June 1, 2017 Indian Reporter Soboba Indian Reporter: Ernie C. Salgado Jr., Publisher/Editor Soboba Memorial Day Intergenerational Unity The Photo Above shows Soboba elders, adults and youth cleaning the graves of veterans and placing an American flag on each grave. Marian Chacon, Elder Advisor and Eric Garcia, Soboba Youth Coordinator worked together to plan and coordinated the Memorial Day activates. Almost, single handedly with tenacity, identifying the graves of the veterans. The cleaning of the Church blessed the flag and then the graves of the veter- grit and determination Marian Chacon veterans graves followed as well as the placing of a small ans. brought four generation of tribal mem- American flag on each grave. Hats off to Marian for her courage and determination to bers together for a single purposes, to On Monday, May 29, 2017 the Memorial Day ceremony keep our traditions alive. Her effort of bring four genera- preserve the Tribal Memorial Day Tra- began at dawn with members of the Soboba Fire Depart- tion of tribal members together is an intergenerational dition. Marian coordinated her efforts ment setting the American flag at the cemetery at half- accomplishment that deserves recognition. And knowing with Eric Garcia the Soboba Youth Co- mast. At 11am Soboba veterans Benny “Junie” Helms Marian she’s not done yet. ordinator. First, she explained to the and Charles “Chuck” Castello raised the flag to full-staff youth why we honor our veterans and then lead them to See page 2 for more Soboba Memorial Day Traditions. where it remained until sunset. In coordination with the the Soboba Tribal Cemetery for a hands-on experience of raising of the flag Father, Earl from the Soboba Catholic Soboba Tribal Election Southern California American Indian Resource Center A No Go Receives National Recognition The May 5, 2017 tribal election failed again the On May 22nd, the Southern combining a number of in-house to get the required 30% of the tribal membership California American Indian services to ensure Participant suc- to cast their vote as did the April 1, 2017. Resource Center (SCAIR) was cess including Tribal TANF in recognized as a 2017 Out- collaboration with the Southern According to sources another tribal election is standing Workforce Innova- California Tribal Chairmen’s As- scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2017. I said the tion & Opportunity American sociation, Inc. (SCTCA). SCAIR same thing, on a Monday! And I thought the Cin- Indian Training Center by the Executive Director, Wanda Mich- co de Mayo was an ill conceived date for any- United States Department of aelis told the Soboba Indian Re- thing but a party. Labor, Employment and ported “Our partnership with the Training Administration. SCTCA plays an important role in What is bothersome is that June 19, is less than 3 helping SCAIR to meet the em- -week away. Not a lot of lag time for the election The award, presented at the ployment training need of the peo- National Indian & Native ple.” She when on to say “The notification to get out to the membership on less American Employment and tribal community has been more the absentee voters. Training Conference, in Los than supportive of our efforts.” Angeles, by the United States “The dedication of our staff is also However, in all fairness we, as tribal members Department of Labor Federal a major factor in our success” she bear the final responsibility exercise our tribal Project Officer, Jennifer added. Birthright to get off our butts and vote. Whitmore, honors SCAIR as one of six Workforce Innova- The SCAIR Native NetWORKS tion & Opportunity American Workforce Innovation & Oppor- Indian Training Programs in tunity for American Indians Pro- the country and one of two gram provides career counseling recognized in the western re- and case management, academic gion o the United States for 2017. for American Indians and Alaska Na- tutorial, computer training, on-the-job- tives living in urban areas within San training (OJT), mental health counsel- SCAIR, designated in 2014 by the Diego County. SCAIR was recognized ing services and a number of support- WorldsNo. 1No.1 American American Indian Indian Web Web Site Site Department of Labor to provide for it's unique and excellent one-stop- ive services. Workforce Innovation & Opportunity shop approach to job placement by DISCLAIMER: Ernie C. Salgado Jr. The primary purpose of this newsletter is to provide tribal information to the general membership of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians. The Soboba Indian Reporter is based strictly on my humble opinion of the numerous tribal matters and issues. It is not intended to represent the views or positions of the Soboba Tribal Council or any individual member of the Council other than my own. As a private and personel newsletter it will be distributed at my own expense by U.S. mail, e mail and my websites. Any reproduction or posting of any data herein in any form or social media is