Hamiinat Magazine - Winter 2021

THE MAGAZINE OF THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel’s signature The Pines Modern Steakhouse has been reimagined. Now in a new location - on the first floor of the casino across from The Enclaveguests will be immersed into a modern American steakhouse in a setting inspired by today’s innovation and the landscape of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Enjoy specially sourced items, including wagyu steaks, fresh seafood and decadent dishes exclusive to the Inland Empire’s premiere steakhouse, The Pines

Learn more at yaamava.com/dining

Welcome to our second issue of Hamiinat,

the magazine of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The title translates to “hello” in the Maara’yam (Serrano Indian) language, and that is just what we want to extend to you – a warm hello.

Our cover story is an in-depth look at the most exciting development to come to the Inland Empire in the last several decades: Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. This new luxury hotel and casino signals a rebrand of San Manuel Casino and brings with it a new name, offerings and visual identity. Inspired by the traditions of the Serrano people in their ancestral lands, the “Y” logo recalls yucca plant fronds in a woven basket pattern, a homage to the Tribe’s skilled basket weavers.

Yaamava’, the Serrano word for the spring season, captures the idea of new opportunities and experiences created by the property, which will bring renewed life to the region not only with a plethora of jobs but also with upscale restaurants, bars, a spa and pool complex and a state-ofthe-art entertainment venue. Yaamava’ has been years in the making and we are so excited to welcome you through our doors.

In this issue we also meet the women who put us on the road to prosperity thanks to their role in tribal government. We also share some of the ways the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is helping to develop and support our local community and the region.

We invite you to learn more about our heritage and our history within these pages: our efforts to revitalize the Serrano language, those carrying on the tradition of Bird Singing and the designers moving Native motifs to the forefront. And finally, you’ll meet someone who has been with San Manuel since the beginning of gaming as well as one of the elders, who shares the wisdom given to her.

We thank you for being our guest and can’t wait to share our many new and exciting offerings as well as our culture with you.

Chairman Ken Ramirez

INDULGE YoUrsELf IN LUxUrY

At Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, you can find something for everyone. From high-end designer clothing to on-the-go accessories, Yaamava’ is host to six retail shops that will help add a bit of “rock” to your wardrobe or serve as the perfect complement for a special night out. Discover a new way to shop at yaamava.com/shopping

8 GIVING BACK

Philanthropic giving is a cornerstone of the Tribe’s culture. Here’s a look at the guiding principles that determine where grants will go and why it’s so important.

12 LEADERSHIP

Meet a few of the women who penned the first Articles of Association for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

15 PERSPECTIVE

A tribal elder explains her desire to pass on the traditions to the younger generation and recalls her favorite memories about life on the Reservation.

Just a few generations ago, speaking Serrano was banned. But this project has given new life to the native language. 18

Sacred songs, lost in the chaos of colonization, are now being taught to the next generation.

California officially honors the contributions of its Indigenous people on Native American Day.

Puyu’houpkcav

66 ON TREND

There’s no need to travel to exotic locations for a luxurious getaway. Find it right here in the Inland Empire at the new Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. 46 ACTION

Luc Robitaille talks about his nearly 40 years in the NHL, what it’s like to be in the front office rather than on the ice and what comes next for the Los Angeles Kings.

52

PHILANTHROPY

The pandemic jeopardized Goodwill Southern California’s ability to provide job training and placement – until the Tribe stepped in with a generous grant.

54

PARTNERSHIP

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians worked with UNLV to create law and hospitality programs tailored for Native gaming as well as scholarships for Indigenous people.

57

HELLO

A day-one employee talks about his start with San Manuel and what he loves about working at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

A quick look at dining, shopping, gaming and nightlife. 38

58 SUPPORT

A program for the Tribe’s youth prepares the next generation to be thoughtful stewards of their prosperity.

Centuries ago, Indigenous people exchanged language and goods on what would become Route 66. Now the Tribe seeks to establish a thriving culture here once again.

Native motifs are woven with unexpected patterns and materials.

Small businesses were struggling under pandemic restrictions, so San Manuel infused local establishments with the funds needed to keep their doors open.

60

WHAT’S NEXT

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians brings opportunity to the region and embraces the wave of the future with its new supply and logistics facility.

62 GOLF

See why the 2021 charity golf tournament hosted by San Manuel outshone the rest, and how you can be a part of the next one.

Curated collections of gifts for the ones you love (that includes you).

70 SAVOR

Hong Bao Kitchen brings the best of upscale Asian cuisine to the Inland Empire. Meet the man behind the menu: Chef de Cuisine Jun Tao.

76

One of the most exclusive wine and spirit collections is waiting for you at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

81

A rough-hewn crust, a touch of sweet cream and generous helping of fruit make this the perfect end to a hearty meal.

82 PROFILE

Cynthia Kiser Murphey shares when her fascination with the hospitality industry started and what she looks most forward to as the new General Manager of Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

H amiinat

Winter 2022

BUSINESS COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN Ken Ramirez

VICE CHAIRMAN Johnny Hernandez, Jr.

SECRETARY Audrey Martinez

TREASURER Latisha Casas

MEMBER AT LARGE Alexis Manzano

MEMBER AT LARGE Karina Torres

MEMBER AT LARGE Ed Duro

CONTRIBUTORS

Kyle Anderson

Peter Arceo

Afsi Bird

Jerry Bowlen

Jenna Brady

Eudora Chang

Lee Clauss

Jacob Coin

Dorothy Diaz-Gouzy

Leeana Espinoza

Christopher Fava

Andrea Ferguson

Mark Gallegos

Stevie Goldstein

Joey Gottesman

Abigail Graham

Mat Grogan

Kenji Hall

Serena Harper

Joseph Henderer

Heather Jackson

Alberto Jasso

Heather Jerritone

Cynthia Kiser Murphey

Cathy Knowles

David Kopasz

John Kristich

Chelsea Marek

Tonya Oatman

Anthony Olivas

Reyna Rivera

Chris Rosano

Ryan Sharpe

Kevin Shaw

Linchul Shin

Ken Shoji

Rikki Tanenbaum

Jun Tao

Shane Upson

Brandi Vega

Laurens Vosloo

Oliver Wolf

Rocio Zorrilla

Goodwill Southern California

LA Kings

San Manuel Gaming Commission

University of Nevada Las Vegas

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING:

Valentino Campos-Silva

Raoul (Beanie) Chacon

Santos Chacon

Carolann Duro

Nicole Fields

Andrew Henry

Tracy Henry

Annabella Hernandez

Audrey Hernandez

Gauge Hernandez

Johnny Hernandez, Jr.

Nekoli Hernandez

Roman Hernandez

Sophia Hernandez

Devin Jimenez

Deron Marquez, PhD

Sandra Marquez

Carlos Martinez

George Murillo, Sr.

Ken Ramirez

Running Bear Ramirez

Linda Paramo

Hawk Ramos

James (Chico) Ramos

James Ramos, Jr.

James Ramos, Sr.

Tom Ramos, Jr.

Tom Ramos

Rowena Ramos

Carla Rodriguez

Leah Torres-Rottenberry

Halani Zavala

Holly Zavala

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR Audrey Martinez

MANAGING EDITOR Ed Duro

MANAGING EDITOR Karina Torres

VP TRIBAL BRAND MARKETING Jessica Stops

TRIBAL BRAND MARKETING Darcy Gray

TRIBAL BRAND MARKETING Julie Lopez

PUBLISHER Peter Gotfredson

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Lauren Clulow

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jessica Villano

Thank you to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the entire tribal community for sharing their stories: past, present and future.

(puh-mee-ah chah-kee-meev)

OUR HERITAGE

Pümia’ čakimiv: what we came with. The phrase describes our heritage, traditions, culture and all the songs, dances and special things our people have passed down over many generations.

In this section we celebrate the success of the Yuhaaviatam with a look at the new luxury Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel –and all of the prosperity it will bring to the region. You’ll meet the people passing on the traditions of the Serrano people to the next generation, and the youth who are stepping up to become stewards of their culture. You’ll also hear from the women who helped form the first official San Manuel tribal government and see how the Tribe continues to give back to the community.

From Then to Now

A look at the resilience and determination of the Yuhaaviatam to remain self-sufficient and sovereign.

1700s-1820s

Spanish missionaries and military encounter the Yuhaaviatam (one clan of the Maara’yam), which they call “Serrano” or “highlander.” Many Maara’yam are forced into the mission system as slave labor for Spain.

CREATION

Since Time

Immemorial Maara’yam people inhabit the mountains, valleys and deserts of Southern California.

1850s-1860s

American settlers invade Serrano territory. CA governor instructs militias to exterminate Native people. Yuhaaviatam are killed and chased out of their territory.

1880s

Native American boarding schools are established in the U. S. with the primary objective of “civilizing” or assimilating Native American children and youth into Euro-American culture, while destroying and vilifying Native American culture.

TREATY MAKING

1866

Raids and bloodshed decimate the Tribe. Kiika’ Santos Manuel makes a decision to courageously bring the remnant of his people from the mountains to safety on the valley floor.

