The Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians is a federally recognized tribe of Luiseño people, headquartered in Riverside County, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

. On June 18, 1883, the Soboba Reservation was established by the United States government in San Jacinto, California

San Jacinto, California

San Jacinto is a city in Riverside County, California, U.S.A. It was named after Saint Hyacinth and is located at the north end of the San Jacinto Valley, with Hemet to its south. The mountains associated with the valley are the San Jacinto Mountains. The population was 44,199 at the 2010...

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Contact and change

The Luiseño Indians first encountered Europeans acting as missionaries, and the Luiseno allowed them to come through their community because they were literate. Writers passed through the San Jacinto valley where the Luiseňo were settled and recorded much of their culture, and along with missionaries and soldiers were a part of the 1776 Juan Bautista de Anza expedition overland to and through Las Californias

Las Californias

The Californias, or in — - was the name given by the Spanish to their northwestern territory of New Spain, comprising the present day states of Baja California and Baja California Sur on the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico; and the present day U.S. state of California in the United States of...

 sponsored by Spanish monarchy. Franciscan missionaries took the Luiseňo homeland and claimed it theirs for the San Antonio de Pala Asistencia cattle rancho

Rancho

Rancho may refer to:*Alta California land grants in the 19th century; see Ranchos of California*Rancho High School, a North Las Vegas high school*Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center**Rancho Los Amigos Scale...

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According to Father Jose Sanchez:

"Proceeding in the same direction, we stopped at Jaguara, so called by the natives, but by our people San Jacinto. This is the rancho for the cattle of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, also known as Mission San Luis Rey or San Luis Rey Mission Church, was founded on June 13, 1798 in coastal Las Californias, in the present day U.S. city of Oceanside in California. The local Quechnajuichom Native American tribe became known as the Luiseño 'Mission...

, distant from Temecula about eleven or twelve leagues."

Soboba reservation

The reservation was given back to the Luiseňo after the United States Government took control of California. An Executive Order established the Soboba reservation June 19, 1883.

Community

The members of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians have built a self-sustaining community. Their work includes agriculture and entertainment. Because of the businesses that they created, the economy of Soboba is strong. The tribe has built their own schools, including Noli Indian School, which serves grades twelve. They have also created non-profit organizations and a charity with the money they have made from all of their business.

Agriculture

The Soboba began their economy with agriculture, starting with apricots. Over time, they developed the land and the land surrounding the reservation. The members of the tribe worked their way outside of their own community and started working in the citrus industry. This agricultural industry allowed them to build their economy and expand.

Soboba Casino

The Soboba established a casino to earn profits. Their advantage was given to them because of California gambling laws. They were able to operate a casino as long as it stayed on their reservation. This casino is a premier gaming spot in California for many. The location of the casino is another great advantage because it is about 100 miles outside of Los Angeles, California. Many people from all over California come to the casino. Soboba Casino is the biggest source of income for the tribe, and continues to grow every day.

Entertainment attractions

Soboba has also developed a country club, which hosts golf tournaments and has a condominium resort. This resort opened May 2008 and holds the Soboba Golf Classic, which is a major golf tournament in California. This is another great source of income for the tribe.

Enrollment

Membership of the tribe is determined only by birth. Although a member is not required to live or be born on the reservation, they still must be a descendant of another member. Being a member of the tribe entitles one to voting rights for the government of the tribe.

Hierarchy

The government is administered by five tribal council members. The tribal chairman is the highest position of power and is elected by a popular vote of other members from the tribe. The vice chairwoman, secretary, treasurer, and member at large are put into position by demand of the elected council. The tribal government makes business decisions and laws for the Soboba reservation. Elections are held like general elections in the United States, and absentee ballots are available upon prior approval.

Chairman

Robert Salgado is the tribe's chairman. He was described in the LA Times as being colorful and controversial. Salgado is a former weightlifter and was a star college football player. After three tribal members were shot to death in a "wild" gunfight on the reservation, Salgado compared one Riverside County Sheriff's Department officer to George Armstrong Custer

George Armstrong Custer

George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...

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Salgado was arrested and charged by a Federal grand jury with accepting $250,000 in bribes from vendors and cheating on his taxes.

See also

• Indigenous peoples of California
  Indigenous peoples of California
  The Indigenous peoples of California are the indigenous inhabitants who have lived or currently live in the geographic area within the current boundaries of California before and after the arrival of Europeans. With over one hundred federally recognized tribes, California has the largest Native...
  
  
• California mission clash of cultures
  California mission clash of cultures
  The California mission clash of cultures occurred at the Spanish Missions in California during the Spanish Las Californias-New Spain and Mexican Alta California eras of control, with lasting consequences after American statehood...
  
  
• California Mission Indians

External links

• Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, official website
• Soboba Casino Review