Environmental Press # 159

Subj: PUTIIDHEM: VIGIL SCHEDULED NOV. 22,23,24
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2002 08:38:19 -0800
From: Doug Korthof <doug@seal-beach.org>
To: voiceforveterans@aol.com (via HellmanMesa@SealBeach.org)

FORWARDED MESSAGE
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CALL TO ACTION TO ALL TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS AND INTERESTED PARTIES
WHO: All Tribal Officials, Tribal Members, and Interested Parties.
WHAT: In response to a threat by developers to the Putiidhem Sacred Site and Burial Ground, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, the Acjachemen Nation, proposes to hold a three-day
Prayer Vigil for Ancestors and Sacred Sites. WHEN: November 22, 23, and 24, 2002
(Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).

The prayer vigil will start at 12:00 p.m. each day and will continue into night. On November 23, the vigil will include a walk to the town center and prayers at the Mission San Juan Capistrano for the many Native Americans who across the state lost their lives because of European policies.

WHERE: The Putiidhem Sacred Cite and Burial Ground (the Intersection of Junipero Serra Road and Camino Capistrano, one block west of Interstate Five) in the City of

 

  

San Juan Capistrano.

WHY: A group of individuals who are hiding behind the name of Pueblo Serra LLC proposes to build a Catholic private academy on the cemetery of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, the Acjachemen Nation. The academy is to be named after Junipero Serra. The actions by the JSERRA group are only the latest action by developers and land owners to disregard the human and legal rights of Native Americans to protect and to honor their sacred sites. The actions by the JSERRA group were taken after Governor Davis vetoed the Sacred Sites bill. The development of the Catholic academy at the 29 acre site at Putiidhem represents an attempt to develop the last undeveloped homeland and the site of what was the main village for
the Acjachemen.

The actions by the JSERRA Group (developer) and the land owner are not alone. The City of San Juan Capistrano failed to follow applicable environmental laws such as CEQA and state cemetery laws in approving on a rush basis a zoning change and development agreement for the Catholic private academy. All over the state, developers and private land owners continue at will to desecrate Native American sacred sites. The actions being taken by these private interests demonstrate exactly why the State of California and the Governor should have enacted the Sacred Sites bill.

HOW: The prayer vigil is being initiated and sponsored by the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, the Acjachemen Nation. We are working on details as to lodging, food, etc., but we would welcome the support and involvement of all Tribal nations and people.

Additional details will follow. We thank you for your thoughts, support, and prayers.

CONTACT: Damien Shilo, Tribal Chairman, Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, at (949) 254-5421, or the Tribal Office at (949) 488-3484, or Michael Lombardi at (562) 714-1478, or Stephen B. Otto, Tribal Attorney, at (949) 633-3457.

Juaneño Band of Mission Indians
Acjachemen Nation
Tribal Council
Damien Shilo Chairman
Alice Lopez-Sainz Vice Chair
Christopher A. Lobo Secretary/Treasurer
Fran Yorba Member at Large
Andrea Cole Member at Large
31411-A La Matanza Street San Juan Capistrano CA 92675-2674 Phone (949)488-3484 Fax (949)488-3294 http://www.juaneno.com
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Please plan to attend one or more of this 3-day vigil.
Details and map on http://Putiidhem.org

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