Early to Mid-1900s

Tribe adapts and adjusts to reservation life. U.S. government continues to dictate what the Tribe can and cannot do.

1975

1966

Articles of Association are adopted by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

President Ford signs the Indian SelfDetermination and Education Assistance Act, a federal policy of Indian selfdetermination, first declared by President Nixon.

THE NEW DEAL

ASSIMILATION

1934

1891

U.S. government passes the Act for Relief of Mission Indians, which recognizes the Tribe as a sovereign nation and establishes the Reservation. The Tribe chooses the name San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Indian Reorganization Act is enacted by U.S. Congress, aimed at decreasing federal control of American Indian affairs and increasing Indian self-government and responsibility.

1970

In address to Congress regarding the federal policy of terminating relationships with tribes, President Nixon states, “This policy of forced termination is wrong.” He then outlines a policy of self-determination rather than termination.

Photo courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

1986

San Manuel Indian Bingo opens.

1987

1978

Indian gaming movement begins with Seminole Tribe of Florida.

California v. Cabazon: U.S. Supreme Court landmark decision affirms right of tribal governments to conduct gaming on their lands.

1990s-2000s

Tribe takes an active role in passing Proposition 5 and Proposition 1A.

1998

Proposition 5 is supported by 63 percent of voters in favor of gaming by Indian tribes in California. A lawsuit by a labor union causes the measure to be struck down by California Supreme Court.

SELF-DETERMINATION

1988

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act passes, creating statutory framework for Indian gaming.

1980s

SMBMI seeks new business opportunities to strengthen sovereignty and journey towards self-sufficiency.

1994

San Manuel Indian Bingo adds gaming operations and advances goal of economic selfsufficiency.

2000

Residence Inn by Marriott opens in Washington, DC. The project is from the Four Fires intertribal economic partnership, which includes San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2017

Tribe transforms bingo hall into Rockin’ Casino area.

2021

2019

San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority forms to explore economic growth opportunities.

First phase of San Manuel Casino Resort expansion finishes.

San Manuel Casino becomes Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

STRENGTHENING OUR FUTURE

2006

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians breaks ground on San Manuel Village in Highland, CA, a mixed-use, off-reservation, commercial development.

2007

Residence Inn by Marriott opens in Sacramento, CA. The project is from the Three Fires intertribal economic partnership, which includes San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2008

Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel opened in Highland, CA, at San Manuel Village, a development of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Proposition 1A, supported by 65 percent of California voters, changes the state constitution and provides exclusive right to Indian tribes to operate a limited scope of casino-style gaming on Indian lands, in accordance with federal law.

2018

Opening of the Autograph Collection, The Draftsman Hotel, in Charlottesville, VA, a joint venture that includes the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

2016

SMBMI acquires sacred lands in San Bernardino Mountains with purchase of Arrowhead Springs Hotel.

2021

San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority announces agreement to purchase the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

A Cultural Tradition;

“We’ve always been a humble and giving Tribe.”

Philanthropic giving is one of the defining characteristics of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Learn why it’s so important and how the gifts have impacted others.

BY PATRICIA KIRK

“Yawa’ inspires us to give back to not only our community but also to support human needs.”

“Our relationship with the San Bernardino community has been going on for over a century.”

Like their Serrano ancestors, the citizens of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians practice the spirit of Yawa’, the concept of acting on one’s belief. To the Tribe, this means preserving and protecting its ancestral lands and offering a better quality of life for its inhabitants. But Tribal Vice Chairman Johnny Hernandez, Jr. said, “Yawa’ inspires us to give back to not only our community but also to support human needs throughout the United States and all of Indian Country.”

“We’ve always been a humble and giving Tribe,” added Audrey Martinez, San Manuel Tribal Secretary. “We always tried to give back what we could, no matter what. It didn’t have to be financial. It could just be something like a place to hold a meeting.”

The Tribe opened a small bingo hall in 1986, ideally situated a short drive from Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties, which was a huge success. Today, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel (formerly San Manuel Casino) has become the largest and one of the most successful casinoresort operations in California.

The gaming industry lifted the Tribe’s people out of poverty, boosted the regional economy with thousands of new jobs and spending on local goods and services and enabled the Tribe to invest in hotels and other real estate nationally.

In marveling at the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ success, only one thing could match it: its philanthropic generosity. Today, the

“Now that the tables have turned, we see the needs in our local community and in other tribal communities and feel it’s up to us to help out. We’re doing what we couldn’t do before, and we’re very grateful to be able to do that.”

She said the Tribe’s relationship with the community is mutual and notes, for example, that the Tribe has worked closely with the Highland Senior Center for the last 30 years. “Whether it’s food, water or something else they needed or we needed, we always found a way to help each other out,” said Audrey.

Thirty years ago, when the Tribe was living in poverty, people from the San Bernardino area recognized their struggle and brought food, clothing and whatever else was needed to sustain them through those difficult times. Even as poor as they were, tribal citizens returned this generosity, giving back fruit and baskets that had taken them weeks or months to make. Audrey, who recalled happily growing up on the Reservation, was unaware of her family’s poverty.

“I remember people bringing clothing and gifts for the kids at Christmas,” added Audrey. “People saw a need and came and helped,” she continued, noting, for example, that the local Jaycees came up to the Reservation to help the men build a community center that provided meals.

“Our relationship with the people in the San Bernardino region has been going on for over a century,” said Johnny. “When our Tribe didn’t have access to healthcare and those typical things that every person should be able to get, doctors from Loma Linda came on horseback and in buggies to provide services to our people.”

Tribe gives locally and across the country.

Through the Tribe’s efforts, it has been able to improve access to healthcare and education; develop both economic and community initiatives; and fund special projects that

encompass environmental, arts, tribal cultural preservation, Native language revitalization, nonprofit capacity building and disaster response.

“San Manuel Cares focuses resources on services, programs and initiatives that deliver the greatest value with measurable cultural and social impact,” said San Manuel Chairman Ken Ramirez. “We cherish and celebrate our spiritual, cultural and tribal traditions, support sustainable environmental practices and advocate for resilient, healthy communities,” he added.

San Manuel philanthropy has grown from a small operation that relied on personal contacts to find worthy projects initiated by local nonprofits to now a robust effort with a top-tier,

four-pillar focus for the giving program.

Audrey Martinez explained the four pillars that are the hallmark of the Tribe’s philanthropy. She stated that a healthy community must be physically and mentally fit to grow and contribute to the well-being of the region. Education expands and strengthens the minds to grow future leaders, open doors to opportunity and bring prosperity to the area. Investments in safety, housing, employment and infrastructure projects help to stabilize the community. And special projects encompassing environmental integrity, arts, native language revitalization, nonprofit capacity building and others are a key element of the Tribe’s giving.

get help from cities and foundations. It’s different for tribes. They don’t have that kind of help or those opportunities, so anything we can do to help them get a little ahead warms my heart.”

The Tribe has provided funding for boys and girls clubs on reservations and helped Eastern and Midwestern tribes living in substandard housing. Knowing the people would face freezing temperatures, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians provided blankets, jackets and anything else needed to get them through the winter as well as helped them build secure housing.

“The Tribe now has the ability to take care of not only our own people but also to practice Yawa’ throughout our community, to give back to those who stood with us from the beginning.”

“Now that the tables have turned, we see the needs in our local community and in other tribal communities and feel it’s up to us to help out,” said Audrey. “We’re doing what we couldn’t do before, and we’re very grateful to be able to do that.”

“Our relationship with the people in the area is reciprocal,” Johnny added. “The Tribe now has the ability to take care of not only our own people but also to practice Yawa’, to give back to those who stood with us from the beginning.”

Audrey notes that San Manuel Cares helps tribes facing social and economic challenges throughout California and nationwide. “There are still tribes in California that don’t have electricity,” she said. “I like helping people in our local communities, but they

Johnny explained that government funding tends to go to the larger cities, which is why they have a deep commitment to those living in the Tribe’s ancestral lands. “Sometimes it feels like our area gets left out,” he said. “That’s why San Manuel prioritizes our local region.”

But San Manuel Cares supports nonprofit organizations working to create a better tomorrow for all communities. “As Serrano people, we feel like it’s our duty to take care of our ancestral territory, the people locally and Indian Country as well as help others get what they need,” Johnny said. “In fact, a lot of the big money goes to support vulnerable communities outside of the local area in places like South Los Angeles, San Francisco and beyond.”

San Manuel Cares participates in many projects that help vulnerable populations and has donated

Empowering Lives

MARY’S MERCY CENTER

The Tribe’s partnership with Mary’s Mercy Center began in 2004 with a $5,000 donation to Mary’s Table and Veronica’s Home of Mercy to help provide daily meals to the homeless and create a safe home for homeless women with children. The relationship has continued to grow and today has expanded to the support of Mary’s Mercy Center, an independent nonprofit affiliate of the Catholic Church. Today, the Tribe has provided an $8 million investment to build Mary’s Village, a place of hope for homeless men. With San Manuel’s funding, the organization was able to create over 100 new transitional housing beds in the local region.

