  lands and ancestors’ remains from the Dakota Access Pipeline, also known as the Bakken pipeline. (#NoDAPL) The pipeline would transport oil from fracking from North Dakota to Illinois, passing over major waterways including the Missouri and Mississippi  rivers that are the lifeblood for tribes in several states.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has filed a request for an injunction to halt construction, after discovering sacred artifacts at the site, and a court decision is expected this week. But the pipeline owner, Energy Transfer Partners, defiantly bulldozed a two-mile-long by 150-feet-wide swath over Labor Day weekend, despite having no easement approved yet by the Army Corps of Engineers.

On Saturday,  desperate to halt the devastation until a Judge could weigh in, tribal members marched at the site, with at least one chaining himself to earth-moving equipment.  A private contractor hired by the pipeline owner then attacked the Native Americans with pepper spray and with dogs including pit bulls,  leaving tribal members bloodied and outraged.

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

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

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

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

By Miriam Raftery

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

Saginaw Grant among stars in remake of 1909 film

East County News Service

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

By Miriam Raftery

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

By Leon Thompson

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

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

By Leon Thompson, Tribal Beat reporter

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

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

Card announced during opening series

Press Release

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

East County News Service

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

By Liz Alper

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

By Miriam Raftery

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

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

East County News Service

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

Lunch is included, so bring your appetite!