Preschoolers invited family members to the Soboba Sports Complex for a Fall Feast that included entertainment from each of the classes. The event began with a prayer from Soboba Elder Marian Chacon who thanked the Heavenly Father “for all the gifts you have given to us. We ask your blessings on all the children, parents and family here today and especially on all the teachers and helpers who do such a wonderful job teaching our children; and this food we are about to receive.”

Preschoolers performed two songs they learned about scarecrows and falling leaves, which was partially in the Luiseño language. Pre-K students had songs about leaves on the trees as well as one titled, “Hello Mr. Turkey.” Kindergartners delighted the audience with their “Turkey Dance,” followed by the Cha-Cha Slide, a dance they enjoy in class almost every day.

Preschool staff and teachers scooped out turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce and vegetables as guests made their way along the line of hot serving pans filled with great smelling food.

The gymnasium walls were decorated with class projects. Teachers shared 18 reasons why they are thankful for their kindergartners such as “Jensen’s leadership,” “Kai’s dance moves,” “Anthony’s singing,” and “Palkí’s kindness to all.” Preschoolers filled up turkey feathers with what they are most thankful for and Brian Chacon III said, “Making rainbows for Violet and mom and dad and grandma.” Willow Valdez said she is thankful for “Mom and dad loving me.”

Cheyenne Chacon, whose son Anthony Ortega is in kindergarten, said she likes the preschool because it is in the community where they live. “And it teaches the children about our culture,” she said.

Hope Chacon, wife of Brian Chacon Jr., said their daughter Violet Chacon graduated from the preschool and is now in first grade at San Jacinto Valley Academy. Their son Brian is in preschool and really likes his teachers. Anthony and Brian III are great- grandsons of Marian Chacon, who has 10 other great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Palki Herrera is in kindergarten and her mother, Alyssa Salgado said she likes the preschool because it is very family oriented. “They have events like this where we can all come together,” said Alyssa, whose son Gabriel Herrera graduated last school year. “Also, I got to go to school here so my kids get to experience what I did.”

Soboba Elder Alice Helms enjoyed the morning with her great-grandson Jonathan Helms Jr., 5. His parents, Jonathan Sr. and Evelyn said they like the school because they do a lot of things revolving around culture, like teaching the children their (Luiseño) language.

In the weeks leading up to the Fall Feast, the children enjoyed having Carrie Garcia share acorn games and acorn tops with them. Bird dancing and singing was offered every Friday, when students were encouraged to wear their bird skirts and ribbon shirts. On Nov. 18, Tashina Miranda Ornelas, Culture Department Coordinator/Instructor at Noli, visited to help the kids make acorn necklaces. Soboba Tribal Member Tekla Diaz, who teaches a Fancy Shawl dance class for the community twice a month, put on a demonstration for the students. Preschool Director Lenora “Ponie” Mojado said it was like a mini-pow wow and everyone loved it. She added that Soboba’s Tribal Council Secretary Monica Herrera comes to the school every other week to work with the students on proper pronunciation of words in their native language.

A potluck “Honoring Our Elders” was held at noon at the Noli campus with cultural sharing through traditional songs and dances. A combined lunch for middle and high school students allowed all to participate at the same time.

Mrs. Ornelas welcomed everyone to the annual event. “On behalf of all students and staff, I want to personally thank all of our Soboba Elders first for always supporting our students and student programs here at Noli. I’d like to say thank you to all of our Elders who have shared in the past and continue to share their experiences and cultural knowledge and traditions with us here at the school. And I would also like to thank all the elders who are here with us today to continue this tradition of sharing song, dance and food together. And lastly, I would like to honor and thank our Elder relations who are not able to be present with us here today but who still remain here with us in spirit and in memory.”

She then introduced Soboba Tribal Member Damon Miranda who opened the event with prayer, followed by some bird songs. Elders were then invited to be served first, followed by the community, as is customary.

Helping to plate the meals of turkey, dressing, potatoes and more were Noli staff members Tanya Rivera, Seandee Brown and Camille Diaz. They planned on serving 200 meals, half of which were for students. An entire table dedicated to desserts from pumpkin and pecan pies to cookies and chocolate covered strawberries was enough to satisfy everyone’s appetite.

The Pechanga Singers and Dancers invited students to join them. The Desert Cahuilla Singers and Dancers from Torres Martinez included some of Ornelas’ family members, which was an added treat.