Reinforcing Healthy & Resilient Communities

RIVERSIDE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY INDIAN HEALTH

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has been a key partner in building out the capacity of the Riverside San Bernardino County Indian Health clinics in the Inland Empire. In decades past, San Manuel tribal citizens had received healthcare services at the clinic and the Tribe wanted to continue the relationship by supporting new healthcare clinics throughout the Inland Empire. Since 2005, the Tribe has funded more than $5.2 million in various capital campaign projects and several health programs.

Inspiring Our Future Through Education

BRIGHT PROSPECT

Bright Prospect empowers low-income, firstgeneration students to gain admission, succeed and graduate from four-year colleges and universities by providing a comprehensive counseling and support system throughout their high school and college years. The program’s goal is to break the cycle of poverty by significantly increasing the collegegoing culture and rate in the community. Currently, the program serves 2,578 high school and college students from Los Angeles and San Bernardino County. Since 2013, the Tribe has provided contributions in support of its College Scholarships for San Bernardino County Students Program.

hundreds of thousands of dollars to programs and organizations that benefit the health and well-being of Inland Empire residents. The Tribe has supported organizations such as the Community Action Partnership’s Community Food Pantry, Family Service Association’s Senior Nutrition Program, Catholic Charities rental and mortgage assistance program to support at-risk families, the City of San Bernardino for the first all-accessible playground in the city and the American Red Cross for disaster assistance to families.

But the Tribe’s big gifts of $1 million or more include a $25 million gift to Loma Linda University Hospital for the San Manuel Maternity Pavilion within Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital facility, which expanded care to the region’s most vulnerable mothers, babies and children.

It was with this gift that members of the Tribe felt their journey on the road to self-sufficiency and prosperity had come full circle: if not for the doctors at Loma Linda coming to care for the tribal citizens and deliver their babies more than a century ago, the Tribe might not be here at all.

“Philanthropy is important because we completely understand what it is like to have needs across the whole spectrum of life, whether it’s food, shelter, clothing,” explained Johnny. “Now we’re in the position to give back, especially to the community that has given us so much, so it’s one of the most important priorities to the Tribe, especially here in our homelands.”

Preserving our Cultural Traditions & Empowering Indian Country

KERES CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER

Keres Children’s Learning Center provides a 50/50 dual language immersion school to the children (age 3-12) of the Cochiti Pueblo in New Mexico. The elders, the only fluent Keres speakers, work closely with the students; parents also attend language classes with elders or KCLC’s annual Language Symposium. Because of the funding from San Manuel, now entering its second year, KCLC has been able to continue the language revitalization work within their respective communities.

Founding Mothers of San Manuel

As the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians updates its governing documents to address the challenges of the 21st century, three surviving signers – part of the all-woman leadership group that crafted and signed the original Articles of Association in 1966 – reflect on what female leadership taught them and what it means today.

BY JACQUELINE KEELER

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians swore in new tribal government leadership. Consisting of a majority of women, this would be news for most tribes in the United States, but not for San Manuel, which, in 1966, was led entirely by women.

It was an all-female group/cohort that wrote and signed into law the Tribe’s Articles of Association. This was at a time when there were only 13 women in the entire United States Congress: Five of the 11 in the House and both in the Senate had succeeded their late husbands to their position as “widow candidates.” But for the women of San Manuel, leadership in their own right came naturally.

When asked how the leadership of the Tribe ended up being comprised of all women 55 years ago, Rowena (Chacon) Ramos, one of three living original signers of the Tribe’s Articles of Association, said laughing, “We were the only ones that would do it. The guys didn’t want to do it. They all declined.”

Rowena, her sister Sandra (Chacon) Marquez, and Linda

(Chacon) Paramo, all young women in 1966, were learning the ropes of leadership from their mothers and aunts who had led the Tribe for years. “It just always seemed to be that way. It seemed to be the women,” Ramos explained, noting her mother, Martha Manuel Chacon, was the Tribe’s spokesperson, or recognized leader, during the 1950s.

San Manuel Treasurer and Chairwoman of San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA) Latisha Casas noted that both her mother and grandmother had served as Chairperson for the Tribe. She speculated that it was due to “the coming of foreign powers onto our territory, Native men were pulled away from their communities by the Spanish mission system and early California state laws, leading to unjust incarcerations and forced labor.”

Serrano men continued to leave their communities into the 20th century due to military service and distant work locations. It was in the men’s absence that San Manuel women took on leadership roles while still fulfilling their caretaker duties and “worked to sustain their community culturally, economically and politically.”

The need for federal services coupled with their leadership obligations required structure to their governance efforts. Up to that time, governance for San Manuel was based solely on tribal customs and traditions, which were not readily understood by the federal government. “We had to come up with Articles of Association in order to receive services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) like HUD homes, roads, electricity and water,” recalled Sandra Marquez, also a daughter of Martha Manuel Chacon and signer.

Working off a sample they requested from a BIA field agent, the original signers – Julia Williams, Erma Jimenez, Jane Duro and Frances Morongo (all who have since passed) along with Sandra Marquez, Rowena Ramos and Linda Paramo – worked through the year, shaping the Articles to meet their needs. Marquez pounded out the drafts and finished the final version on an old typewriter. The women say they were not forced to use a “boiler-plate” constitution. In fact, the field agent was reluctant to provide them with a sample of the document until they insisted.

Before obtaining federal services, everything – from fixing pipes that brought water from the springs to maintaining the Big House where they held meetings and ceremonies – was maintained by pooling their families’ meager resources and even holding bake sales outside the local grocery store. Often, this meant they went without. And when the elders who had maintained the pipe from the spring

the childhood days of these three women leaders provided unique lifelong learning experiences. As children and young people, they also found refuge in their Reservation, which at the time was only 640 acres in size. The tribal citizens could only build on the flat part of the mostly mountainous land left to them. There was a single street with only one way in or out. But despite their humble home, the elders described joyfully exploring their land and canyons. This was a place where they only rarely had to deal with the outside world.

“The hills were our playground,” Sandra

“At eighteen, I made a promise to my Tutu. She told me to get an education and bring that education back to the Tribe.”

waters died, they found themselves without water.

“In 1959, it was the year I graduated from high school,” Rowena Ramos remembered, “and it was a heck of a mess because we couldn’t even get the water hooked up. We were using the ditch water at that time. We’d boil it and everything. I remember my mom going and getting it by the buckets to water her flowers and her vegetable gardens and stuff. She used to go get the little white bucket with a red trim on it.”

As they relay these stories, the women are overcome with laughter. Despite the poverty they experienced, they didn’t know they were poor until they went to school with the white kids in town. And yet facing the challenges together as a community, sometimes even up against overt racism and scorn by their neighbors, their experiences bonded them together as they supported and helped one another. Life on the San Manuel Reservation during

Marquez recalled. “The canyon was our playground – Sand Canyon. The Reservation was on the hill. We ran all over those hills.”

Once, the then teenagers, gave their families a scare when it took them a long time to get home one evening. “They were mad because they were looking all over for us,” Ramos said. “We never told them we were going. I never did that again. We really got in trouble that night.”

Their land provided an abundance of resources they needed for their sustenance. Gathering of plants, medicines and materials needed for everything from making gourd rattles for Bird Singing to building a Kiič, or traditional home structure, were part of Yuhaaviatam life. They depended on the land for food, too. Not only growing citrus to sell to the public, but their traditional Native food including pinon, yucca and

cactus. Once, they had to fight for it – and the women led the charge.

“There were some guys who came up and were cutting the cactus down,” Linda Paramo said. “So, Rowena’s mom and sister and my mom and two aunts jumped on the truck and chased them.”

“All women,” Rowena noted, laughing. “Made them dump it all out because they were coming and taking it all. Yeah. All the cactus and not paying for it.” Both women were overcome with laughter as they told the story.

With the completion of the Articles of Association, BIA funds became accessible, and family members could move back to the Reservation with the promise of housing, water and electricity. Recalling those times in the mid-’60s, all three elders said they could not have predicted the tremendous success the Tribe would have with gaming.

Linda Chacon Paramo, Erma Montes Jimenez and Rowena Chacon Ramos

We literally had nothing,” Lynn Valbuena, former Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, told Indian Country Today in 2015 when she was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame. “We had no water or electricity until the fifties. We had welfare trucks come to our Reservation with powdered milk and other surplus government commodities.”

These experiences served only to reinforce the true character of the Yuhaaviatam as hospitable people, who were quick to help a stranger traveling through their vast ancestral territory. They gave what was needed for the visitor to complete their journey. The caring nature of the people of San Manuel continues today.

Over the past few decades, San Manuel has contributed more than $290 million to communitybased nonprofits and universities in Southern California and across the country to Indian tribes and Native nonprofit groups. During the pandemic, the Tribe set a million dollars aside to assist 50 small businesses from within their Serrano ancestral territory. “We are driven by memories of how the Reservation used to be,” Valbuena noted, “as well as our Serrano traditions of sharing with others.”

The work of the women who crafted and shaped the Articles of Association back in 1966 contributed to the Tribe’s business success in the later years. “We knew we had to do it no matter what,” Rowena said. “It just took a long time getting it the way we thought was going to be best for us.”

