Tribal Governments in Southern California

SOURCE: Indian Country

Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations
Lynn Valbuena, chairman


14 federally-recognized tribal governments in the SCAG region that are members of the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN) include:

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Augustine Band of Mission Indians
Cabazon Band of Missio Indians
Cahuilla Band of Indians
Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
Morongo Band of Mission Indians
Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians
Ramona Band of Mission Indians
San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
Santa Rosa Band of Mission Indians
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians
Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla
Twenty-NinePalms band of Mission Indians

TASIN's mission is to protect and promote tribal sovereign goverment rights, cultural identity and interests of federally recognized tribes located throughout the State of California.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SOCAL

Up and down the state of California, tribes are also developing non-gaming related businesses that also have a positive economic impact for surrounding communities.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has built its own state-of-the-art water-bottling facility for its newly launched Big Bear Mountain Premium Spring Water

The Santa Rosa Band of Mission Indians has a telecommunications site on its reservation.

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians has a tire reclamation facility. Used tires are recycled for other uses such as certain types of construction projects, fuel for pulp and paper mills, fuel for cement kilns, chips for septic tank liners and landfill liners, and disposal.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in Palm Springs owns and operates its own tribal bank, offering financial services to its tribal members, other tribal nations and the general public as well.

Indian casinos have been an economic boost to the Coachella Valley as agricultural businesses were lagging.

According to the California Gambling Control Commission, 45 of California’s 109 federally recognized tribes now operate casinos, although the state has entered into gaming compacts with 62 tribes. Some California tribes that have compacts but no casinos are planning to open such facilities, but many of the tribes that do not already have casinos are unlikely to establish gaming facilities, due to the small size and remote location of their Indian lands.