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
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
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
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-
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
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