Roy Chacon, Rowena and Sandra’s brother, said the Articles established the foundation and helped guide the Tribe through tough decisions

and weed out murky offers while building its gaming business. Good governance and the documents that lay the groundwork for it can be powerful tools for development.

Today, a new tribal constitution – the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Constitution –is being crafted and deliberated upon to replace the 1966 Articles.

“Those pages provided a modus operandi that allowed the Tribe to flourish,” said Deron Marquez, PhD and former San Manuel Chairman. “The new structure seeks to validate the current governmental functions as practiced by the General Council and elected bodies, clarifying where needed. The current draft contemplates a desire for ‘grand community’ involvement, pursuing summum bonum, the greatest good.”

Alexis Manzano – who served on the Judiciary Committee as Vice Chairwoman until 2020 and currently serves on the Business Committee –continues this work. Twenty-five years old and among the new generation of San Manuel women leaders, Manzano, a descendent of Frances Morongo, is a member of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Constitution Working Group. In this role, she is helping to guide efforts to update the Tribe’s governing documents. San Manuel Chairman Ken Ramirez hailed her election and her service as bringing new energy to the committee and blazing new paths for the upcoming generation of San Manuel citizens.

“They’re all very intelligent,” said Sandra Marquez, speaking of the younger generation. Take Alexis for example, who earned her bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and her master’s from Claremont Graduate University, where she is currently earning her doctorate. Sandra’s granddaughters are also pursuing higher education: Keely Marquez recently graduated from the University of Arizona and Kayla Stouffer from California Baptist University, Riverside.

“They are doing so well,” Sandra said. “And we will keep encouraging them.”

Another example of the new generation of women leaders at San Manuel is Latisha Casas. “At eighteen, I made a promise to my Tutu [grandmother, Martha Manuel Chacon] to go back to school,” Latisha recalled recently for Indian Country Today. “She told me to get an education and bring that education back to the Tribe.”

As of this date, Latisha, a graduate of the University of Redlands, has served as Treasurer for six out of a possible seven terms and is also currently serving as the Chairwoman of SMGHA.

This has been a long journey for the Tribe that resisted the push to organize a government under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The community valued its own authentic form of government, which had worked for them for thousands of years prior to reservation life, which the people of San Manuel continue to mirror in much of their governance.

Even difficult memories for the elders are told with laughter. Back when the Yuhaaviatam people, the People of the Pines, were confined to a single street at the bottom of the steep hillside Reservation, they survived because of community and a desire to persevere and thrive in the midst of adversity.…Like the grandmas and the aunties chasing cactus leaf thieves from the Reservation decades ago, today the women of San Manuel remain bravely and fiercely committed to their community and its sovereignty.

Norma Fabela Manzano, Frances Morongo, Julia Morongo Williams and Jane Morongo Duro

Rowena Chacon Ramos and Sandra Marquez

Rowena Chacon Ramos and Linda Chacon Paramo

Reflection

One of San Manuel’s most respected tribal elders shares about her childhood growing up on the Reservation and how she feels about passing on the traditions to the younger generation.

Rowena Ramos was born September 28, 1941 and was raised on the San Manuel Indian Reservation with her siblings: Pauline (Dimples), Roy, Beanie, Sandy and Carla. She is the great-granddaughter of Santos Manuel, granddaughter of Jesusa Manuel and daughter of Martha Manuel Chacon and Raoul Chacon.

Rowena has been married for 55 years to James (Jaime) Ramos and has four children: Ken, Alaina, James (Chico) and Tommy. She has 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, with two more on the way, and she prays for them daily. She believes if we never lose sight of God, and are thankful for all we have, the Tribe will continue to be successful.

QWhat does it mean to you to be Serrano, and a citizen of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians?

Everything. Being Serrano and Cahuilla is who we are.

Q

What is one lesson you’ve learned from your elders?

To keep our traditions going. To hand them down so nobody forgets. Always remember where we came from.

Q

What are some of your greatest memories growing up?

Dodie, Linda, Irma and I were always together. One time, Irma and I dyed our hair with lipstick. Mom and Dad saw my hair and got mad! They made us wash our hair and our tub was full of red. Oh my goodness. I had a hard time cleaning that tub. Didn’t do that one again!

Q

Can you talk about changes to the Reservation over time?

There was nothing up here but orange trees and an apricot grove. I have a picture of my mom and dad and in the background you can see the orange groves and the apricot grove.

Rowena worked as a beautician until she retired and is co-owner of Executive Fitness and Mixed Martial Arts. She also has received awards for her philanthropic support. Rowena served on the Tribe’s Business Committee in the early years and was one of the original signers of the Articles of Association.

She believes in keeping the youth active to promote productive leaders. She also believes in teaching traditions, such as basket weaving, in the tribal programs. Rowena encourages passing down the Tribe’s stories, songs, language, dances and values so the tribal citizens never forget where they came from.

QAs you think of how much you’ve seen change in your lifetime, what are you most proud of?

It makes me feel good that the kids can go to the colleges they want to go to. They won’t have to hurt for the money to go to college like we did. I’m so happy for that.

Q

What was it like growing up on the Reservation as a child?

I was one of the last ones born here. My first four years we lived down in San Bernardino because my dad was from the area. When I turned five, we moved back, and I’ve been here ever since.

Q

What is a fond memory you have of growing up in this area as a teenager?

My brother was in a band. Dodie’s dad Vincent Morongo, took us to other reservations to go dancing and hear my brother play.

Q

What is one piece of advice you’d like to pass on to the younger generation?

I’m always telling my grandkids: learn everything about the Reservation. Don’t let it die out. If that happens – we’re all gone. They’re singing the Bird Songs and dancing and they’re carrying on the stories; my boys are carrying on the stories as well. Don’t let it die out – that’s from my mom and the other elders.

REAWAKENING Serrano

How the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians are giving new life to the Native language.

Contributing

Do a quick internet search on the Serrano language and you’ll find reports of its death. But cross the threshold of the San Manuel Community Center’s Education Department and you’ll be greeted with a spirited “Hamiinat!” The word translates to hello and was so important to the Serrano people that, at one point in their history, they were known as the Hamiinats.

The Community Center on the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Reservation is the headquarters of the Serrano Language Revitalization Project (SLRP). Here the walls are covered in Serrano phrases, pictures of local animals and vibrant artwork from the children who are learning to speak the language of their ancestors.

Venture further and you’ll find students and teachers sharing stories in Serrano, a critical next-level development for the SLRP. “I’m focused on speaking conversationally because I don’t want to lose this part of our culture,” explained tribal citizen and intern Nicole Fields, who has been learning the language since she was two. “It’s important for Serrano to survive as a spoken language, not just as phrases or words in history books.” The high school student’s passion for the language has led her to an internship at SLRP, where she is teaching the language, translating stories and transcribing audio, among other things.

What led to the creation of the SLRP is a story all too common in California Indian communities: an attempt to force assimilation and erase Indigenous culture. These objectives were carried out through the Mission system and boarding schools, where tribal youth were forbidden to speak Native languages.

Today, there are very few people who grew up with Serrano speakers, but Ernest Siva, an elder from the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, remembers hearing Serrano in his home. Now he has taken an active role in the revitalization efforts. Ernest not only teaches the Serrano language course at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), but he also meets with the San Manuel Education Department, attends cultural events, shares oral histories and sings traditional Bird Songs.

“He’s heavily involved in going back through collections of language, recordings and journals,” explained Joe Henderer, Manager of the Serrano Language Revitalization Program. “In fact, we spent years thinking we understood what was being said on a certain recording and then one day, as we listened to it with Mr. Siva, he said, ‘Did you catch that?’ And we realized there’s a word that no one ever knew about on that file. Once we realized that was a word, we heard it in five other places with different people. Then we went back and adjusted our definitions.”

In fact, it was Ernest’s aunt, Dorothy Ramon, a prolific Serrano speaker, who created the fundamental teaching tool of the SLRP: her autobiographical work written with linguist Eric Elliot, entitled Wayta’ Yawa’. Documenting her knowledge and the oral history in English and Serrano, the book is now used to teach students about the Serrano culture and language.

The Serrano Language Revitalization Project officially began in 2004, but it sprang from tribal efforts to bring back the language starting in the 1980s. To date, the program has successfully developed a written alphabet, dictionary, grammar and teaching textbook, a variety of educational materials and even the college-level curriculum for CSUSB. The yearlong course – taught by Joe Henderer and team in conjunction with Ernest Siva – gives students the ability to speak basic Serrano as well as a history of the culture, all while earning high school or university-level credit.

Classes at the Community Center are offered to tribal adults almost any day and time; tribal youth are welcome to participate after school or tutoring. When school is out, the Summer Academy offers Serrano learning activities, games, field trips and, once, even a language immersion camp for young tribal citizens.

The staff and tribal interns – under the direction of the Education Department, overseen by the Education Board, which is made up of tribal citizens – also are pursuing other initiatives: community outreach; board books for toddlers; oral history projects; and words and phrases of the week to strengthen conversational skills.