strictly prohibited and any violation will be subject to legal action. June 1, 2017 Page 2 of 6 Indian Reporter Memorial Day Soboba Indian Reservation Memorial Day is a federal holiday Rose Arres, seated is *double Gold Star in the United States for remembering the mother, Mrs. Maria “PeeWee” Helms the mother of Romaldo and Reginald Helms, people who died while serving in the Virginia “Dean” Badilla & Clara Helms. country's armed forces. The holiday, Over the past few years Marian Chacon which is currently observed every year on Soboba Tribal Members Killed in Action has been teaching her three nieces, An- the last Monday of May, originated as nette, Johnna and Pam Valdez the Soboba U.S. Army Private First Class, Romaldo A. Helms, Decoration Day after the American Civ- il War in 1868, when the Grand Army of Memorial Day tradi- Killed in Action Anzio, Italy. (1912-1944) tion. However, due to the Republic, an organization of Union U.S. Army Private, Reginald P. Helms, her involvement with veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, es- Killed in Action in Hotten, Belgium (1913-1944), tablished it as a time for the nation to dec- the Soboba youth as an Elder Advisor U.S. Navy, Mike Soza (1924-1941) orate the graves of the Union war dead over the past couple with flowers. By the 20th century, com- of years she has de- peting Union and Confederate holiday cided it would be a traditions, celebrated on different days, good idea to share her knowledge of the had merged, and Memorial Day eventually Soboba Memorial Day Tradition at the extended to honor all Americans who died Soboba Tribal Cemetery with the Soboba while in the military service. It marks the Youth Group. World War I Veteran are Prudencio start of the unofficial summer vacation On May 26, 2017 Marian met with the Resvaloso who also served as with the season, while Labor Day marks its end. U.S. Calvary as a Scout in Arizona, Dan- Many people visit cemeteries and memori- Soboba Youth Group at the Tribal Ceme- tery and explained why we honor our ny and David Navarro, Eugene Arenas als, particularly to honor those who have “Warriors.” She supervised them cleaning (Cahuilla), Ben Largo (Cahuilla) and died in military service. Many volunteers Mariano Largo (Cahuilla). place an American flag on each grave in the veterans graves and the placing of the American flags on the veterans graves. World War II veterans that are buried national cemeteries. at Soboba are brothers, Romaldo “The Despite this ongoing lively debate, there Boss” and Reginald Helms who were is an "official" birthplace. On May 26, killed in action, the Soza brothers, Eloy, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Frank and William “Willie” (Their little the presidential proclamation naming Wa- brother Mike who was killed in action terloo, New York, as the holder of the Romaldo A. Helms while serving in the Navy in the Pacific title. This action followed House Concur- Ocean and is buried at sea.) Ernest Salga- rent Resolution 587, in which the 89th Albert Silvas, World War 1 veteran, Dani- do Sr., George Silvas (Sioux) and their Congress had officially recognized that al Silvas Korean veteran are not buried at uncle Frank “Chico” Silvas, Joe “Jody” the patriotic tradition of observing Memo- Soboba. Mike Soza was killed in action Silvas, Marcus “Max” Mojado, Joe John rial Day had begun one hundred years during WW II is buried at sea. Lala, Theodore “T-Bone” and Norbert prior in Waterloo, New York. Snopes also Mike Soza “Norb” Arres, Mateo “Moot” Apapas, and regards the Waterloo legend as apocry- Reginald P. Helms Carmel “Sallie-Buck” Valenzuella. Leon- phal. On Memorial Day the Soboba Youth ard and Senon Lubo (Cahuilla), Miguel At Soboba for over 70 years Memori- with the Soboba Fire Department gathered Briones (Non-Indian), Refugio Garcia for the blessing of the veterans graves and al Day has been celebrated on the Reser- (Non-Indian), Pio Morillo (Non-Indian), the razing of the flag at the Soboba ceme- vation by placing a small American flags Richard Macy, (?) and James Navarro tery by veterans Benny “Junie” Helms Jr., on all the veterans graves at the Soboba (Indian), and Charles “Chucky” Castello. Tribal Cemetery. This tradition was start- Korea Veteran: Benny Helms Sr., Not all of the veterans buried at the ed and maintained by the “Soboba Sisters” Ralph Arrietta Jr., Leonard Arrietta, Larry Soboba Tribal Cemetery are Soboba Trib- Rose Arres, Tilly Valdez, Clara Helms “Dee” Boniface, Gloria “Castello” Cozart, al Members. However, as part of out and Virginia “Dean” Badilla. The torch Bruce Cozart (Non-Indian), Jesse “Helms” Soboba tribal customs, values and tradi- passed to Marian :Valdez” Chacon upon Gilmore, Orvin Gilmore (Non-Indian), tions we honor and respects all American the passing of her mother, Tilly Valdez Robert “Buggie” Bentiste, Tiefielo Lugo, Indian Warriors and spouses of tribal The photograph below was taken Fred “Pinkie” Miranda (Pechanga) Peter member Indian and non-Indian.