AICCCA President Tracy Stanhoff said Vivanco was nominated for the Warrior Award by members of the Chamber and past Warrior awardees and finalized in selection for this honor by the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Recipients are typically Tribal leaders, business owners, executives, or community advocates whose efforts have created measurable, lasting impact.

Isaiah Vivanco, a proud Tribal Member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, is currently serving his third term as Chairman for the Soboba Tribal Council. This is his eighth Council term overall, having served as Vice-Chairman for four terms and one term as Treasurer. He is a former Executive Board member for the Compact Tribes Steering Committee and was recently re-elected to his fourth two-year term as Treasurer for CNIGA to assist with its efforts to promote and protect Tribal sovereignty and gaming.

He is the current Pacific Region Delegate on the national Indian Gaming Association Board of Directors. In 2021, Isaiah was elected to the California Fee-to-Trust Consortium Board of Directors, which assists Tribes in reclaiming lands and placing them into trust status. For eight years he served on the Soboba Foundation and was Tournament Chair for the annual Soboba Foundation & Soboba Casino Resort Charity Golf Tournament. Since 2022, Isaiah has served as Chairman of the Tribal Nations Advisory Council for the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES). He is a member of the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) and has been on the Riverside County District Attorney’s Tribal Advisory Board since 2023. He sits on the 7G Board of Directors as Vice President, supporting young Native athletes. He was elected to the First Nations Experience (FNX) Board of Directors, which supports television exclusively devoted to Native American and world Indigenous content.

Vivanco enjoys playing Peon and watching his children and now 10 grandchildren sing and dance at Bird Singing gatherings. He also likes golfing and fastpitch softball. Isaiah works hard to deliver strong leadership for his Tribe in promoting sustainable economic development. It is very important to him to provide for the current membership as well as future generations to come.

The AICCCA event took place during its 30th annual Native American Heritage Month Luncheon on Nov. 21 at the Disneyland Hotel/Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. At the luncheon, Vivanco was presented with its annual Warrior Award, which honors those who embody the spirit of a “warrior” in the contemporary sense—people who: champion Native entrepreneurship; advocate for Tribal sovereignty and Native economic self-determination; demonstrate exceptional dedication, courage, and integrity; serve their communities through mentorship, advocacy, and long-term commitment; and build meaningful partnerships between Tribes, Native businesses, and statewide industries.

The first person to speak as an introduction for Vivanco was Pechanga Tribal Member Andrew Masiel, who serves as a Pechanga Development Corporation Board member and has known Vivanco for a number of years. “As a young man growing up on the (Soboba) Reservation, he participated in a lot of activities with the Tribe,” Masiel said. “He exhibited a lot of ambition, a lot of desire and involvement.”

Tomas Tortez Jr., former Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribal Council Chairman, received the Warrior Award last year and said it was an honor to know Chairman Vivanco. “I’ve known him as a mentor during my eight-year chairmanship,” Tortez said. “I would see Isaiah in every aspect of advocacy for Tribal matters. I’d see him in Sacramento and Washington D.C. whenever there were legal battles to be held. It takes being away from the family to be there, so I appreciate that he not only spent time to do that but to talk to me about various issues, especially with us being a smaller non-gaming site. All events and activities and advocacy shared with Chairman Vivanco truly shows his worthiness of the Warrior Award. I think all the accomplishments he has done will carry on for generations. It’s more than showing up—you have to speak and be heard, which he articulates so well. When you’re running your government it takes a lot of dedication, a lot of time, a lot of effort—so thank you for all you do, Chairman.”

Audrey Martinez, Council Secretary for Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, said she has gotten to know Vivanco over the past few years and found him to be very dedicated with tremendous leadership skills. “And like Tomas said, he’s everywhere,” she said. “You need someone like that in these leadership positions. It takes a lot of time, dedication and effort when running your government. Thank you, Chairman, for all your hard work.”

Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, who also serves as Chairwoman of TASIN said, “I concur with all the words that have been said by others. Chairman, thank you for all the years you’ve been doing this. We are very appreciative of all the sacrifices that our Tribal leaders make to be somewhere, and we always say if we didn’t have the support in the home, it’s not going to happen. When you have that support at home and have the passion to love what you do, you go out and do it as it comes to dedication and commitment. Chairman Vivanco sits on many boards and now with many steering committees with different organizations. We’re very honored to see you getting this award and we appreciate everything you do with your Tribe; the collaboration, the work and the long, long hours. Thank you again.”

Soboba Tribal Member and former Tribal Council Chairwoman Rosemary Morillo was the last to speak before inviting Vivanco to the stage. “Council always faces many challenges. It’s constant juggling with all that has to be done. In leadership, you have the oldest to the youngest you have to be responsible for on your reservation; you have to include their needs. We want to take care of what we have currently but also plan for the future. In leadership you have to think of all those things and have contingency plans in place and help everyone understand this is why we do this, this is the process. He has a long list of accomplishments and all he is involved in but there’s more to those boards you’re sitting on. It takes a lot of time away from your family and from everyone but there can be good that comes out of it all. It takes a lot to be standing in leadership; it’s a lot of weight on you.”

Chairman Vivanco thanked the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California for the recognition. He also thanked those who offered such heartfelt words of support.

He praised his fellow Tribal Council members for being so engaged and active, which allows opportunity for him to serve, network, and maintain important relationships with various boards.

“Potential board appointments are discussed with our Council to weigh the pros and cons of how it will benefit Soboba,” Vivanco said. He was proud to be re-elected to the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) board by 57 California Tribes where he can continue to assist the group in its efforts to promote and protect Tribal sovereignty and gaming.