“Right now, we’re focusing on plants and seasonality. We’re not just asking ‘Where are you? Where are you going?’ but ‘Where do the oaks

writer Carolann Jane Duro with additional reporting by Nicole Fields

grow? Where do acorns come in? When do we go there so we can gather enough food for the winter?’ This gives more grounding within the ancestral territory and gives cultural context that goes hand in hand with speaking the language. It’s such a different learning experience because the language is already adept at talking about these things within their culture,” Henderer explained.

Through the SLRP, the Tribe introduces language to the children at a young age, so they know their heritage is alive today, not just in myths, stories and songs. One young student, Adysin, age 4, said she loved learning her ABCs and how to talk about the weather and food. An older student, Wee-sha, age 16, explained, “I like learning Serrano because it helps me learn about my people and it connects me to my Tribe as a whole.”

Carla Rodriguez, former Chairwoman of the Tribe, agreed that learning her Native language has deepened her appreciation for her culture.

“I had family members who spoke Serrano and because of this early experience, I became a fierce advocate for language revitalization.” Along with taking classes through the SLRP, Carla volunteered as a teacher for the California Native American Day program at CSUSB, where she used a traditional acorn game to teach children numbers.

Johnny Hernandez Jr., Tribal Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Education Board, not only wants to see the language used in everyday conversations,

“but also in schools, sacred ceremonies and tribal government proceedings,” he said. “The goal is for people to use it as a true language, to get to the point where they can carry on conversations. And we’re getting there: the community is starting to use Serrano in some of our formal meetings.”

Today, because of the collective effort of the community to reawaken the language, tribal citizens interact with Serrano daily, are encouraged to speak it as often as possible and, perhaps most importantly, the youth are growing up with the language, songs, stories and values.

“Parents want their kids to speak Serrano, even though they never had a chance. I’ve had parents say, ‘I didn’t have any of this. I don’t know one word.’ To see them begin to learn it and help create a space where the language is valuable within the community is amazing,” said Ed Duro, who currently serves on both the Business Committee and the Education Board.

Tribal youth share what they love about learning Serrano:

“ I can learn new words every time I see my teachers, and that is why I love Serrano.”

– Kai’a, 6

“Learning Serrano” – Maliyah, 6

“Learning the animals.” – Jane, 7

“Everything.” – Martin, 8

“My favorite part of learning Serrano is learning new words and doing the weather report.”

– Kawai, 8

“ I like learning about the animals and the plants. That’s fun.” – Sophia, 10

“My favorite part about Serrano is the games we play and learning how to say what time it is.”

– Apathy, 11

“My favorite part is learning stories. I like the one about the brothers with the red and blue headbands. That’s my favorite. Also, our dad teaches us.” – Audrey, 12

“ I like it because it’s part of our culture.”

– Uriah, 13

“Reconnecting with my culture.” – Claudia, 16

Songs of the People

Ancient songs that connected the people to one another and the land were almost wiped out by colonization. Today the Yuhaaviatam of the Maara’yam have relearned those songs and are sharing them with the next generation.

By Sean Milanovich

Photography by Robert John Kley

Long ago, the Cahuillam (keepers of the Cahuilla Bird Song tradition) and the Maara’yam (keepers of the Serrano Big Horn Sheep Songs) lived in the mountains, canyons, deserts and valleys around the San Jacinto and San Bernardino Mountains.

Creator made them caretakers of the land, water, plants and animals and then gave them songs to help and heal themselves. After Creator died, the people scattered and went on a long walk. They recorded the travels and their experiences in song. Known as Bird Songs, they told the epic journey of the first people’s migration and their return to their homelands.

According to the Bird Songs, when the people returned, they settled in different areas and they created good health and well-being through song. The people sang from the valley floors to the mountaintops to give thanks all throughout the year.

“The Bird Songs taught the people life lessons,” tribal citizen Tom Ramos explained. “And the Bighorn Sheep Songs honored the animals and gave thanks.”

Tom and his brother James, the first Native California State Assembly Member, are part of the effort to revitalize the tradition. The great-great grandsons of Santos Manuel, for whom the Tribe is named, now educate the tribal community on the importance of the songs through the Tribal Unity and Cultural Awareness Program.

Ithe massacre. The Reservation was a barren scrubland, miles from their more resource-rich ancestral lands.

Their way of life had been completely disrupted and – instead of hunting, gathering acorns and singing the songs – the people were solely focused on protecting their families from further threat and making whatever living they could, however small. Cultural expressions went underground and, by the 1990s, only a few people amongst all Southern Californian Cahuillam and Maara’yam knew the Bird Songs.

The songs teach the people and share the culture. They remind the Yuhaaviatam of who they are and where they came from.

One of the hummingbird songs tells the story of the older hummingbird that goes into the flower and takes its time to get its nourishment, as the younger hummingbird flies around so fast to get to every flower that it never gets full of the nectar it needs.

The Maara’yam Bighorn Sheep Songs were sung before a hunt. The people honored the Bighorn and gave thanks for their sacrifice to feed the people. In the same sense, when a man cut down a tree, a song was given to honor the tree. The people learned early on that one must always put back for the next one.

n 1866, the peaceful Maara’yam in the San Bernardino vicinity were invaded by settlers who set out to exterminate all Indigenous people in mountains and high deserts. “There were shootings and killings everywhere,” explained James Ramos.

In 1891, the United States government established the San Manuel Reservation for the members of the Yuhaaviatam clan who survived

Tom and James Ramos recalled traveling to Agua Caliente Reservation in the 1980s with their grandmother Martha Manuel Chacon, where she sold palillies and frybread at Andreas Ranch. It was here they experienced tribal citizens singing Bird Songs – at the invitation of the late Anthony Andreas, head Bird Singer for the Painiktem Clan – and were inspired to learn the ancient songs.

The Yuhaaviatam struggled to keep their songs, but elders from other tribal communities shared theirs: Cahuilla elder Robert Levi from Torres Martinez Band taught the Cahuilla Bird Songs and, to this day, Maara’yam elder Ernest Siva – from the Morongo Band – teaches the Big Horn Sheep Songs.

Today the songs are taught through San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ tribal programs, which have grown to include basketry, cultural history, ethnobotany, language and pottery. “James and I teach our youth at every opportunity we get,” said Tom, including the Yaamava’ Spring Celebration, Yucca Harvest, Yuhaaviatam Camp and California Native American Day as well as at other tribal Reservation gatherings, where song plays a significant role.

“The songs are to be cherished. All that we are, all that we have done through song, it was done so we could be here today,” explained James.

FIRST CALIFORNIANS

BY KENNETH SHOJI

From the Kumeyaay in San Diego and the Serrano in San Bernardino all the way to the Yurok in the Klamath Basin, the indigenous tribes of California each has a unique and diverse culture that has lasted through countless generations.

Today there are more than 109 recognized tribes in California, more than any other state in the nation.

An acknowledgment of the California Indians came in 1968 when Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a resolution calling for the fourth Friday of each September to be American Indian Day.

It was hoped that this acknowledgment would help to inform the public about Native American heritage and the problems faced by Indians in California.

For years, the California tribes celebrated the fourth Friday of September by renewing their ties to the Earth and keeping alive the ways of their ancestors through traditional observances.

In 1998, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill No. 1953, authored by then Assembly Member Joe Baca, establishing the day as an official state holiday which was required to be proclaimed annually. In

Culturally, California is one of the richest states in the nation thanks to the heritage, traditions and history of its many federally recognized tribes. Now the state is honoring those contributions with Native American Day.

2014, Assembly Bill No. 1973 permanently set this day as California’s Native American Day holiday.

However, there was more work to be done to ensure that this day received the fullest measure of recognition: a paid state holiday.

Over the last two decades, San Manuel hosted the California Indian Cultural Awareness Conference (CICAC) to teach factual history of California’s tribes and spread awareness of the holiday. This weeklong conference and celebration has drawn tens of thousands of teachers, students and the general public, building grassroots awareness of the Native American holiday and fulfilling its goal for Native Americans to be represented accurately in the story of California.

Founded by tribal citizen James Ramos in 1999,

this conference demonstrated that active engagement could shape public perception and ultimately set public policy; this was how they forged a path toward a paid state holiday.

On California’s Native American Day this year, the governor signed a historic bill granting state judicial branch employees the first ever paid holiday on California’s Native American Day. This holiday replaces Columbus Day as a day the courts will be closed to mark the contributions of Native people in California.

Tribal citizen and now Assembly Member James C. Ramos (D-Highland) with continual support from San Manuel, secured a unanimous 72-0 bipartisan vote paving the way for the governor’s signature.

“We are so enthusiastic to announce, on California Native American Day, that the governor has signed the bill giving Native American Day the fullest measure of recognition within the state of California judiciary,” said San Manuel Chairman Ken Ramirez. “Tribes across the state hoped over the years that their contributions would be recognized by all Californians. With the signing of this bill, we move another step closer to full recognition.”

An Investment in Our Future

Throughout Indian Country, it’s believed the youth are the future. Now San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is investing in both the youth and the future through the Youth Grantmakers Program.

