Tribal governments fend off the worst of the impacts of the shutdown

“We may disagree on tactics, but we can find common ground on public safety, health, and economic opporitunity,” said Mark Macarro, president of National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), before the shutdown. “And those aren’t partisan goals; those are goals that unite us as people.”

Dispute Between UC Berkely, Pechanga Tribe over Artifacts

 

As tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians in California, Mark Macarro advocates for tribal, state, and federal policies that promote tribe’s political self-determination and economic self-sufficiency. In addition to serving as a leader of Pechanga Band, Mark Macarro maintains a commitment to tribal rights and serves on the board of the Native American Rights Fund, a nonprofit legal body that protects tribal rights around the world.

Land Fight resolved; sacred mountain returned to IE tribe

But this past July the tribe began secretly negotiating with Granite to buy the land in order to preserve the site they consider sacred.

“The mountain is our people’s place of creation for all Luiseño people” said Macarro.

For the past seven years the site has been referred to as the Liberty Quarry project from now on the Pechanga Band of Indians want it known by its tribal name: the Pu’eska Mountain.

Why a newly signed water agreement is good news for the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians

“Generations of tribal leaders have fought from the courts to Capitol Hill to protect this vitas resource for future generations. This settlement agreement benefits all of the parties by securing adequate water supplies for the Pechanga Band and its member and encouraging cooperative water resources management among all of the parties.” Macarro said in a news release.