He said this is a critical time for all Tribes as the threat of illegal event contracts through prediction markets has never been more real or impactful. “CNIGA is at the heart of this fight and having a seat at that table is so important,” Vivanco said. “I’m grateful that we have such a strong Council that allows me to represent Soboba in trying to protect what we have.”

Serving on the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) board as Tribal Nations Advisory Council Chairman helps him keep pace with what is needed to ensure Soboba’s youth are getting the education and tools needed to have successful futures.

“If we do not continue to adapt to this rapidly changing, technology-driven world, we risk being left behind” Vivanco said.

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“We are so excited to have you here today as we celebrate the joy of the season with our Preschool Winter Performances,” she said. “This is a special time for our children to share what they’ve been learning and to showcase their creativity, confidence, and hard work.”

The children also got a surprise visit from Santa Claus and The Grinch after they finished their performances. They mingled and then got to have a photo taken with Santa.

Mojado also thanked the families for their continued support and encouragement stating that it truly makes a difference in the child’s learning journey. She also gave a big thank you to the amazing teachers and staff for their dedication and for making this event possible.

“At Soboba Tribal Preschool, we believe in creating experiences that honor both education and culture, and today’s performances are a reflection of that commitment,” she said. “Our students have been practicing with so much enthusiasm, and we know you’ll enjoy every moment. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonderful performances our children have prepared for you. Let’s celebrate their achievements and the warmth of the season together!”

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Noli School Nurse Camille Diaz organized the first walk and has overseen the event each year. Having been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2009, it is important to her to see the students stay healthy, so they don’t end up on medication for the rest of their lives.

“I feel it is important for our students to learn about diabetes because of the fact that Native Americans have a higher risk of developing high blood sugar, but mostly I want our children to know about prevention and what they can do to prevent becoming a diabetic,” Diaz said. “Exercise, eating healthy, and making good choices are all great ways to a nondiabetic life.”

In the days leading up to the walk Jacquelin Phillips asked fellow teachers to have students make posters about the disease which were hung on classroom windows.

“This helped front load information, which was discussed during the circle (prior to the walk),” she said. “I passed out a few tutu skirts, arm sweatbands, diabetes pins, and bubble wands—making the walk a little more fun. This was a new trail for many, which was nice to change from last year’s walk.”

Phillips also rewarded four raffle ticket winners with gift baskets filled with wellness components to help students care for themselves.

The morning began with a short question and answer session as all the students gathered in a circle in the school’s quad area. Diaz posed questions to them and then fleshed out their answers. “Diabetes is a disease where our body cannot regulate our sugar intake so sometimes you need to be put on medication in order to control that,” she explained.

Most students know there are two types of diabetes. Type 1 affects children because their pancreas is not working correctly and they need to take insulin shots throughout their lifetime. Type 2 is a common condition where the body doesn’t use insulin well, which leads to high blood sugar (glucose) levels. It can be managed with diet, exercise, weight loss, and sometimes medication.

“This is why it is very important that we take care of our bodies, watch what we eat and rest and exercise,” Diaz told the group. “The disease has grown so much since the early 1900s; now 1 in 5 people will develop it.”

Some possible signs and symptoms include excessive thirst, urinating more and a dark discoloration on the back of the neck.

“It is really important to go to yearly checkups and have blood tests to monitor it,” she said. “It is very important to our community too because Native Americans are at a higher risk of getting diabetes.”

Many students raised their hands when asked if they had any relatives who have been diagnosed with the disease. Diaz encouraged all of them to share what they learned and help others start eating healthier and exercising.

She offered a few preventive measures such as not eating after 6 p.m. as that can raise blood sugar. She said it’s best to eat a good, healthy meal and then not snack at all before bedtime.

When asked about some foods that can help maintain a healthy blood sugar level, students offered vegetables, apples, berries, prickly pears and cactus, which are all good. Diaz said foods to avoid are candy and soda, especially dark-colored sodas. She added that fast food is too greasy and not good to consume on a regular basis.

Diaz led faculty and students through some warm-up stretches before leading them off campus for the 2.5 mile walk that took them about an hour to complete. Although some students chose to jog along the trail, most just took their time to enjoy the leisurely walk.

The students were joined by staff and teachers during the walk. “My favorite part was seeing the smile on everyone’s face and encouragement for others, even though they were exercising,” Phillips said.

After returning to campus, all walkers were treated to a delicious and healthy lunch. Tanya Briones-Rivera worked with Diaz to find something that would be healthy and refreshing. They enjoyed turkey wraps with macaroni salad and a side of fresh fruit prepared by Tribal Chef Anita Morillo.

“In Native culture, we see a lot of diabetes in our people so events like this help students learn how they can prevent it or even how to treat it,” Briones-Rivera said.

Diaz, who has been at Noli for nearly 10 years and serves as a Soboba delegate on the Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc. Board, said, “Seeing all the students and community come together was my biggest highlight of the day.”

For more information, www.rsbcihi.org.

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The school is located on the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians reservation and currently serves nearly 100 students in grades 6-12. Principal Donovan Post welcomed everyone and said he really liked seeing the student involvement that was evident throughout the event.

After a blessing from Damon Miranda, students lined up in the cafeteria to pick up plated lunches of turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and a variety of tamales. Tanya Briones-Rivera and Camille Diaz stayed busy filling the plates that gloved students delivered to the Elders.

Seated under the shade-covered table area off the campus’ grassy quad, seniors visited with each other and enjoyed the performances. Marian Chacon said, “I think it’s great that the students show their appreciation that we came.” She added that it gives Elders the chance to meet with others if they wanted to do so but hadn’t been given the opportunity.

Monica Madrigal, from Cahuilla, was invited to attend the event. “I think it’s important to do this for the Elders; to share and preserve our culture,” she said.