BY KOLBY KICKING WOMAN

Yawa’ – acting on one’s beliefs – is the most important guiding principle of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

“The spirit of Yawa’ inspires us to give back to the areas we call home – and support nonprofit organizations that are working to create a better tomorrow,” said Tribal Vice Chairman Johnny Hernandez, Jr.

Members of the Tribe have seen time and again the profound positive impact a financial gift can make. But who chooses which organization gets that gift? How do they weigh the merit of each

cause? And what happens between the moment an organization requests money and that money is granted?

These are all important questions that the next generation will need to answer if they are to carry on the mission of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and embody the spirit of Yawa’.

“The Tribal Youth Grantmakers program was created to prepare the upcoming Tribal leaders for responsive community leadership through a collaborative hands-on learning experience,” Johnny Hernandez, Jr. explained.

The 10-week program for tribal citizens between the ages of 10 and 20 prepares the participants by building interest in philanthropy and community engagement. Siblings Gauge, Annabella and Nekoli –who also happen to be the children of the Vice Chairman of the Tribe – participated in the first program session.

When asked about his participation, Gauge said, “I was inspired to apply for the Grantmakers program in the first place because of my dad. He does so much for the Reservation, for our community and Tribe. I want to go out and do all of those cool things – but for the youth.”

Annabella and Nekoli are participating in the program again and shared similar sentiments, explaining they not only wanted to get more involved with the Tribe but also help people in need.

During the first Grantmakers program session, the brothers and sister – who are also Youth Committee officers – started at the very beginning of the process: understanding what a grant is. They then went on to develop grantmaking skills, learn about the nonprofit sector and community needs and understand what responsive community leadership is.

During the first session, classes were conducted virtually due to the pandemic, but the group was able to go on a field trip. It was then that they saw firsthand the impact the Tribe has on surrounding communities through its philanthropic endeavors.

The participants visited Mary’s Village, a transitional home for homeless men that San Manuel supported with a grant of $7.5 million. The youth toured the campus, walked through the housing units and met a few residents.

“It was really clear how our support can make a big change in the community, even a small check can

help the community,” Nekoli said.

The course emphasizes the Tribe’s Charitable Giving program, responsible philanthropy, community needs and what makes a good nonprofit. Students also collaborate on the funding decisions of proposals submitted by nonprofit partners.

While the youth didn’t write any grants themselves, they created a grant application using program guidelines and collaboratively chose a nonprofit to apply for what would be a $50,000 grant. All the work, experience, education and instruction culminated with a funding recommendation presentation to the Business Committee.

There were multiple candidates and the trio said it was a difficult decision, but they finally narrowed it down to Meals on Wheels and Support the Enlisted Project (STEP). Ultimately, the youth chose STEP because it aligned with the Tribe’s giving pillars and guidelines. STEP serves recently discharged veterans, active-duty military members and their families in the Inland Empire.

Serving around 5,600 families a year, STEP aims to build financial self-sufficiency through counseling, education and grants among junior, active-duty enlisted members and recently

discharged enlisted veterans and their families facing financial crisis. In fact, through STEP, 87 percent of clients reach one or more of their goals and 90 percent increase their financial well-being by the end of the program.

During the check presentation, Gauge, Annabella and Nekoli recalled how grateful the organization was that they were selected.

“It really lifted my spirit,” Gauge said. “They made me feel good about what I did. They made me feel smarter too and, overall, I felt like a better person, in my spirit, in my mind and my heart.”

As the program is set to start its second session, the Hernandez children are excited to welcome new participants: Roman, Sophia, Audrey and Leah. Roman explained, “I enjoy learning about how we can best support different organizations so that when I become a Business Committee member, I can help with the grant process.”

Audrey added, “I’m proud to be a San Manuel tribal citizen and I look forward to helping my community in the future.” She also said, “I want to become a Business Committee member when I get older, and I see this as a first step.”

And for those worried it might be dull, it’s anything but that.

“It’s a great learning experience,” Annabella said. “You’ll definitely learn a lot of new things with this…I know I did.”

Gauge added that he hopes more youth apply and take advantage of what the Tribe has to offer. “The things I’ve learned have prepared me for a good job and learning successful habits. And it’s all fun stuff, I really encourage everyone to do it.”

Cruisin’ Cruisin’

Route 66

What was once a trade route for the Indigenous people of Southern California became the quintessential ‘50s destination thanks to the famous Route 66. While the road lives on only in the memories of the people who traveled it, the spirit of exchanging ideas, goods and culture still thrives here.

BY MARYANN CASTRONOVO

Imagine it’s 1946. You’ve just purchased a 1941 convertible Buick and immediately feel the call to put the top down, take to the open road and drive out West to start a new life for yourself. This is exactly what Bobby Troup, the jazz musician who penned the iconic song, “I Get My Kicks on Route 66” did.

As one of the most popular road-trip songs ever written – covered by the Nat King Cole Trio, the Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode – its melody had a way of transporting dreamers from the windy city of Chicago, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and the San Bernardino Mountains – the ancestral territory of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians – to Santa Monica, California.

Created in 1926, Route 66 was built to offer car owners a flat, easy-tonavigate wide road, with easy curves that promised drivable conditions, no matter the weather. Described romantically as “the most scenic route from Chicago to Los Angeles,” it went through the heart of a picture-postcard landscape of orange groves, overlooked by snowcapped pine peaks.

This “main street” would link the Midwest with the West – and thousands traveled along her pavement to seek a new life in the Golden State. With a vision of modernity, Route 66 promised to boost local economies along its passageway – and delivered on its promise for 60 years.

Centuries before the arrival of Route 66’s paved highway, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians lived in harmony with the land across the highlands, passes, valleys and mountains in and between the southwestern Mojave Desert and Inland Empire region.

Known as the Yuhaaviatam clan, or “People of the Pines” of the Maara’yam (Serrano Indians), the Serrano held sacred everything the land provided so they could thrive as an independent, self-sustaining community.

In the 1700-1800s, contact with three waves of European peoples led to the Tribe’s forced removal from their ancestral territory – as well as their near extermination as a people. This physical and cultural genocide led to a disenfranchisement from their sacred spaces, plants and animals,

the remains of their ancestors and their traditional clan-based interactions.

The U.S. government established a Reservation in Highland, CA for the tribal citizens who survived the genocide. The barren scrubland far from their forested ancestral lands became home and they adapted to the harsher conditions, single source of water and meager hunting/gathering opportunities. As time passed, the city near the Reservation grew, and the changes reverberated up the hillside to affect the Tribe.

For generations, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians had persevered through great change and extreme hardship. The Tribe was faced, once again, with enormous upheaval impacting its home, this time it was the threading of Route 66 through the mountain pass and right through downtown San Bernardino on E Street.

Remembering the adaptability of those who came before them, the tribal citizens shifted their perception and saw that the sharp increase in traffic would bring tourism and a growing population would ultimately give rise to a burgeoning trade, allowing the Serrano the freedom to strengthen and honor the Tribe’s culture and traditions once again.

In the end, Route 66 breathed life into San Bernardino. From the late ’50s to early ’70s, E Street – with its main street vibe and booming businesses – became the perfect place to showcase the cars of the times. The stretch traveled five miles south through downtown, along Fifth Avenue to Rialto Avenue, ending just south of Main at Orange Show Road. With Route 66, San Bernardino became the destination we all envision when we think of the ‘50s – complete with classic-car cruising, carhops and the original McDonald’s.

In 1964, less than a decade after the Interstate Act, which provided the funds for Route 66, part of California’s section of Route 66 was decommissioned. By 1985, the iconic roadway was rendered obsolete by high-speed interstates and many of the stops and landmarks fell into obscurity.

Q&A with BEANIE CHACON Q&A

Raoul ‘Beanie’ Chacon, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians elder, is a professional musician. Over the past 40 years, Mr. Chacon has shared the stage with the likes of James Brown, Bo Didley, Bobby Day and The Coasters. Today he fronts Best of Everything, the band that stays true to the music of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s and keeps it alive for the fans.

What was E Street like back in the ’50s and ’60s when it was part of Route 66?

People from all over Southern California would come and cruise. I was about 18 and I’d take my younger cousins on the weekend. We’d borrow my dad’s car and cruise up and down. A lot of locals did the same. I remember getting burgers at the original McDonald’s with all the other kids from the local high schools.

Are there any memories that stand out?

A lot of big acts came through. Lots of venues, the most famous was Swing Auditorium. Good venue, top-notch stars. Eventually, the legacy of the route would bring thousands for a cruise to remember the old days.

What happened to E Street when the bigger freeways came in?

Route 66 brought people into the neighborhoods; it connected us. But with freeways, the people bypassed the neighborhoods. Once the freeways came in, everything went downhill. Over time, people stopped going downtown. But San Manuel, which was very quiet growing up – no streetlights, no activity – is drawing people back.

Do you think the Tribe could bring back the energy and excitement?

