WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Carl J. Artman will visit Southern California tomorrow to inspect extensive damage caused by the Poomacha Fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation and the Rincon Indian Reservation, two Luiseno tribal communities headquartered in San Diego County. He also will join other Federal and State officials in meetings with leaders from these and other affected tribes to discuss relief efforts for their communities.
Of the federally recognized tribes threatened or directly impacted by fires that have consumed thousands of acres in the southern California area over the past two weeks, the La Jolla Band of Luiseno Mission Indians and the Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians suffered the most severe damage to homes and businesses, including the loss of Rincon’s chapel, which was built in the late 1800s.
Other tribal communities impacted by the Poomacha or Witch fires include the Barona Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Witch), the Inaja-Cosmit Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Witch), the Mesa Grande Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Witch), the Pala Band of Luiseno Mission Indians (Poomacha), the Pauma-Yuima Band of Luiseno Mission Indians (Poomacha), the San Pasqual Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Poomacha), the Santa Ysabel Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Witch) and the Viejas Band of Diegueno Mission Indians (Witch). Threatened by the Harris Fire were the Jamul Indian Village, which suffered minimal damage, and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.
| WHO: | Carl J. Artman, Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. |
| WHAT: | Assistant Secretary Artman will inspect fire damage on the Rincon and La Jolla Indian Reservations and join other Federal and State officials in meetings with leaders of federally recognized tribes impacted by the southern California fires. |
| WHEN: | Tuesday, October 30, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. (local time). |
| WHERE: | Rincon Indian Reservation and La Jolla Indian Reservation. The inspection tour will begin at the Rincon Tribal Hall located at 1 West Tribal Road, Valley Center, Calif. 92082. |
Directions from San Diego, Calif.
· Go North on I-15 to the Via Rancho Parkway exit.· Turn right onto Via Rancho Parkway.
· Continue on Via Rancho Parkway, which becomes Bear Valley Parkway South.
· Turn right onto East Valley Parkway (S-6) and take to Lake Wohlford Road.
· Turn right onto Lake Wohlford Road (a shortcut for S-6) and take to Valley Center Road (S-6).
· Turn right onto Valley Center Road and take to West Tribal Road.
· Turn left onto West Tribal Road.
· Proceed to tribal buildings (located on left side of road).
CREDENTIALS: This invitation is extended to working media representatives, who are required to display sanctioned media credentials for admittance to the event.