Her husband, Bill Madrigal, used to teach culture and language at Noli. He shared stories about how bird songs came about, explaining that the bird songs come from the beginning. “These songs were given to us, and we carried them forward; we didn’t change them,” he said. “We will sing songs for the Elders who are present and those who are no longer with us.”

He added that the songs are powerful and are sung for a reason. “They give us strength and the power to care for each other,” Madrigal said. “I sing them at gatherings like this to tell the story from the beginning and carry them into the future. We have songs for everything to keep us strong and going forward.”

Romell Mojado was enjoying the afternoon with her cousins Connie Briones and Sharon Modesto and her friend Raina Maciel.

“I think it’s great that the kids are so involved,” Mojado said. “Even though they are coming from all different Tribes, they come together and respect each other’s cultures.”

Maciel has served on the Noli School Board in the past. Her granddaughter Elizabeth Lehuede now attends the school. “This is the first opportunity I’ve had to come to this event,” she said.

Briones enjoyed the bird singing and seeing the girls dancing. Modesto agreed and added that the food was good. English teacher Summer Herrera provided spare bird skirts for any students who had not brought their own that day.

Bill Madrigal’s Creation stories and songs continued as he said, “We’re all the same people, same culture; we have a lot in common. If you know one story, you can relate to others.”

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“I’m deeply passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding mental health in Indian Country, and in this role, I can be a consistent source of support for students while giving a voice to those who may not yet be able to speak up for themselves,” Peterson said.

When she began working there near the end of the last school year, she explained her role as someone who helps students with their feelings, friendships, and learning.

“It is my job to make sure you feel safe, happy, and able to learn,” she told the students. “I work with your teachers and parents/guardians to ensure you are receiving the best support to be successful at school. I focus on things like behavior, mental health, academics, and school systems.”

During her four-year graduate program, Peterson worked at six different schools ranging from high school to elementary school throughout San Diego County. Peterson said she always knew she would return home to serve her Tribal community.

“Being able to come back and work with and for my own relatives is one of the greatest blessings I could ask for,” she said. “In our culture, we are taught to take care of our relatives, and this work is my way of giving back to the community that raised me.”

Peterson is the first school psychologist at the preschool. Noli has had a contracted school psychologist who would come to provide specific services for certain students, but this is the first time one has been housed on campus.

“Working as a school psychologist across two schools allows me to experience the full range of my role, from conducting psychoeducational assessments at Noli to fostering social-emotional learning at the preschool,” she said. “Having the opportunity to work with two different age groups has been a truly rewarding experience.”

At the preschool most of her work is centered around developing social emotional skills whether that is emotional regulation skills, coping skills, conflict resolution, relationship building, and/or decision making.

“Our students are at the age where they are learning how to interact with peers and adults as well as learning new emotions and how to regulate those emotions in a healthy way,” Peterson said. “Early social emotional learning is an investment in your child’s emotional, social, and academic future. At both schools I collaborate with teachers to provide academic and behavioral interventions for those students who need additional support and are struggling in any of these areas.”

Peterson facilitates weekly SEL lessons with each class at the preschool. To decide which topics to focus on with each class, she consults with teachers to narrow down what areas of support they feel their students will benefit from most. She has implemented a few schoolwide mental health activities.

“We have done lessons on kindness, characteristics of a good friend, emotional regulation, and coping skills,” she said. “We recently had a kindness week where I facilitated an activity/lesson with each class every day of the week. Students participated in interactive activities that focused on kindness with friends, family, animals, and ourselves. I am currently working on starting an annual mental health fair at the preschool.”

At Noli, the majority of her role currently consists of conducting psychoeducational evaluations for special education. This includes consulting with teachers, parents/guardians, the special education teacher, and students. She also collaborates closely with the school counselor to implement mental health supports, activities, and social-emotional learning initiatives.

She is developing a series of workshops that focus on educating Tribal families about special education and their rights as parents/guardians. “My goal for these workshops is to provide a safe space for families who currently have students in special education or families who want to learn more about the process,” Peterson said.

She said students are always welcome to stop by her office at any time during the school day if they feel the need. At Noli, she works closely with the school counselor so if she is at the preschool when a student needs support at Noli, they are referred to the school counselor. She also receives referrals from teachers and parents when they have concerns about a student or believe additional support might be helpful.

Peterson graduated from San Diego State University in the School Psychology graduate program where she earned her Master’s degree in Counseling and her Educational Specialist in School Psychology. She was also a scholar and mentor on the SHPA (Supporting High-Intensity Mental Health Needs of Native and Indigenous Youth) project at SDSU. She was introduced to the field of School Psychology during the last year of her undergraduate at Cal State San Marcos.

“What really piqued my interest in the program was the SHPA grant which focused on mental health needs of Native and Indigenous youth,” she said. “School psychology wasn’t something I had planned on pursuing in the beginning, but it became a career that gave me the platform I needed to support our Native children.”

A school psychologist specializes in mental health and behavioral issues along with conducting psychoeducational assessments and developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). School psychologists work with both general education and special education students but focus on students who need more intensive support by providing intervention or assessments when needed. Peterson said a big part of her job consists of collaborating with teachers, administration, school counselors, and families to help the students succeed at school.

“I am so grateful to have so much support from parents and families since starting at the preschool and Noli,” she said. “I have received positive feedback, especially from parents who have shared that they feel more comfortable with having a Tribal member and familiar face helping support their child at school.”

Peterson is deeply grateful to her Tribe for supporting her pursuit of higher education, an opportunity that helped her grow personally and professionally.

“Growing up, we were taught that when you take, you must also give back,” she said.
“Reciprocity is a core value that was deeply instilled in me, and it continues to guide the work I do today.”

