Subject: David Belardes

• State Panel Backs Native Americans Battling Bolsa Chica Project

  After local Native Americans and the Bolsa Chica Land Trust lost their bid before the California Coastal Commission last month to halt Brightwater/Hearthside Homes construction on the Bolsa Chica mesa until they could be satisfied Indian bones were being handled properly, Anthony Morales said the last hope "for dignity" rested with the California Native American Heritage Commission. Late Friday night, the commission voted unanimously to give the tribal leader of the Gab

  December 13, 2008

• Native American Saga, Part 2: So Many Bones, So Little Time

  "Next is another fun item," joked Chairman Bill Mungary as the California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC) moved on to the controversy surrounding remains unearthed on the mesa above the Bolsa Chica wetlands after a lengthy debate over the treatment of buried remains at Mission San Juan Capistrano. The commission, meeting Friday in the San Juan Capistrano City Council chambers, is empowered by state resources laws to protect Native American remains, gravesites

  December 14, 2008

• Battle Over Bolsa Chica and Indian Bones Keeps Humming Along

  When the California Coastal Commission meets in Huntington Beach on Thursday, panelists will be staring into at least one familiar face: that of Chief Anthony Morales of the Gabrielino-Tongva Band of Mission Indians (pictured). While the commission deals with coastal development issues up and down the state, their monthly meetings bounce around from city to city so they can be closer to all the people whose interests they allegedly represent. Following them from town to town

  February 4, 2009

• One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indian Rifts at Bolsa Chica

  For Chief Anthony Morales of the Gabrielino-Tongva Band of Mission Indians, his long fight for the dignified treatment of Native American remains unearthed on the mesa overlooking the Bolsa Chica wetlands may finally be coming to an end. Healing a rift with rivals from the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, will likely take much longer.  Addressing the California Coastal Commission meeting Thursday at Huntington Beach City Hall, Morales revealed that Hearthside Ho

  February 6, 2009

• Belardes is No Chief, Says Last 'Real' Juaneno Chief's Grandson

  As reported here, the tribal council of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation does not believe Chief David Belardes, who leads a rival tribal faction across town in San Juan Capistrano, is a Juaneño nor does chairman Anthony Rivera's group recognize other factions. So, naturally, the council also does not consider Belardes a chief. It's an issue that hits home--literally--for the council's secretary-treasurer, Christopher Lobo, whose grandfather, Clare

  February 19, 2009

• Another Juaneno Blood Feud Heard From

  When I wrote about Chief David Belardes and his beef with Mission San Juan Capistrano, some members of the tribal council that considers themselves the legitimate Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation, were upset. That disappointment was spun into a story where Juaneño Chairman Anthony Rivera laid out a case for cross-town group leader Belardes not being a Juaneño, as he claims (and a separate blog post where Chris Lobo, late Chief Clarence Lobo's grandson, laid out a case for Be

  March 6, 2009

• Belardes, Mission San Juan Capistrano Settle Lawsuit

  Photo by Matt Coker The fountain gets to stay.Capistrano Dispatch reports the lawsuit pitting the Orange Diocese against Native Americans over a memorial garden installed above burial grounds at Mission San Juan Capistrano has been settled.The dispute produced a Weekly news story on the legal spat and a cover story on the lead plaintiff, Chief David Belardes, leader of the so-called "Belardes Group" of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation. That coverage also produced a follow-

  April 9, 2009

• Anthony Rivera's Juaneño Indian Tribal Council Says Chief David Belardes Is No Juaneño

  February 19, 2009

• Letters From OC Weekly Readers

  February 19, 2009

• Letters From OC Weekly Readers

  February 12, 2009

• David Belardes, OC's Most Controversial Native American Leader, Draws a Line in the Cemetery

  February 5, 2009

• Letters From OC Weekly Readers

  January 1, 2009

• Native American Battle Over a Mission San Juan Capistrano Garden Gets Ugly

  December 25, 2008

• Diary of a Mad County

  November 7, 2002

• This is Where We Pray

  November 8, 2001

• Apologize for This

  March 23, 2000

• Rain, Sage, Chants, Prayers, Apologies All Wrapped Up in a Rainbow

  After turning a corner leading to the Mission San Juan Capistrano courtyard, participants leaving this morning's wet prayer ceremony in honor of Native Americans who perished in an 1812 earthquake that toppled the Old Stone Church were treated to a bright, magnificent rainbow hanging over the western sky.That would not be the day's last miracle. The mission's clerical leader, Father Art Holquin, delivered his "strongest apology" to date for the desecration of sacred Native American burial ground

  February 6, 2009

• Juaneno Chief's Wife Cha Cha Belardes Passes Away

  Photo by John Gilhooley Chief David Belardes with tribal manager Joyce Perry of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians. ​When the Weekly was covering the conflict between Mission San Juan Capistrano and a faction of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians earlier this year, it appeared at times that Chief David Belardes would not be able to participate. In the end, he graciously gave way more face time than the reporter and photographers deserved, especially considerin

  November 10, 2009