San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

As People of the Pines, we celebrate #LoveATreeDay by honoring the tall pines standing atop the San Bernardino Mountains, as well as the oaks and pinions that continually sustain our culture from the time of creation to this very day. - San Manuel Business Committee #CreationStory #PeopleOfThePines #SMBMI #NativePride

Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day. On this day, we pay tribute to the brave local, state and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. #PeaceOfficersMemorialDay #PeaceOfficer #SMBMI

On behalf of the Tribe, we hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July! -San Manuel Business Committee #SMBMI #4thOfJuly #IndependenceDay #Happy4thOfJuly #Happt4th

Firefighter Jordan Manu’atu is our July #FirefighterOfTheMonth! Manu’atu started at San Manuel Casino in 2010 in the maintenance department as a machine operator where he quickly saw all the opportunities that were available and took advantage of them. He took EMT courses, went through the Crafton Hills College Fire Academy and eventually got hired on with SMFD in 2015. He is currently an acting engineer and hopes to be promoted to an Firefighter Engineer in the future. #SMBMI #SMFD #Firefighter #FirstResponder

The first Spanish explorers of the area identified our ancestors as the Serrano people, the Spanish term for highlander. Numerous terms have been used in many languages to describe our people. We use the word Maara’yam, the People of Maara’, to describe all peoples known today as Serrano. The name Yuhaaviatam, or People of the Pines, refers to the Serrano clan of our progenitor, Santos Manuel. As a result of colonization, our Tribe is modernly known as the San Manuel Ba...nd of Mission Indians. Read more about the Tribe’s name at sanmanuel-nsn.gov. #SMBMI #SMBMIHistory #OurName #NativeHistory #NativePride

On 2/23, Officer Torres, Officer Wilson, Sgt. Johnston and Sgt. Evans assisted in giving life-sustaining treatment to a casino guest who was on the ground and not breathing. While on scene they used a AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to stabilize heartbeat before medical aid arrives. The SMFD arrived on scene shortly after and assumed medical control of the scene. The casino guest was then transported to the hospital for further treatment. With the DPS Officers’ quick thinking and actions, they aided in saving this guest’s life. We are currently recruiting for Public Safety Officers. Apply now at sanmanuelcareers.com. #DPS #SMBMI #PublicSafety #FirstResponders #SMFD

High in the San Bernardino mountains at Yuhaaviat, an area of pine trees near present day Big Bear Lake, Küktac our Creator laid dying. When Küktac died, the people began to mourn and their grief turned into pine trees, which enriched the land with vegetation and animals, allowing for future generations to thrive. The people who lived at Yuhaaviat became known as the Yuhaaviatam, or People of the Pines. Read more about the Tribe’s creation story at sanmanuel-nsn.gov.... #SMBMI #SMBMIHistory #CreationStory #NativeHistory #NativePride

SMBMI recently held a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected members of the Business Committee. An elected seven-member body that oversees our Tribe’s day-to-day operations, including economic ventures, enforces bylaws and policies, protects business interests, and works to preserve the sovereignty of our Tribe. Every member is elected by the General Council and serves two-year terms. Read more about the Business Committee and our Tribe at sanmanuel-nsn.gov #SMBMI #BusiniessCommittee #TribalCourt #NativePride

Father’s Day fills our heart with appreciation as we honor our fathers, grandfathers and ancestors for safeguarding and nurturing our Tribal family. Today we stand as sons and daughters of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians because of men like Santos Manuel. Our Tribe’s namesake who lead our us through militia raids in the 1860s and later his son Tom Manuel who helped establish our fledgling community here on the San Manuel Reservation. -San Manuel Business Committee... #SMBMI #FathersDay #HappyFathersDay #Native #Tribal

Today we celebrate #Juneteenth and take the time to reflect why this day is so significant. Despite being denied basic human rights throughout history, generations of African Americans were inspired to be free. As Americans, we must work together on racial equality and freedom for all.... - San Manuel Business Committee #SMBMI #FreedomDay

Important health & safety update from San Manuel Casino.

Today is #WorldBloodDonorDay to honor all people who literally give of themselves for the sake of others. Over the course of the pandemic our Tribe held eight blood drives to ensure that life giving blood will be there for those who need it. Consider giving blood today. Visit our partners at American Red Cross and LifeStream. ... - San Manuel Business Committee #SMBMI #Donate #BloodDonation #AmericanRedCross #LifeStream Read more on the Tribe's philanthropic efforts at sanmanuelcares.org.

Men’s health education deserves attention and June serves as the time to bring these issues of health and wellness front and center. We understand the intrinsic link between physical and mental health. With broader community issues such as homelessness, the Tribe supports organizations like Mary’s Mercy Center in building Mary’s Village which offers a place for unsheltered men to find sanctuary to reclaim their physical and mental health. We wish you wisdom to see your path t...o a healthier future. -San Manuel Business Committee #SMBMI #MentsHealthMonth #MensHealthEducationAndAwareness

Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Ballester has been serving SMFD since 2018 and is our June #FirefighterOfTheMonth! Mike started his career in San Diego County but was drawn to SMFD because of the versitlity the department offers. Mike enjoys and being able to serve on the reservation and the community surrounding it. #SMBMI #SMFD #Firefighter #FirstResponder

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of everyone around the world, but San Manuel wants to remind everyone that the entire month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Amongst many internal fundraising initiatives to aid breast cancer awareness and research, the tribe has just donated $100,000 to Susan G. Komen Inland Empire and The Pink Ribbon Place Riverside. Also, we are forever grateful for our wonderful team members who have also donated over $11,000 to the cause. Together we fight, together we win. #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth

The Berry Creek Rancheria Tribe lost 16 homes in the Northern California wildfires, leaving 41 tribal citizens displaced. We’d like to share, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians amassed together to provide a gift to Berry Creek Rancheria to assist their tribe in providing essential recovery needs to the families who lost their home. #NativePride #NativeAmerican

As the California wildfires have blazed through our communities, they have also catastrophically devastated parts of Indian Country. Our brothers and sisters in The Yurok Tribe have been severely impacted by the wildfires in Northern California. SMBMI is proud to assist the Yuroks with a donation to purchase 30 beds, 400 air purifiers, as well as 120 radios that can be used to alert their community members who do not have cell phone service or landlines. #NativePride

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that Native American women in Tribal communities are 10 times more likely to go missing and be murdered compared to the average American. Our Tribal community is pleased to express our sincere gratitude to President Trump and the White House for signing Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act into law on October 10. These laws will benefit victims, families and communities of Murdered Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. Savanna’s... Act requires DOJ to develop and implement protocols to directly address this issue, while the Not Invisible Act requires the DOJ to establish a joint commission on violent crimes against the Native American community. Together, we lift our voices and allow ourselves to be heard. As we continue to combat crimes against our brothers and sisters, we also want to recognize all of the Murdered, Missing Indigenous Women and Girls, victims who will never be forgotten. Read more from the White House here: https://bit.ly/36XP7cb

On the third year since the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County and a handful of other jurisdictions across the United States enacted a resolution to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, our Tribe reflects and honors Native American heritage, our culture and fruitful history. On the second Monday each October, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians stands with Indian Country and the Nation to lift not only our spirits, but to also come together to acknowledge the path our ancestors created for us. We are grateful to endure positive change and celebrate the symbolic correction to the historical narrative by honoring today as Indigenous Peoples Day. #NativePride #NativeAmerican #IndigenousPeoplesDay

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie broke ground on the first American Indian Veterans Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery on Friday, Sept. 25. This is VA’s first major monument honoring American Indian, Alaska Native and Pacific Islander Veterans. The memorial at Riverside National Cemetery consists of a plaza and walkway centered on The Gift, a twice life-sized bronze statue representing an American Indian. Construction on the memorial is expected to be completed in the next couple of years. Learn more here on Newsy: https://www.newsy.com//native-american-vets-to-be-honored/

Four young leaders from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians were honored with 30 Under 30 awards presented by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes last Saturday, which recognizes the achievements of 30 citizens under the age of 30, that live or work in the 47th Assembly District. Presley Calderon (seventh grade), Raven Casas (ninth grade), Destiny Duro (eleventh grade), and Annabella Hernandez (eighth grade) were awarded for their public advocacy and education efforts abou...t Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The four young leaders testified before the California Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs last year regarding crimes against Native women and the small number of suspects that are prosecuted for committing these crimes. Their testimony before the Assembly Select Committee helped to build momentum for the introduction of AB 3099 by Assembly Member James Ramos (AD 40) to provide for greater coordination among tribal and state agencies to protect Native women from crimes. AB 3099 was signed into law on September 25. #MMIWG #NativePride #30Under30

Today was to be the first day of the San Manuel Pow Wow. As we reflect on this lost year for the Pow Wow, we pause to remember one of the guiding elders at the heart of the celebration, Charlie Tailfeathers, our Master of Ceremonies (Northern). Charlie’s passing was very tough for the Pow Wow Committee, but he leaves with us great valuable teachings and memories. Charlie held our circle together for many years by encouraging us to practice love, caring, respect and honor to all who attend Pow Wow. We invite you to hear Charlie’s words about the importance of ceremony on the trail of life in hopes that like us, you draw strength and comfort from traditional wisdom to help guide you until we see you next year. Click the video to learn more about Charlie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUBaFnS-SLE&feature=youtu.be

On California Native American Day, September 25, we honored the noble contributions of American Indian servicemen and women at the groundbreaking for the American Indian Veterans Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery. This is the first major monument at any national cemetery that recognizes the contributions of American Indians, Alaskan Native and Pacific Islander veterans in our military. The memorial is expected to be completed in the next couple of years, an official date has not been set. Click the video to learn more!

Wash your hands AND masks to stop the spread of COVID-19.

California is recognized for its vast diversity, beginning with its first people. September 25th is California Native American Day, a day to celebrate the many Tribes that call California home. In this video, Tribal Secretary Johnny Hernandez, Jr. shares San Manuel’s efforts to commemorate this holiday as a time for learning and cultural sharing.

Since 1998, San Manuel has held a week-long educational initiative sponsored by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and coordinated by Assemblymember James C. Ramos at CSUSB in celebration of California Native American Day. Student field-trips and a celebration on Friday educated thousands of fourth grade students, teachers and the public about California’s first people through hands on learning, creation, edutainment and Native music. This year, in response to keeping our communities safe, amid COVID-19, we found another way to remain engaged and spread awareness of Native culture and heritage. Click the video to learn more!

Since 1998, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has held a week-long event at CSUSB in celebration of California Native American Day. As health and safety of our entire community is a top priority, the annual CNAD Evening Celebration has been cancelled this year. We look forward to seeing you there next year! We invite you to join the California Tribal Chairpersons Association on September 23 & 24 from 6:00pm-8:00pm for a CNAD broadcast celebration and on September 25 from 10:00am-noon for a Facebook LIVE event on the California Native American Day Facebook page featuring faces from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Link: https://www.facebook.com/NativeAmericanDay/ #CNAD