National School Psychology Week is Nov. 3-7. This week is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of school psychologists and raise awareness about the important role they play in supporting students’ mental health and academic success. 

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Local program founder and Student of the Month Committee member Karena Zermeno-Leon emceed the event. Each student was invited to the podium to share their personal story, past and/or current challenges and future goals with a room full of supporters that included principals, teachers, peers and family members, as well as community and school district dignitaries.

October’s students of the month from Hemet Unified School District are Emily Campos, Amaya Garcia, Natalie Lovett Jensen and Zena Pastrana. San Jacinto Unified honorees for October are Erik Diaz, Angel Sanchez and Christian “CJ” Viramontes.

Hemet Unified School District

Emily Campos

Alessandro High School Principal Matthew Centofranchi said Emily is on a path to making the right decisions, building a path for her future. Emily said that something she learned in her civics class helped her change her perspective on school. “My teacher said to treat school like I would my job—show up, clock in, do the work,” she said. “Now I see my report card like I do a paycheck. My hard work is paying off, and I am currently a straight-A student.” Last year, her English teacher told her she had “teacher energy” and those words stayed with Emily. She plans to major in psychology at Mt. San Jacinto College to become a teacher or therapist. “In the future, I want to give back to my community by using my education to guide and support others,” she said. “The most important lesson I will take with me to college is the idea of sonder, the realization that every person has a life as vivid and complex as your own,” Emily said. “Remembering that concept has taught me patience and understanding and this reminds me every day to treat people with kindness because we never truly know what someone may be going through. I want to thank Alessandro for giving me a second chance; real change starts with all of us.”

Amaya Garcia

Hamilton High School Principal Kari Sanchez explained that her school is unique in that it serves students in grades 6-12. She said Amaya enrolled as an eighth grader after having experienced some adversity in her life. Art teacher Rose Fickes nominated Amaya for recognition this month and said she stands out for her creativity and leads by example. The senior was unable to attend the ceremony due to the passing of her grandmother but she prepared a speech that Fickes read on her behalf. Amaya said her single mother taught her what real strength looks like even when things get hard. “I work while going to school which isn’t always easy, but it taught me how to manage my time, stay responsible and push through even when I’m tired,” she wrote. “I believe my greatest contribution is my resilience, refusing to give up no matter what I’ve been through. Growing up, I faced many challenges from leaving loved ones to experiencing trauma that no child should ever face. I struggled with depression and anxiety and there were moments when life felt unbearable.” She plans to attend San Diego Mesa College and eventually study medicine. “My dream is to become a doctor,” Amaya said. “I want to be proof that it’s possible to rise from anything.”

Natalie Lovett Jensen

Hemet High School chose to honor Natalie for October and teacher James Walsh read comments from counselor Dawn Sonnier who co-nominated her but could not attend the breakfast. Sonnier has known Natalie since she was a young girl growing up in Idyllwild. Of the 564 seniors in her class, Natalie is ranked second. She hopes to attend UCLA’s nursing program after graduation. Natalie said, “When I was 10 years old, my oldest sister overdosed on opioids. This was a huge burden of grief for my whole family and something that changed my perspective on life forever. My parents, grief stricken and angry at the world, began to take their frustrations out on me. Between the belittling I faced at home and the bullying I faced from my peers at school, I lived in constant feelings of unworthiness. My insecurity loomed over me like a storm waiting to break.” After battling low self-esteem in her middle school years, Natalie began to dedicate herself to her schoolwork. She said the classroom provided a space for her where she felt confident and capable. This helped her to develop a passion for learning. She was also able to take on volunteer work at her church. After her speech, Principal Jeff Franks told her, “Natalie, there is nothing small about the impact you make on all of us.”

Zena Pastrana

West Valley High School ASB and yearbook teacher Billy Valenzuela has been a mentor to Zena for the past three years. In trying to sum up the outstanding senior in one word, he decided on “dynamo.” He said she generates power and a consistent positive school spirit. “She always has a can-do spirit that is infectious to others and makes the entire school a better place,” Valenzuela said. Zena is a four-sport varsity athlete, competing in swim, water polo, volleyball and the school’s first girls’ flag football team. “Under her leadership, we have some of the highest participation rates the school has ever seen and this creates a positive experience for all students,” he said. Zena believes her greatest contribution to her school is her positive attitude and her willingness to be a helpful role model. She plans to attend Riverside Community College before heading to dental school to become an orthodontist. “A major challenge during high school was when my mom had kidney failure,” Zena said. “The strongest woman in my life needed help from medical professionals and me.” This created feelings of anxiety and stress at home, affecting the entire family. Her mother has since received a successful kidney transplant. “The major takeaway is that God will provide the strength to help you with your trials so that we may overcome the greatest pains in life,” Zena said.

San Jacinto Unified School District

Erik Diaz

San Jacinto High School chose to honor Erik, who Principal Lloyd Sheppard recalled meeting in 2019 when they were at the same event and both sporting bowties. Industrial Wood Technology teacher Roy Castillo told Erik, “Your pursuit of commitment and willingness to not hesitate in participation will continue to set you aside and showcase your achievements.” Angel has been captain of the cross-country team since his sophomore year and was named his team’s MVP last season. He has won trophies for his outstanding table woodwork. “Outside of athletics and academics, I’m actively involved in extracurricular activities such as Tiger Media Design, which is a club focused on photography; Tiger Media Network, which focuses on video production and live streaming; and I’m also a proud member of our MEChA Club, which helps promote Latino culture within our school and the broader community.” Participating in track since sixth grade and then joining the wrestling team, Erik found himself in an emotionally unstable place when he suffered a sports injury last year that sidelined him for four months. After high school, he plans to serve a mission for his church and then hopes to attend Brigham Young University alongside his brother, studying something related to woodworking or photography. “These are two of my passions which I’ve grown to love, especially during my injury,” Erik said.

