URGENT CALL FOR ASSISTANCE TO ALL TRIBAL LEADERS AND INTERESTED PARTIES My name is Damien Shilo and I am the recognized Chairman of the Tribal Council for more than 2,500 members of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, the Acjachemen Nation, that is located in what is currently Orange County, California. As many of you know, our tribe has struggled for twenty years to obtain federal recognition. I write to you to inform you of a matter that has importance and carries long-term ramifications for all tribal governments, federally recognized or not.
On Tuesday, October 15, 2002, the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano passed an ordinance amending the general plan of the city to allow the large-scale development of 29 acres located at the northwest corner of Junipero Road and the San Diego Freeway. The proponent of the re-zoning was a group ironically known as the Pueblo Serra LLC, or the JSERRA education initiative, who intend, again ironically, to use the site for a Catholic High School and sports complex. Our goal, and we believe this is important for all tribal governments (if it can happen to us, it will happen to others), is to keep this 29 acre parcel undeveloped and in its original condition. Why? This 29 acre parcel is a SACRED SITE. The 29 acre site is the location of what was the mother village of the Acjachemen. Our mother village was called Putiidhem by our people. It is the location from which we forcibly conscripted by outsiders to build the Mission of San Juan Capistrano. Our village became the genesis for what is now the City of San Juan Capistrano. Our village is the site at which our ancestors are buried. Once, our villages were spread across Orange County, an area that has been heavily developed and populated by outsiders. Now, the Catholic Church and a group of wealthy individuals wish to take away and develop our last core land base and to cover up and desecrate our SACRED SITE. At the City Council Meeting on this past Tuesday, there were statements presented to the City Council by the public demonstrating the cultural importance of the 29 acre parcel containing Putiidhem. There were statements that the developers JSerra and the City have not complied with CEQA and other environmental laws. There were statements that at the least the City should put the rezoning ordinance to the voters (this was rejected by the City Council who proceeded to act on their own at the request of the developers and the recommendation of their staff who had cut a deal with the developer to provide additional benefits to the City if a vote by the people was not needed). There were statements showing that some 500 LIVING enrolled members of our tribe have documented ancestors buried at Putiidhem, that burials continued there into the late 1800�s, or well after California cemetery law was passed to protect the development of cemeteries created either by dedication or prescription, and that these burials have continued into the past ten years. There were statements made to the City Council that show that our people continue to this day to return to Putiidhem to pray to our ancestors buried at this location and that our grave sites is no less important than any "cemetery" such as the old cemetery at Old Ortega Road or the National Cemetery in Arlington. One person, who identifies himself as Chief of our tribe (we have had no such position for many years), had worked with the developer to say that the site was not important and that work could proceed ? a position that the City Council lauded as being evidence of a good position of "going along to get along." The developer has chosen to deal with a "Most Likely Descendant" when in fact there are ACTUAL DESECENDANTS who have not been consulted. We have no intention of "going along to get along" on the last piece of undeveloped land that represents the core homeland of our people and which holds one of our most important SACRED SITES. We request your help. How can you help? By closely monitoring the situation. By writing to lawmakers. By providing support and expertise. By attending our rallies and protests to stop this development. We cannot believe that the "law" such as it is will allow a functioning cemetery, our SACRED SITE, to be developed and desecrated. Please contact either myself or the following individuals for information and for offers of assistance. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Damien Shilo, Tribal Chairman Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, Tribal Office (949) 488-3484 Damien Shilo, Tribal Chairman, (949) 254-5421 Christopher A. Lobo, Tribal Secretary/Treasurer, (760) 805-9600 Fran Yorba, Tribal Council Member At Large, (714) 322-1095 Michael Lombardi, Tribal Advisor, (562) 714-1478 Stephen B. Otto, Tribal Attorney, (949) 720-1300 -- Andr� Cramblit: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Operations Director Northern California Indian Development Council NCIDC (http://www.ncidc.org) is a non-profit that meets the development needs of American Indians and operates an art gallery featuring the art of California tribes (http://www.americanindianonline.com) COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN INDIANS/NATIVE AMERICANS/ALASKAN NATIVES & HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS. For news of interest to Natives subscribe send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] or go to: http://www.topica.com/lists/IndigenousNewsNetwork/subscribe/?location=listinfo Visit and show your support for the Grass Roots Oyate http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate Clemency for Leonard Peltier. 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