The Elders potluck had been held for many years but was discontinued for a while. Ornelas said she wanted to revitalize it so the students could have a connection to the generations that came before them and started holding it again in 2023.

Leading up to this year’s event, students had been shown portions of Soboba’s heritage video which includes first-person remembrances from Elders about what things used to be like on the reservation when they were growing up. Several came to the school to talk to the students in person and answer any questions they had about the past after viewing the video.

“Some of the Elders came to the classes, sharing their experiences of life on the reservation; what life was like prior to gaming,” Ornelas said. “Many of the students were shocked to hear the Elders share their stories and it was eye opening for them to compare their lives to how they live today; it helps them appreciate what they have now.”

Caroline Post, mother of Noli Principal Donovan Post, was one of the guest speakers and recalled when you could buy a hamburger, fries and a drink for 40 cents. He said the stories of their lives at Soboba were not negative, just honest. Such as sharing how there was a time when they had to have water trucked in from the city of San Jacinto and now there are 15 or so wells and aquifers on the reservation.

He said, “It’s so great having the Elders come by and talk to the kids and have them listen and be able to ask questions. Many from that generation are gone so it’s important to hear their stories now. There has been so much change and so much progress has been made in the past 25 years. These kids today never grew up needing a lot. I think it’s important for them to hear the stories from when there wasn’t much here to learn what they came from.”

He said the students always enjoy having the bird singers visit and a combined lunch is rare. “It’s nice to have everybody together,” Post said.

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This year, MSJC also celebrates its 23rd anniversary as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Since earning this designation in 2001, the college has been committed to serving a vibrant community, with 52% of its students identifying as Hispanic—well above the 25% threshold required for HSI status. This milestone highlights MSJC’s ongoing commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

“Latine Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and significant contributions of the Latine community,” said Dr. Roger Schultz, MSJC President/Superintendent. “By embracing evidence-based practices and focusing on the unique needs of our Latino students, we contribute to a stronger, more equitable future for all. Our goal is to create a campus where every student, regardless of background, can thrive. By doing so, we do not just advance Latino student success—we enhance the educational experience for everyone.”

MSJC’s mission statement proudly states, “As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, we serve a diverse student population from various identities, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, life experiences, abilities, and educational needs that represent our community. MSJC is committed to learning and achievement through inclusive and culturally affirming environments that celebrate student voices and create space for self-exploration and growth.” Latine Heritage Month provides a unique opportunity to highlight this commitment.

MSJC will host various events throughout the month, including cultural showcases, educational panels, and community engagement activities, all designed to celebrate the cultural heritage and academic achievements of its Hispanic students and the broader community.

For more information about MSJC’s Latine Heritage Month events, please visit https://msjc.edu/hsi/latine-heritage-month.html.

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Held this year at San Diego State University, DTI’s mission is to challenge Native youth to D.R.E.A.M., which is an acronym for Dedication, Responsibility, Education, Attitude, Motivation. The youth conference was started in 2007 by several Southern California Tribes and Tribal organizations. The dream began when local youth councils planned to organize a conference specifically for Southern California Native youth. After several planning meetings, the youth voted on a conference name and agreed to host the first ever Southern California Native Youth Conference on the Soboba Indian Reservation at Noli Indian School and the Sports Complex. The success of this conference marked the beginning of the Dream the Impossible Youth Conference becoming an annual event. Today there are more than 35 Tribes, Tribal organizations, and universities that contribute to the DTI Youth Conference.

Soboba Tribal TANF Program Regional Prevention Manager Harold Arres said he enjoyed listening to keynote speaker Assemblymember James Ramos, who talked about the resiliency of the Native people. Program Specialist Mayra Campos said a highlight to her was the number of youths that gathered for the event.

“This was my first year attending and I was amazed at all the different groups that attended from various areas. Everyone came together to participate and enjoy the event,” she said.

Ten breakout sessions were repeated throughout the day to provide students with the opportunity to attend three of their choosing. A variety of subjects were covered, including MMA is Not Just a Sport; Culture, Tribal Law, & Our Community Values; Stay Rooted in Indigenous Culture through Farming; and The Future of Native Filmmaking.

TANF member Reese Elliott, 16, learned about the difference between Western law and Indian Country law in a session facilitated by Dwight K. Lomayesva, Executive Director and co-founder of the American Indian Recruitment (AIR) programs that focus on serving underprivileged American Indians in education.