Angel Sanchez

Mountain View High School selected Angel as its Student of the Month. His teacher Tricia Ochoa said when Angel first arrived at the school he was not always motivated regarding academics and that he didn’t always believe in himself. “What makes Angel truly stand out is the way he decided to turn that story around,” Ochoa said. “Through effort, maturity, and a genuine commitment to improving, Angel transformed his attitude toward learning.” He said, “Being at Mountain View for two years has taught me to be a better version of myself. An important lesson I’ve learned is that you can accomplish anything in life if you put your effort and dedication towards the goal you are trying to achieve.” Angel said the hardest thing he had to overcome when he started at the school was his shyness. But he was able to adapt and flourish and is now on track to graduate early. “If there is anyone that feels the same way I felt just remember, you’re a human being—keep going forward no matter what occurs in life,” Angel said. “There will be ups and downs in life and it’s your choice if you want to keep going or stay in the same place you are in.” He plans to attend MSJC with the eventual goal of opening his own electrician business.

Christian “CJ” Viramontes was chosen to represent San Jacinto Leadership Academy. Since enrolling at the school at the end of eighth grade, his history teacher Alfredo Gonzalez said CJ became a leader in his class. He said he has no doubt that no matter what, CJ will overcome any obstacle that comes his way. “Every day we are faced with some sort of decision,” CJ said. “The decisions you make today, tomorrow, and the next day matter.” He said he learned that lesson firsthand. Before he made the decision to attend SJLA, he had suicidal thoughts, depression and mentally was not there. “I was broken,” he said. “Getting welcomed to SJLA by every cadet (student) was amazing.” CJ said he didn’t think about attending college until one of his teachers changed his mind through encouragement. Now he plans to attend MSJC to major in journalism. He said the two most important people in his life are his grandfather and his mother. He then addressed Principal Mike Luna. “Mr. Luna, thank you for giving a kid with no hope a reason. Every conversation you have, not only with me but with all students, we cherish it,” CJ said. “We see your hard work and for that we thank you.”

For more information, www.studentofthemonth.net.

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DJ Mike Nevarez kept the energy moving with a holiday themed playlist as well as some classic R&B tunes. A large tent was set up nearby that was transformed into a Haunted House for those who dared to enter. The design and construction were a collaborative effort between Soboba Youth Council and the Department of Public Safety. Youth Council President Raya Salgado stayed busy handing out candy as people exited the tent. Children under 12 had to be accompanied by an adult but even so, several were scared enough to run out before completing the entire maze that was set up inside. Marion Chacon and her granddaughter Hope Chacon said the Haunted House was definitely spooky and the person with the chainsaw was especially scary.

“We did a totally different layout this year,” Raya said, adding that the youth council also hosted the horseshoe tournament.

Many Soboba departments hosted booths that offered fun games and lots of treats for successful completion of ring tosses, cornhole, and many other carnival favorites. The Soboba Foundation highlighted the Ghostbusters theme by offering containers of slime for kids to take home, along with their choice of full-size candy bars.

The Noli Indian School Beading Club members and their advisor Tashina Ornelas set up a “Spookley the Square Pumpkin” booth. They also donated quite a few exquisite items to be included in the raffle prizes that DJ Mike was announcing throughout the evening.

The Nevarez family’s game booth was set up next to the DJ station and earned second place in the Booth Decorating Contest. Third place went to Tribal Family Services for their booth that offered a Mardi Gras theme. Each player of the “Catch a Gator” game received a necklace with the gold-, green- and purple-colored beads that are associated with Mardi Gras.

The Soboba Tribal Preschool’s booth took home the first-place win again this year. Always looking to highlight what young children like, they all dressed as characters from the popular “Toy Story” film series. Their booth was decorated with pictures the students had colored, and the teachers helped the youngest visitors with the cornhole game they offered.

The Cultural Department let players try to toss (plastic) body parts into buckets that were scattered throughout a “graveyard.” Staff also offered candy bars and tote bags to carry all the goodies they collected throughout the night.

Su’la Arviso, the reigning Daughter of Soboba, helped out at the $ovóova Po’$wáamay booth, while committee members also pitched in to hand out candy to those who played the games.

Other booths were hosted by the Soboba Tribal Environmental Department, Soboba Fire, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Soboba Team, the McKay Family, the Soboba Tribal Gaming Commission, Soboba Tribal TANF, and Soboba Rx.

The costume contest is an annual favorite and this year it did not disappoint. Three prizes were awarded in each age group category: cutest, scariest, and most creative. Judges had a hard time selecting the best since there were so many great costumes in the parade of entrants that circled around them for several minutes.

Winners in the 0-4 age group were Laylah Robledo, 4, for scariest as she portrayed Michael Myers from the Halloween film series; 11-month-old Apolaki “Lucky” Pabellano for cutest, as a new pumpkin in the patch; and Remy Arrietta, 1, who was covered in pink balloons to represent the bubbles in the gum that was attached to the shoe cutout worn by her sister Emily, was deemed most creative.

The 5-7 age group included Avareign Lindsey, 7, as cutest and Bruce Valdez, 6, as most creative. One of the largest groups turned out to be those aged 8-12. The cutest honors went to Kalila Escalante, 10, as a big bunny and Gilbert Bantancourt, 12, for being the scariest as a green clown. Zaya Essapour, 11, had the most creative costume that depicted his insides pouring out.

“I wanted some really bloody, gory stuff but I wanted to create it myself,” Zaya said. Using pool noodles he painted red to resemble intestines, he glued them to an old shirt and then used more red paint to resemble “gushing guts.”

