Nearly 1,000 people gathered in the area to celebrate Indigenous pride and resilience. The parade began at 10 a.m. on the Capitol Mall, a major street and landscaped parkway in downtown Sacramento that connects West Sacramento to the California State Capitol. The iconic boulevard serves as a gateway to the downtown area and a popular venue for public events.

Five STTP youth spent three days in Sacramento and enjoyed being part of the parade. Agustin Salgado and Christopher Lagunas carried the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians flag. Nayeli Brittian, Aniyah Brittian, and Shania Guacheno joined many other Native women in bird dancing.

Agustin, 16, from Soboba, said he liked walking with the flag along the parade route filled with enthusiastic spectators. Nayeli, 12, also of Soboba, said what she enjoyed most was seeing everyone and their different cultures. She plans to spend time with family and friends for the remainder of Native American Heritage Month.

“I enjoyed seeing everyone coming out to celebrate,” said 15-year-old Christopher, from the Cahuilla Band of Indians. “This month, I’m taking part in more cultural events, learning more about Native American culture than mine, and supporting Native artists and creators.”

Soboba’s Aniyah and Shania, both 14, liked bird dancing with others along the parade route.

The annual parade is hosted by the California Legislative Native American Caucus to celebrate the contributions, achievements, cultural diversity and impact of California’s First People. Assemblymember James C. Ramo, a lifelong resident of the San Manuel Indian Reservation and member of the Serrano/Cahuilla tribe, became the first California Native American state lawmaker in 2018, and serves as Caucus Chair. Organizers say the annual event is more than a celebration, it’s also a time for reflection and education about injustices faced by Native communities throughout history.

At the end of the hour-long, half-mile parade route there were cultural performances and free food at the Capitol West steps. STTP Regional Prevention Manager Harold Arres said, “Our youth also had the opportunity to participate in cultural booths and explore the numerous resource tables.”

Along with Native American Heritage Month activities planned at the Soboba site, Arres said youth also attended the 82^nd annual NCAI (National Congress of American Indians) convention and marketplace in Seattle.

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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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She is grateful to have many family members involved with set up, prepping food, cooking and cashiering. “My sons Jesse, Charles and Mingo really know every part of the business, along with their wives Jennifer and Dreena,” Resvaloso said. “The grandchildren are also involved. Bella, Sofia, Ushla, Evie, Waniicha, Domingo, Benny, Johnathan and Ano help fill the orders, stock and cashier.”

With lots of repeat customers for their Indian tacos, popovers, burritos, regular tacos, frybread and fresh salsa, having the whole family help works out very well.

But the company is about so much more than delicious food. “If a person needs help raising money for uniforms, a funeral, lights for their church, or any type of fundraiser, we are always willing to help out,” Resvaloso said. “If someone is sick, I will make chicken soup with frybread and drop it off at their house.”

They also regularly give back to the community by teaching cooking classes. H.A.L.O. was a special guest at a recent Soboba TANF workshop during November’s Native American Heritage Month events. Resvaloso recently taught a class on how to cook popovers in Palm Springs, hosted by the Agua Caliente Cultural Preservation Committee.

“I started out cooking for funerals and events at a young age with Helen Jose from Torres Martinez Reservation,” she said. “She instilled in me that you are always to do for all people and respect your elders. It’s something that I have passed down to my family.”

Resvaloso, who has been the Assistant Store Manager at Roadrunner Express since July 2023, works there Monday through Friday. “We mostly cook on the weekends for events throughout the community,” she said.

Prior to the opening of the convenience store and gas station, she worked in Cash Operations at various casinos, including Soboba, for 25 years.

H.A.L.O. will be part of the next Soboba Casino Resort Food Truck Fiesta. Resvaloso is looking forward to sharing her cooking with the many people that come from near and far to enjoy good food and socializing with friends and family.

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An opening reception will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 1, including a tour with the artist at 6 p.m.

The exhibit is in the MSJC art gallery, which is in Building 1400 on the San Jacinto Campus, 1499 N. State St.

The MSJC gallery is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, please visit msjc.edu/artgallery or contact Art Professor John Knuth at Jknuth@msjc.edu.

Escovedo is the Professor of American Indian Studies at Fresno City College. He holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree from Fresno State College of Art and Humanities. In fact, he became the first student to earn his bachelor’s in American Indian studies with a special major combining Ethnic Studies and Art.

Escovedo was born and raised in Fresno, California (Yokuts & Mono Traditional Land). His path to academic achievement was a meandering one. At the age of 30, he decided to give college another try and learn more about his ethnic background and enrolled in his first American Indian studies course. With that course, the pieces of his life, family history, profession and education came together to present a new focus within his educational goals.

Through this one American Indian studies course, Escovedo found purpose on campus and became inspired to join the college’s Native American Inter-Tribal Student Association (NAISA). Escovedo soon became vice president of NAISA and helped with planning and hosting student-led educational events and activists’ demonstrations.

Escovedo decided to pursue a double major, combining American Indian studies with art. Continuing this exploration, Escovedo found he could use his education to better his community, both inside and outside educational institutions.

An example of this community activism came to fruition with a commission from the ethnic studies department to design the Yokuts Plaza monument. Escovedo reached out to local traditional Native basket weavers to help design the image that would eventually sit on top of a large piece of granite sourced from the mountains of the Central Valley.

Escovedo helped plan and host several Native American events that tackled subjects like settler-colonialism, intergenerational trauma, cultural competency, neurodecolonization, indigenizing spaces, and intersectionality.

An opening reception will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 1, including a tour with the artist at 6 p.m.

The exhibit is in the art gallery, which is in Building 1400 on the San Jacinto Campus, 1499 N. State St.

The gallery is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, please visit msjc.edu/artgallery or contact Art Professor John Knuth at Jknuth@msjc.edu.

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Mt. San Jacinto College serves nearly 24,000 students annually in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula, with campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, Banning and Temecula.

MSJC awarded 3,157 degrees and certificates to a record-breaking 2,185 graduates in May 2022.

Have a wonderful day and please follow MSJC on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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