“My favorite part was being able to spend time with my friends and family and the Men’s Fancy and other dances,” said Reese, who also attended the filmmaking and Native Foods sessions. “What impressed me the most (about the SDSU campus) was the architectural design of the buildings. It really fascinated me.”

Zachary Guacheno also attended the Native Foods and Tribal Law sessions and learned that many college campuses have programs designed for Native American students. He also enjoyed the session on MMA, hosted by Eddie and the Native Youth Foundation. They explained how MMA offers a unique blend of physical, mental and emotional benefits such as boosting confidence and reducing stress.

“I was impressed with how big the campus is and I like how it’s close to the beach,” Zachary, 17, said. He also enjoyed the organized cultural activities, games and College Fair offered during the lunch break from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Andrew Velazquez attended sessions that taught him more about filmmaking, tribal law and Native foods. The latter was presented by Blossom Maciel who has been teaching the art of traditional basketweaving and Native plant use for the past 19 years. She is committed to learning, teaching and passing on her rich cultural heritage to her family and community.

Andrew said he learned much about moviemaking by attending “The Future of Native Filmmaking” presented by Vision Maker Media, whose mission is empowering and engaging Native people to share stories. VMM introduced participants to the power of storytelling and filmmaking for Native communities. Andrew hopes to use the knowledge he gained in the future. “My favorite part was that we had multiple and actual movie supplies in front of us,” the 16-year-old said.

After the all-day conference, the group headed back home. For more information, please visit https://dticonference.org.

Campos said, “I hope the kids were able to accept the overall message of the conference. DTI is all about believing in yourself and aspiring to do great things. It is important for the Native youth to have confidence and self-love in order to dream big.”

Arres added, “I hope that the youth learned that anything is attainable in life.”

On May 5, TANF members were invited to an exclusive screening of the documentary “Pá’Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story” at the Soboba Tribal TANF center in Riverside. It was presented by the film’s creators and co-directors Blossom Maciel and Rosy Aranda.

Pá’Čapa is Cahuilla for “where the water bends,” which can be seen along the three-mile recreational trail that looks down on the bending Santa Ana River. The site attracts upward of 1,000 visitors a day. Monuments and plaques on the mountain focus on colonial history. Through community engagement with Tribal communities, this documentary seeks to present the voices of cultural bearers to highlight how this is a sacred Native place.

Aranda and Maciel introduced the film by telling the youth a little about the process of how it came to be. “We encouraged them to continue to visit Pá’Čapa because it is a place where our ancestors were,” Aranda said.

Soboba’s Kimani Sanchez, 15, said from the film she learned that some roads that we drive on were once used by Native Americans to do trades.

After the screening, the group hiked Mt. Rubidoux, joined by the filmmakers. Aranda said it was a great feeling having the youth up there.

This was Kimani’s first visit to the mountain and she said there was a lot to see and it was beautiful. “The best part was making it to the top and being able to see little animals and an amazing view,” she said. “I plan to share the information I learned with my parents and my cousins who were not able to go on the hike.”

Anthony Salgado, 18, is from the Cahuilla Band of Indians and was surprised to learn that the people from Pá’Čapa were mountain Cahuilla. “Climbing was the best part,” he said about making his first hike there.

Kevin Estanislao from Soboba discovered from the film that Native Americans were the first residents of Riverside and plans to share all he learned with his friends. “I liked the scenery,” the 14-year-old said about the hike. “The best part was climbing the steps to the cross.”

May 5 was also the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. “It was a beautiful day for us to do that ‘walk of reverence’ on MMIW day. We all had shirts with the red handprint as we made our way to the summit,” Aranda said. “Stopping to discuss different parts of the mountain like the dynamite explosions in the rocks and seeing Big Spring Rancheria from above were a few highlights.”

The next opportunity for the public to view “Pá’Čapa: A Mt. Rubidoux Story” will be Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when it will be playing on a loop at the Ya’i Heki’ Regional Indian Museum at Lake Perris, 17801 Lake Perris Dr. in Perris.

“We feel there is a need to share this documentary locally so concentrating on schools, colleges, universities and museums in the surrounding area is our focus. We have had a positive response from everyone who has seen it; the support has been humbling,” Aranda said. “We know how important this piece of Riverside history is and spreading awareness is the start of a conversation that helps bring change.”

For more information, please email abbyroro63@yahoo.com and blossom_maciel@yahoo.com or visit Instagram at @pa.capa documentary, @earthyblossom, @nichil.rosy and @motherearthclan.

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