The most creative among 13–17-year-olds was Trista Cervantes, 15. She wanted to come up with a more adult version of the bogeyman, a mythical creature typically used to frighten children into good behavior, and she succeeded.

John McKay was deemed the most creative for adults, 18 and older, for his authentic looking scarecrow. The cutest was Christina Torres as Glinda the good witch. “I love Wicked,” she said. The scariest title went to Anthony Vallez, who really got into the spirit of the evening with his skeletal costume.

For youngsters who had enough of the dark, one of the baseball fields was well lit and sprinkled with several bounce houses and inflatable slides to play on.

A pumpkin carving contest resulted in Hughnee Briones winning second place for a recreation of a witches’ cauldron and D’ios Basquez took home the top prize for his scary monster pumpkin. Every guest was invited to choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch that was set up near the Haunted House. This gives them all time to carve them up for their own Halloween celebrations on Oct. 31.

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Months of involvement in required activities culminated in the Crowning event on Oct. 11 at the Soboba Sports Complex where the contestants were judged in front of a sold-out crowd that included family members, friends and many supporters.

The idea to bring back this program was proposed to Tribal Council by Iyana “Tot” Briones, a young Soboba Tribal member. Council Secretary Monica Herrera and Mojado worked closely with Briones, setting up the first meeting with the goal of establishing a committee. This took several months. All meetings were open to all Tribal members, who were notified via Korbyt.

Once the committee was established, bylaws were created, fundraising began and the Daughter of Soboba program received official Tribal recognition at a general council meeting. Members of the $ovóova Po’$wáamay Committee are Chair Geneva Mojado, Vice Chair Monica Herrera, Secretary Iyana “Tot” Briones, Treasurer Rhonda Valenzuella, Members at Large Andrea Relopez and Adona Salgado, Digital Media Officer Summer Helms, and Committee Members Carrie Garcia and Anthony “Bear” Vallez. Briones, Helms and Mojado took turns serving as emcees throughout the Oct. 11 event.

After delivering an introduction in their Native language, and sharing a little bit about themselves, Raya and Su’la were asked to provide a cultural demonstration and answer posed questions in a thoughtful way so judges could evaluate their poise, personality, intelligence, and knowledge of the topic being asked about. Earlier in the day, they performed a skill test of bow and arrow shooting which was filmed and played on big screens during the crowning event.

Selected through a lottery system, judges were Millie Arres, Mia Basquez, Lucille Briones, Stacia Maciel, Rosemary Morillo, Sherral Orosco and Becky Salgado with alternates Dwan Helms and Raina Maciel. Tabulators were Dione Kitchen, Julie Arrietta-Parcero and Andrew Vallejos.

Su’la Arviso is a proud Soboba tribal member from the Paa’ila and Soowut clans who comes from a long line of leaders and culture bearers. Inspired by her grandmother and other family mentors, she embraced leadership early, teaching Native traditions while attending Estudillo Elementary and founding the first Four Directions Native American Club there. Through middle and high school, Su’la served as vice president and president of Native clubs, maintained a 3.5 GPA, gave her school’s first land acknowledgement speech, and helped organize major cultural events including the “Gathering of the People.”

Beyond academics, Su’la has been a strong advocate for Native voices, working alongside Assemblymember James Ramos to advance accurate teaching of Native history. She has served as a youth intern for the Soboba Cultural Department, gained experience preserving and teaching traditions, and represented Soboba at major conferences such as UNITY and NCAI. Her journey reflects both academic excellence and a lifelong dedication to leadership, cultural preservation, and advocacy for California’s First People.

Raya Rain Salgado, from the Tuktum clan (Soboba) and the Nacutakiktum clan (Cahuilla), is a dedicated Soboba tribal member who also honors her Cahuilla heritage. Balancing academic excellence with community involvement, she maintains a 3.5-plus GPA, was named Student of the Year in 2024, and participated in Bill AB 1703, led by Assemblymember James Ramos.

Proud of her roots, Raya represents her people with gratitude and respect, strengthening her communication skills through volunteer work, cultural programs, and community service. She became a Soboba Fire Explorer at age 13, serves as Chairwoman of the Soboba Tribal Youth Council, and is Vice President of the Four Directions Native American Club at San Jacinto High School where she is a sophomore. Dedicated to preserving cultural traditions, arts, dance, and language while pursuing her education, Raya aims to inspire future generations and proudly represents Soboba, honoring her family and ancestors through unity and cultural pride.

Students from the Soboba Tribal Preschool took to the stage and sang three songs they had learned in the Luiseño language. Their performance was met with thunderous applause and a lot of smiles from the audience members.

The event’s keynote speaker was Tishmal Herrera, an enrolled member of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians. She was honored as UCR’s Powwow Princess in 2023-2024 when she was a junior. Tishmal works for her Tribe’s Education Program as both an aide and a cultural coordinator, where she continues to serve and uplift her community through leadership, education, and cultural advocacy.

“You can literally do anything you set your mind to,” she told the contestants. “I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and take healthy risks. Talk to others and don’t be shy—you will be the first person, voice and representative of your Tribe. You guys are amazing, and I know you’ll do great.”

As part of the competition, Su’la and Raya took part in bird dancing while the Torres Martinez Inter-tribal birdsingers took the stage. Later that evening, audience members were asked to join in when they returned to sing again.

Raya’s cultural demonstration included her reading the introduction from a book she is writing about the personal stories shared with her by Tribal members. She said the purpose of her book is “to honor those that have come before me and hopefully to inspire those who will come after me.” She then shared the Creation story and how to make yucca cordage that has many practical uses and is also used to play traditional Cat’s Cradle games.