Back then people came to San Bernardino from all over. I’d love it if the Tribe could bring that back. When I was little, we had to walk a mile to get a city bus to go to the Reservation and then walk a dirt road with no streetlights to get downtown/Route 66. Boy, what a change. I never thought I’d live to see that excitement we have here now.

New highways were built, including the 10 and the 15 freeways, which bypassed San Bernardino and routed traffic north to Las Vegas or south to Palm Springs, and San Bernardino started to slip from the map.

With the closing of Route 66, another historic change could have affected the future of the Serrano clan but, like their ancestors, Serrano looked to their sacred land and everything her resources could provide.

Simultaneously, nationwide protests regarding the horrific treatment of Native Americans were taking place. The result was the passing of the Determination and Education Assistance Act, which allowed federally recognized tribes to exercise their right to selfgovernance.

A reckoning had occurred and with it came a more secure economy. With government-recognized independence intact, and the Tribe’s future in mind, the Serrano people, now known as the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, could explore opportunities for new businesses both on and off the Reservation.

With their focus not only on improving the lives of the tribal citizens right then but also for the next seven generations, the Tribe opened San Manuel Bingo Hall. More than 30 years later, that bingo hall has evolved into the luxurious new Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel. Today, Yaamava’ and the 210 freeway, which brings the benefits of major eastto-west transit, have made San Bernardino a destination once again.

The building and development of the community, shadowed by the largest forested wilderness region of Southern California, is at the center of the Tribe’s mission to give back to their people and honor their land. Generations of perseverance through great change and extreme hardship has allowed them to support tribal operations, the local community and tribal nations. And although the historic Route 66 no longer runs down the center of E Street, with the opening of the luxury Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, the Tribe is helping the San Bernardino community become the destination it was in its heyday.

wild heart wild heart

at

Balancing rugged with romantic, we intertwine traditional Native patterns and materials with plaid, floral and chambray to create looks that are as at home in the woods as they are in the arms of the one you love. Shot at Lake Arrowhead, the ancestral lands of the Yuhaaviatam.

STYLED BY CHRISTIE MOELLER • STYLE ASSISTANT BY TIFFANY WEEKES • HAIR & MAKEUP BY KRYSTLE RANDALL MODEL PROVIDED BY ATTRACT AGENCY AND STORM LA

Photography by Robert John Kley

Her: PM Waterlily Denim/ Leather Hand Painted Cape by Patricia Michaels available at patricia-michaels.com.

Arrowhead Hat with handcrafted reclaimed leather hat band by ThunderVoice Hat Co. available at ThunderVoiceHatCo.com.

Crush Roasted Pecan Western Bootie by Durango Boots available at durangoboots.com.

Him: Vintage Hand Painted Jacket by 4Kinship available at 4kinship.com. One-of-a-kind Hat with extra wide reclaimed leather band by ThunderVoice Hat Co. available at ThunderVoiceHatCo.com.

Made in the USA West Fork Red Jeans, Thunderbird Bandana and Veg Tanned Bandana Slide by Ginew available at ginewusa.com.

at durangoboots.com.

Reclaimed Minimalist Tracker Hat by ThunderVoice Hat Co. available at ThunderVoiceHatCo.com.

Selvedge Denim Shop Jacket and Bandana by Ginew available at ginewusa.com.

Him: Pacific Hoodie by B. Yellowtail + Faherty available at byellowtail.com. Navajo Water Jacquard Robe by Pendleton available at pendleton-usa.com.

Her: Crush Roasted Pecan Western Bootie by Durango Boots available

Brown Plaid Skater Skirt by Belinda Bullshoe available at Bullshoe Creation via Facebook.

Her: Peyote Stitch Wrap Top and Peyote Stitch Wide Leg Pant by B. Yellowtail available at byellowtail.com.

Hand-formed and hand-shaped reclaimed Arrowhead Hat paired with handcrafted reclaimed leather band by ThunderVoice Hat Co. available at ThunderVoiceHatCo.com.

Double Necklace and Turquoise Necklace by Aaron Rock available at 1891 Boutique at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

Him: PM Waterlily Designs Long Sleeve Jersey, Pottery Shards Bomber Jacket and Eagle Feather Joggers by Patricia Michaels available at patriciamichaels.com.

Durango Westward Dark Chestnut & Black Onyx Western Boot by Durango Boots available at durangoboots.com

Naskan Saddle Blanket by Pendleton available at pendleton-usa.com.

Her: Blue Flower Skirt by Belinda Bullshoe available at Bullshoe Creation via Facebook.

Him: One-of-a-kind custom large hat with extra wide reclaimed leather band by ThunderVoice Hat Co. available at ThunderVoiceHatCo.com. Made in the USA Shop Jacket in Selvedge Denim by Ginew available at ginewusa.com.

Her: PM Waterlily Cardigan and Neofelted Dress by Patricia Michaels available at patricia-michaels.com.

the

Him: Men’s Leather Cuffs, Tribal Necklace and Boltie by Aaron Rock available at 1891 Boutique at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. Made in

USA West Fork Red Jeans by Ginew available at ginewusa.com. Native Design Vest by Belinda Bullshoe available at Bullshoe Creation via Facebook.

IT’S IN THE NUMBERS

SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANS helped build the first full-service HOMELESS SHELTER IN SAN BERNARDINO

LARGEST DONATION

MADE TO DATE BY THE TRIBE FOR

THE TRIBE HAS AWARDED OVER

$25 MILLION $290 million

IN PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS SINCE 2003

$53.9 MILLION

of grant funding has gone towards supporting POST-SECONDARY AND CONTINUING EDUCATION OVER OF THE TRIBE’S OVERALL GIVING WAS AWARDED TO GRANTS THAT WERE OVER $1 MILLION 47.5% OVER

SAN MANUEL MATERNITY PAVILION has been awarded to support projects and programs that support various NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES

THE TRIBE HAS PROVIDED $249.2 MILLION in funding support towards nonprofit organizations (total of 3,236 groups)

$72.9 MILLION

Puyu’houpkcav

(poo-yoo-hope-k-chahv)

TOGETHER

Puyu’houpkčav: together. When all are together as one, we accomplish more. We strive each day towards unity of purpose and spirit.

From fond memories of cruising E Street on a Saturday night to the mom-and-pop businesses hard hit by the pandemic, we explore the San Bernardino region and how it’s evolving to thrive in modern times. We also meet some of the people in the organizations that have partnered with San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to improve the lives of people, both here and away and, finally, we take a look at what’s next for the L.A. Kings.

MODERN SPLENDOR +Native Roots

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel debuts as the Inland Empire’s first and only luxury destination, one inspired by heritage and defined by a determination to be the best.

BY DAKOTA KIM

Yaamava’, the Serrano word for spring, gestures toward the lively awakening occurring at the new Highland, California resort. Guests will now discover well-appointed accommodations and relaxation along with beloved dining, gaming and entertainment options the casino was known for. The vibrant destination, one of Forbes Travel Guide’s “35 Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2021,” underwent a $760-million expansion and renovation under the direction of master architects WATG and Klai Juba Wald, with interior design by vied-for firms Avenue ID, Testani Design Troupe, Klai Juba Wald and Gensler.

“Our property is just breathtaking,” said Afsi Bird, Vice President of Hotel Operations. “We have a gorgeous property, a superior guest experience and a best-in-class service team – and we’re the only ones offering this level of a resort in this area. There’s nothing else like it.”

General Manager Peter Arceo marveled at the vision and passion required to bring the resort from concept to execution.

“It’s so exciting to see the Tribe’s vision come to life. Many years of planning and countless hours of work, by many team members, went into making this a reality,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the looks of wonder and smiles from our guests as they enjoy everything that Yaamava’ Resort & Casino has to offer!”

Chris Fava, Vice President of Food and Beverage, agreed. “Guests are going to experience true hospitality at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. We’re treating them as though they were guests in our home, and we will curate a bespoke experience for each individual.”

Like many ventures destined for greatness, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino started small. In 1986, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians opened a little bingo hall, which became the subject of a decade-long political and legal battle. Ultimately, that bingo hall succeeded mightily. Today its spirit lives on in the campus curated with top-notch care.

“When you walk through our resort, you feel that sense of family, belonging and welcoming. It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve been in the hospitality industry a long time, so I know this is unique. It starts at the top with the Tribe.”

Whether dropping in for an afternoon of gaming and a tantalizing meal or settling in for a few days, visitors will be struck by the elevated design found throughout. Guests stroll into the lobby and are met by the sounds of a river created by calming water features that abut natural stone-clad walls. Above, a modern ceiling features seasonal imagery and towering oaks shade the lounge seating. Behind the reception area is a long green wall and a beautiful 30-foot botanical art piece made from succulents and seasonal color that welcomes guests.

“The magnificent pieces we create represent the essence of Yaamava’ and the Tribe,” Jerry Bowlen, Director of Horticulture, said about the flora throughout the resort. Yaamava’ employs the best horticulturists in the country, all

of whom are flourishing under the talented and experienced eye of Bowlen, who comes to the resort from Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Rare and showy florals from far-flung locales –including the Netherlands, Colombia and Ecuador – create these stunning scenes. “From the moment you step into the grand lobby, you’re struck by towering trees, hanging greenery, cascading fountains and beautiful representations of the Yaamava’ ‘Y’ logo,” Bowlen said.

