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PECHANGA INDIAN RESERVATION: Nearly 1,200 acres of federal land returned to Pechanga tribe
Issa's 4-year effort to transfer land culminates with president's signature
By NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | ∞
PECHANGA INDIAN RESERVATION ---- After four years of trying to get federal land transferred to the Pechanga tribe, U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa's legislation to hand over 1,178 acres was signed into law by President George Bush this week.
The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act will take land in Riverside and San Diego counties out of the stewardship of the federal Bureau of Land Management and put it into a land trust for the tribe.
"This marks the return of an area with deep cultural and historic significance to the Pechanga people," Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro said in a statement Wednesday. "We're looking forward to once again taking responsibility for the environmental stewardship of these lands."
The legislation by Issa, R-Vista, is explicit about how the land can and cannot be used. The transferred federal property must be preserved as open space. No roads, other than for maintenance, may be constructed. The bill also prohibits buildings or gambling on the transferred land.
The Bureau of Land Management manages 261.8 million acres primarily in 12 western states. Issa's bill will take three separate parcels out of the bureau's control and add them to the reservation's existing 5,500 acres.
In the late 19th century, the parcels provided refuge for the Pechanga after they were driven off land they occupied in Temecula Valley, according to the tribe's Web site. A group of ranchers petitioned the state to remove Indians from Temecula Valley, which was then part of San Diego County, and, in 1875, the county sheriff led a posse to evict the Indians from the valley and force them into the hills south of Temecula Creek, the Web site states.
"These lands provided our ancestors with refuge for almost a decade after being evicted from their homelands in 1875," Macarro stated. "Literally, this place bonded and saved the Pechanga people after the eviction. Words cannot express how culturally and historically significant this transfer is to the Pechanga people."
The largest parcel is a 971-acre area just west of the existing reservation. The rugged land is covered with a dense mix of oak woodlands, chaparral and coastal sage scrub. The slopes throughout the parcel are steep and eroded.
A second 200-acre area to the northeast of the reservation has also been identified as surplus land by the Bureau of Land Management. The last parcel the tribe would get is 20 acres in an isolated area just south of Sun City that contains burial sites of much significance to the tribe, its leaders say.
Of the total, about 13 acres will remain outside the tribe's control because they are power line easements.
The first version of the land transfer bill was introduced in November 2004, according to Frederick Hill, Issa's press secretary. The final version of the bill, H.R. 2963, was approved with unanimous consent in both the House and the Senate. The president signed the legislation Tuesday.
In November 2005, the tribe entered into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management that states the Pechanga would manage the lands for conservation purposes and paved the way for the legislation.
"This legislation was in the interest of both preserving the land and taking away a burden from the American taxpayers," Hill said. "This puts culturally significant land in the hand of those who have the financial resources to preserve it."
Hill said during the years since the proposal was first introduced, it has been refined, and the final version of the bill was able to address the needs and questions of concerned agencies.
The city of Temecula was one of the agencies with concerns. City officials feared the tribe could use the land for further development with casinos or other uses that would further burden the region's roads and utilities.
Temecula City Manager Shawn Nelson penned a letter to Issa in May stressing that "it is of paramount importance to the City that these areas be preserved only as open space with absolutely no development that would promote, in any way, resort operations."
Nelson said Thursday those concerns were addressed and the city supported the approved legislation.
"(House Resolution) 2963 is very consistent with the City Council's vision of protecting and preserving open space," Nelson said. "The transferred land may only be used for the protection, preservation and maintenance of archaeological, cultural, and wildlife resources. We strongly support this land transfer and congratulate the Pechanga Tribe for a job well done."
Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.
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c wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:31 PM:all this from the guy who would not vote for rescue and reform...what so they can add more slot machines. how many comped room did issa get for this.
Question for Pechanga wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:47 PM:Why haven't Pechanga tribe vocally opposed the development of a Gravel Pit adjacent to their tribal lands and adjacent to theirmost rich cultural history? Many residents in Temecula are confused by their loud silence. While they have not endorsed the pit, many of us expected them to oppose it. I thought it would be appropriate to put this comment here since I would like someone from Pechanga to read this. I hope they aren't being bought out.
To C wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:38 AM:Your reading & comprehension skills are apparently very, very low. Get a grown-up, and have them read the article to you. There is no building on the lands that were given, so, your un-informed comment about slot machines wreaks of someone with little going for them.