Before she began her demonstration, Su’la served a plate of wewish to each of the judges that she had made earlier. She then proceeded to show the time-consuming process of preparing acorns after gathering them by cracking them, cleaning them, grinding them and then leaching out the tannins through boiling and soaking several times. The remaining “meal” can then be used in various dishes or spread on a tortilla with some beans. “It’s a lengthy process but in the end it’s worth it,” she told the audience.

Another portion of the competition involved questions that were chosen at random and presented to each contestant by committee member Summer Helms. When asked “What changes have you noticed in areas where you gather cultural materials and what steps would you suggest we take to preserve them?” Raya replied that she thought it would be good to do prescribed burns like it was done in the past. Su’la suggested that people stop littering. “We need to care for Mother Earth because she takes care of us,” she said.

When asked about their opinion on what they felt were the most important steps to cultural revitalization and how it could be incorporated at Soboba, Su’la stated, “I would start with the youth at the preschool; I believe identity does start with our youth and we need to implement those cultural practices at a young age.” Raya feels it can be done through learning Native languages and she has already begun sharing Native words on social media that has earned a large engagement.

Briones made the official announcement of Su’la Arviso as the 2025-2026 $ovóova Po’$wáamay. She was immediately congratulated by Virginia Duenaz, who was the final Soboba Fiesta Maiden in 1969-1970.

The unique crown that Su’la will wear at upcoming events such as the Tribe’s annual Trunk or Treat community event on Oct. 30, was made by Marizol Carrillo, a master Kumeyaay weaver. The committee helped design it and turned over their ideas to Carrillo’s cousin Eva Salazar a couple of years ago. She was able to draw it out for Carrillo, who then worked on it for eight months.

In addition to the crown and sash, Su’la received a $1,500 scholarship sponsored by California Tribal Fund. As an Early Childhood Education major at Mt. San Jacinto College, she hopes to work at the Soboba Tribal Preschool in the future. The committee intends to continue to fundraise on her behalf to help fully fund future travel expenses.

“We look forward to being able to honor our newly crowned $ovóova Po’$wáamay at all Native and non-Native events where she will represent the Tribe,” Mojado said. “A few winter powwows and gatherings are approaching.”

Herrera said the committee and volunteers have held numerous fundraisers and informational booths at Tribal events throughout the year, and the community has always shown great support.

“It is because of that love and support the committee was able to host this event since the majority of the expenses were covered with fundraised monies,” she said.

The committee’s mission is to support, empower and enhance the wellbeing of its Native Women through achieving emotional, social and economic self-sufficiency. Further, the committee intends “to create opportunities for women to connect, share, and learn from one another; to promote and preserve the culture and heritage of the Tribe in supporting Tribal and Community Cultural Educational programs and activities; to encourage our young women to utilize their voice to promote the needs of Native Indian Women. Our young women are the baskets of our community, who carry family and cultural tribal traditions, and are the strength of the community. $ovóova Po’$wáamay shall be an esteemed role model, honoring her Tribe and Native people.”

Mojado said the committee plans to start accepting applications for next year’s competition after the first of the year. “We hope to grow Daughter of Soboba into a group of gals and girls to connect and share from one another,” she said. “My favorite part of being involved with this program has been the opportunity to mentor these girls. It was also great to see our community get involved and show so much support for them.”

Herrera said the experience thus far has been great and that despite its slow start, everyone remains committed to the program. “One of the goals was to bring all our tribal women together; elders to infants, bridging gaps and building friendships through culture. This group of women has tirelessly contributed their time, in an effort to lay a positive solid foundation. I hope the young ladies feel appreciated and supported in this group.  We are constantly mentoring and learning.”

A men’s Peon tournament began after a final honor song was performed by the Inter-tribal birdsingers and that stretched into the night.

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Brown said her main goal while coordinating the event was to create an atmosphere that allowed the students to have exposure to a variety of options, just like a public college and career fair offers. “After seeing the list of available vendors, the students commented on the fact that I listened to their responses on the survey I conducted,” she said.

As the purpose of the day was to light a fire under the students, vendors were encouraged to share what they do, what their day-to-day looks like and to answer questions about any aspect of their industry. Another new addition this year was the ability of students to mingle with as many vendors as they wanted to with no time limit.

“Thank you for being here to share and educate our students,” Noli teacher Sonia Modesto told the vendors. “We appreciate your input.”

The entire student body attended at the same time, divided into two sessions with a short break in between. They were free to visit any table of interest to them and there was plenty of movement among the 60-plus tables set up throughout the Soboba Sports Complex gymnasium. A few representatives, such as the Soboba Fire Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and a few branches of the military, were stationed outside the building.

Legacy Bank’s Business Development Officer Cyndi Lemke and CEO Bill Nethercott explained financial literacy to students who stopped at their table.

Lemke said the questions varied by age range with older students asking about the type of education needed to get into the banking business and younger ones asking about the types of accounts they could open. She said many were surprised to learn the bank is owned by the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians. This fact provided a vested interest to those young people who are also Tribal members. Please visit www.legacybankca.com for more information.

PNC Bank Branch Bankers Tracie Bannister and Zulema Carrasco shared the fact their bank offers a great summer internship program opportunity for college students, in conjunction with Cal State San Marcos.

The Native American Lawyers Association of San Diego was represented by its president Angela Medrano, a Cahuilla Tribal member. She shared the many programs that are offered through NALA, which was established in 1995 for professional development, networking, and support of Native American lawyers and Indian law practitioners. For more information, https://nalasd.org.

Trade schools focusing on nursing, cosmetology and other fields were popular among the students who expressed interest in how long it takes to become certified and/or licensed.

Entrepreneurs piqued the interest of students from all grade levels. Cynthia Rodriquez opened Cynthia’s Sweet Treats in 2022 and has recently expanded by adding two more locations through Tim Moran Chevrolet and Ford dealerships in Hemet.