Preservationist wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:23 AM:At present it appears that the City of Temecula is opposed to the alley, and if the city leaders hold to that, then the Pechenga people won't need to involve themselves in what would be a Temecula matter. Perhaps, as long as our civic leaders stand behind the "no quarry" position, the Pechenga people have no need to get involved in a Temecula matter.
confused wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:23 AM:Why do we have to continue giving to them because of what was done in the past??? This is a bunch of bs they dont need any of this
To Confused wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:46 AM:That is a good name for you; Confused. Giving to them? Are you kidding me? There are some woods/hills that no one can build on, why does it matter so much to you who holds the deed? And "need," why do you need that land? Let me guess, you trust your local government officials more? Keep your head in the sand, rose-colored glasses on, and continue to NOT read history books.
That wasnt long wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:49 AM:It didn't take too long for the racist Indian haters to come out (that's YOU confused).
"Them" and "they" gave you away as a bigot. What do you mean "we have to give them" land? It was Federal land, not yours. The only land you own is that potted plant of dirt in your studio apartment.
T C and Confused wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:24 AM:Did either of you make it past the 7th grade? There's no excuse for that kind of ignorance. You've shamed your parents. Gahhh.
Bo wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:40 AM:Congratulations to the Pechanga tribe. I wish the government could give the Temecula valley back to the tribe too!
c wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:46 AM:To "To C" I don't need anybody to read this article to me again. I have already lined my cat box with it. Fact this just another one of Issa's bad deals. This guy need to stepdown
c wrote on Oct 17, 2008 1:13 PM:eye am knot vary good At riting or reeding. pleese listen too the vary important thengs eye have two say and rite in my blogs postings, butt pay know atentioN to my grammer, riting, or overal speling skils.
Go Bo wrote on Oct 17, 2008 1:14 PM:I agree with Bo. This would be a place I would want to visit...if none of US were here.
good wrote on Oct 17, 2008 1:24 PM:the Indians were here first and they were ran over by the white man. I am glad that they are getting some of there land back.
between wrote on Oct 17, 2008 2:02 PM:This is a good start! Now if the Feds could give the 84%+/- Fed owned Nevada territory and all the other percentages of the other States back to the States it would be a great return to the citizens.
It always suprises me wrote on Oct 17, 2008 2:29 PM:...how people think of this area being Temecula Valley, and that only the Pechanga Indians lived here.
There were other Luiseno tribes in this area.
The Payomik Tribe settled in what is now Murrieta...remember that was the Temecula Land Grant, and the Toatwi Tribe hailed from what is now French Valley.
The Pauba Land Grant and the Little Temecula Land Grant, ("Little" because of the small amount of acres involved in the land grant.)are what the City of Temecula is in acctuallity.
I'm very happy for the Pechangas.
Dont mean to stir the pot BUT wrote on Oct 17, 2008 2:37 PM:Wouldn't it be nice if the casino had it's own enterance off the Freeway, that's what that property backs up to...it would sure save on the traffic issues.
Why doesn't the city want that to happen? Why aren't they asking the government to help with this, instead of the enviornmental issue?
I don't get it.
To Stir the Pot wrote on Oct 17, 2008 4:53 PM:How do you know the city isn't asking for/working on new freeway access? Do they always consult you when they are working on something?
Stir the pot wrote on Oct 17, 2008 5:13 PM:If there was a direct route to Pechange that bypassed Temecula, guess what? No revenue for Temecula! DUH! Didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. I hope Pechanga does whatever it wants to with THEIR land. Temecula has no business in their affairs. Pechanga should adopt Temecula's mantra: Build, build, build.
to 453 wrote on Oct 17, 2008 6:42 PM:Why would the city consult any of it's citizens before doing everything that helps them and their contributors.
RE Stir the Pot wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:24 PM:The comment above yours:"Why doesn't the city want that to happen?"
Was derived from a previous articule in this paper, when Shawn was saying they wanted to make sure the tribe didn't attempt to build a freeway exit...or something to that extent.
And your comment...LOL...Do they always consult you when they are working on something?...WHY~ YES, They Do!...Don't they consult you TOO???? LOL.
Com'on, LOL! Just remember those who dish it out, had better learn to...LOL
Preservationist. wrote on Oct 18, 2008 8:03 AM:Why Robert, you are fantastic at presenting insensitive racial stereotypes. Do Stephen Fetchit and a Chinese laundryman next.
Jelousy and greed wrote on Oct 19, 2008 2:36 AM:It is entertaining to see how many people spend so much time cat fighting about something that doesnt have anything to do with them directly.....if you are affected so much by what is happening then voice it somewhere it might count or make a difference...lol
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