“The majority of my business consists of custom orders,” Rodriquez said. “We also specialize in catering to all dietary restrictions, which makes us unique.”

Rodriquez graduated from the Art Institute of California and spent two years as chef at the Soboba Tribal Preschool. For more information, https://cynthiasweettreats.co.

Another fair favorite is Stylish Culture with Anthony Trujillo, who is a Noli Indian School alumnus and talented graphic designer. He focuses on Native design and fashion that runs the gamut from coloring books and greeting cards to backpacks and tee-shirts.

The self-taught artist began his family-owned and operated business with the support of his family while he was a high school senior. He has recently connected with the Bonsall Unified School District who plan to incorporate his Native Traditions coloring book into their schools’ lower grades. To learn more, please visit https://stylish-culture-clothing.square.site.

For those looking for a way to combine their love of animals with a future career, Riverside County Department of Animal Services representatives shared the types of paths they could take. Volunteer Michelle Martinez explained that the San Jacinto Animal Campus seeks volunteers who are 16 and older to help with a variety of daily tasks, from taking photos of adoptable animals to feeding them and doing laundry. She pointed out that their time would count as community service hours, a common high school graduation requirement, while teaching them about the industry.

Cecilia Olivares has been on staff with RCDAS for about 10 years, stationed at the San Jacinto location for the past four months. She explained to students that there is an array of duties for those that want to dedicate their time to animals of all shapes and sizes.

Julie Freeman, who serves as Dance department chair at both Mt. San Jacinto College campuses, shared how students do not need to be dance majors to benefit from taking classes, but that there are a lot of career pathways in the field if they so choose.

Dance offers transferable and marketable skills for everyone. Freeman explained that communication and confidence are enhanced through an expressive body and that collaboration and critical thinking skills are a key part of the subject.

Lucia Napolez is a project analyst who was sharing all the great opportunities at San Diego Miramar College. She provided information about the Native Resource Center that recently opened as well as the fact that Miramar is the only community college that is offering certificates and degrees in the field of Diesel Technology. It also offers courses in aviation technology.

She wanted students to know that once they are sophomores, they can apply for dual enrollment, which is paid for by the state. “If they are diligent, they can earn an associate degree along with their high school diploma,” Napolez said.

A Bingo game added to the excitement of the afternoon. With cards containing generic topics such as entrepreneur, finances, and medical, students had to seek out representatives and ask a pertinent question to get their Bingo square initialed. Because of the wide array of careers and higher education offered, it was not difficult for them to quickly complete their cards.

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Led by Grand Marshal Sandy Boniface’s vehicle, the caravan included Freshman Sweethearts Harlow Ortiz (Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla Indians) and Samantha Gladin (Oglala Sioux), Sophomore Duke Jonathan Gladin (Oglala Sioux) and Duchess Phyllis Morillo (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians), Junior Prince Jeffrey Arres (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians) and Princess Nevaeh Ochoa (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians), and Senior King nominees Ronald Morillo (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians), Leland Razon (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians) and Edgar Gladin (Oglala Sioux), and Homecoming Queen nominees Sophia Resvaloso (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians), Sadie Pimental (Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians) and Audryna Lopez (Cahuilla Band of Indians).

Boniface has served on the Noli School Board for more than 10 years. She worked at Noli for many years assisting with attendance, enrollment and as secretary at the front office until 2008. Two of her sons graduated from the school, and her grandson Jeffrey Arres is currently attending. He was named Junior Prince and wore jersey No. 4 on the field as a member of the Noli Braves football team.

“I enjoy working for the students and seeing former students with their kids attending now who remember me,” Boniface said.

Dozens of families lined the parade route, eager to collect candy and other goodies that were tossed from the vehicles as they slowly made their way along the two-and-a-half mile stretch of road to the football stadium. Led by Department of Public Safety vehicles and a Soboba fire engine with sirens blaring and lights flashing, members of the homecoming court were applauded and cheered as they drove by.

All guests were greeted at The Oaks with a carnival atmosphere and upbeat music on the loudspeakers as various clubs and groups operated game booths. Soboba Tribal Preschool’s Maria Hernandez and Ana Garcia offered kid-sized cornhole with a full-size game hosted by Noli AVID students. The senior class and several teachers, including English teacher Summer Herrera, were inviting everyone to join in the fun.

The Noli Braves Booster Club hosted a cake walk in front of tables filled with all types of sweets. Some were donated by parents and others by community businesses Frybread Kitchen and 1918 Sweet Cravings. Club members Camille Diaz, Amelia Arres and Treasurer Tanya Briones-Rivera work at the school and were joined by parent volunteers Secretary Eustacia Maciel, Lorena Moreno, Autumn Olvera, President Jillian Miranda, Member-at-large Diana Brittian and Vice President Johnna Valdez.

The club works year-round to help the students and the school. Briones-Rivera said the group recently raised $2,000 they donated to the football team. They also host fundraisers to help defray the cost of field trips taken by students in the AVID program.

“Every club at the school submits a letter to us explaining how we can help their club with donations,” Briones-Rivera said. All submissions are reviewed and approved during the club’s twice monthly meetings.

Halftime festivities included the introduction of the Homecoming Court at centerfield. The highly anticipated crowning of king and queen was prefaced with an introduction of all the nominees. The top vote getters were Edgar Gladin and Audryna Lopez.

Noli’s new history teacher Justin Thillens took on play-by-play announcing duties with the help of scorekeeper Matt Basquez.

Despite a dramatic touchdown by Jonathan Resvaloso (No. 98), the Braves fell to the West Shores Wildcats from Salton City. The team has several more games left in the season, with a few more home games at The Oaks.

For more information, https://noliindianschool.net/football-schedule.

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