Come the holidays, the ornamental landscaping and décor will add to the excitement and anticipation of Christmas, the Fourth of July and Lunar New Year. During the winter holidays, bombastic displays will abound, featuring burgundy shades festooned among massive garlands, along with acorns and pinecones, both important symbols to the Serrano people.

The Yaamava’ logo, which represents the yucca fronds in a woven pattern, is a nod to the Tribe’s history as basket weavers and will serve as festive holiday tree toppers; ornaments and abundant water features will amaze merrymaking guests. Bowlen envisions future displays will have spectacular robotics featuring illuminated animals and moving Christmas figures. “We’re going to elevate the holiday show to be the best yet – the likes of which no one has ever seen or could imagine,” said Bowlen.

One of the most exciting facets of the new Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is the ability to hang your hat and stay a while. Superior accommodations at the all-new hotel stun with 432 guest rooms designed by Gensler – a world-renowned architecture and interior design firm – and include 239 standard king rooms, 65 standard double queen rooms, 127 suites and four luxury units.

While every floor at San Manuel is considered luxury – the suites are distributed across all levels – the 16th and 17th floors offer higher ceilings and higher thread-count linens. There is even a 2,600-square-foot suite on the 17th-floor, replete with living space, bar, oversized private terrace and sweeping vistas.

Upon entering an enchanting guest room at Yaamava’, guests will be struck by the enviable, and

At Long Last

The steakhouse darling reopens with a stunning new design and an even better menu.

Most anticipated is the reopening of The Pines Modern Steakhouse, a favorite spot for friends and family to gather over its splendors. The new design by Testani Design Troupe spotlights the landscape of the San Bernardino mountains. Textural, wood-clad corridors, flower pressings from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ Reservation and a swooping bentwood ceiling with an oversized basket weave are all inspired by the Tribe, while graceful interspersions of slatted wood and ombré stucco call to mind the sunlight as it washes the mountainside.

A private dining room, featuring Hollywood-style booths, is tucked away from the bar and main room. Here hightech windows instantly morph from opaque to clear and doors open to absorb the robust ambiance of the steakhouse when desired.

The cuisine boasts locally sourced produce, organic grass-fed beef from California ranches and high-quality seafood from all over the world. Steaks are grilled over a custom wood-fire grill and the cocktails are handcrafted by in-house mixologists.

The wine selection – awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence – boasts high-end wines from around the world: California Cabs like the Caymus Cabernet and the Silver Oak Napa Cabernet intermingle with top-notch bottles like the Opus One 2016 Magnum.

Guests can start with an aperitif and an impressive charcuterie board at the bar, then proceed to their table for the steakhouse classics such as a Porterhouse, New York strip or ribeye. Also on the menu is a Santa Carota grass-fed ribeye, sourced from carrot-fed beef, instead of grass-fed.

The Pines will also offer tableside services, including various cuts of wagyu presented and cooked tableside on a hot rock served with a variety of sauces, a smoked burrata in a lantern box released tableside, a long-bone steak carved tableside and a Baked Alaska lit tableside.

The pièce de résistance: a liquid nitrogen dessert cart, where guests freeze and crack their own chocolate bark. Guests will select seasonal ingredients, temper their chocolate on a tray, pour liquid nitrogen on top and then use a mallet to break off pieces for the table.

inherently Instagrammable, view of the San Bernardino Mountains. North-facing rooms also look over the San Manuel Reservation, while south-facing rooms give guests sweeping views of the spectacular pools, Radiance Café and Helix Bar.

Slowly, other details come into focus: the lavish custom wallpaper by designers Phillip Jeffries and Maya Romanoff and the high-end furniture, including an authentic 1950s Eames lounge chair and ottoman manufactured by the Herman Miller company.

“This Eames chair now resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York,” said John Kristich, Director of Design and Development. “There are many imitations out there, but San Manuel chose to install the authentic Herman Miller in each guest room.”

Grand furniture and fixture touches were custom designed for guest rooms and corridors. Eric Brand and Montague, fine furniture manufacturers, were charged with manufacturing furniture, while fixture designs were handled by Gensler.

The luxurious bathroom presents a modern translation of the organic beauty found on the nearby San Manuel Reservation as well as premium fixtures and rain showers. Silky linens and terrycloth robes were provided by Frette, while a calming Yaamava’ scent was custom-blended to infuse all toiletries.

When guests visit Yaamava’s two lavish pools, they’ll find a liquid sanctuary surrounded by native trees and aquamarine and coral deck loungers. Here they can start with a leisurely swim before soaking up the sun. Those seeking shade can book a private cabana outfitted with privacy drapes and

an automatic sunroof to be adjusted as desired.

Nearby, Helix, the poolside bar, and Radiance Café offer opportunities to unwind with casual fare and handcrafted cocktails such as an icy Mai Tai or Piña Colada. Grab a gourmet burger and the game on the large LED screen at Helix or settle into a comfy banquette at Radiance. Here, woven basket pendants and a grass-cloth patterned pop-up ceiling serve as subtle nods to the Tribe.

The cutting-edge Serrano Spa, with its stunning desert, mountain and pool views, welcomes guests next. “There’s something about the desert that’s very cleansing and empowering,” said Shane Upson, Director of Spa Operations. “We’re bringing in the Indigenous elements and staying true to our heritage by weaving those natural motifs into the spa. It’s all about Serrano strength and resilience.”

Evening at the resort is no less exciting with new bars and restaurants. Come early 2022, the resort will cut the ribbon on its third stage of development, a capstone to so much thoughtful design and hard work: a 2,800-seat entertainment venue. Yaamava’ has partnered with Live Nation

Fresh TAKES

With its opening, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel offers a multitude of ways to dine, imbibe and celebrate. Here’s a quick look at everything in store.

Café

The rich history of the region becomes evident as you enter this popular 24-hour restaurant. Creative dishes like the Pho’Rench Dip – a Vietnamese-influenced French dip – filet mignon with Argentinian chimichurri or Spicy Thai Salad are served against a backdrop of hand-painted citrus murals, which pay homage to the region’s citrus grove past.

The First Step

Serrano Spa at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino

Imagine this: you’re coming off a winning streak, followed by an afternoon of lounging by the pool. You stroll across the deck and open the glass doors where you’re greeted by a wellness specialist. After a tour of the tranquility area, the coed water sanctuary and the VIP rooms, you step onto a terrace and take in the sweeping views of the mountains and the sparkling pool.

This is the new Serrano Spa, a luxurious destination offering cutting-edge wellness technology such as hypervolt massages, LED light treatments and hydrafacials as well as tried-and-true modalities: Swedish, shiatsu and sports therapy massage. In the salon, stylists will offer cuts, deep conditioning, hair regeneration and even beard grooming.

“More than ever, men care about self-care and presentation and we’re here to help them reach their wellness goals,” said Tonya Oatman, Vice President of Retail and Spa.

Nourishment is another important part of those goals and the spa’s cuisine will feature California’s abundant local produce as well as smoothies and elixirs such as curative juices. Guests can even indulge in a handcrafted cocktail before stopping by the spa marketplace. Here they’ll find highend skincare, jewelry promoting well-being, activewear, swimwear, kimonos, candles and a curated selection of gifts.

Guests will leave feeling not only revitalized, but like a member of the Serrano Spa community.

“We empower our team to connect with guests authentically,” said Shane Upson, Director of Spa Operations. “Each time a guest returns, we continue the conversation about what they hope to achieve. We want you to walk away remembering us, knowing you just can’t wait for your next luxurious experience at the Serrano Spa.”

Premier style, tabletop gaming and whimsical glass flower décor draw patrons to this elegant spot nestled above the stone steps of the grand lobby. Perch in a plush seat at the fluted walnut bar topped with Carrera marble, and sip a Hailey’s Comet cocktail for a chic and elegant way to kick off the evening.

Serrano Vista

The Overlook Bar

to book major acts in this amazing venue. Here, guests will be treated to one-of-a-kind experiences in an intimate setting.

For those who prefer the lounge vibe, DJs spin at Aces, where guests can order bottle service from the sofa. Deuces, a true casino bar, has both gaming and walk-up service. And, The Overlook Bar – adorned with a gorgeous glass floral motif and plush seating – offers an elevated premier bar experience with bar-top games and handcrafted cocktails.

“The Overlook Bar offers private stock wine, the rarest of high-end spirits and lavishly handcrafted cocktails. Elevated on the second story balcony, you’ll feel radiant lounging under the lights of our lily glass chandelier while gazing out at the thrill below,” said Nick Dukes, Assistant Manager of High Limit Food and Beverage.

Reserved for VIPs, Y Lounge, the exclusive 17th floor rooftop lounge offers expansive views of both the mountains on the horizon and the picturesque pools below. There, guests will find a cigar lounge and whiskey locker as well as dining. Outside, intimate seating arrangements are framed by lush plants on an open terrace; inside, marble, warm woods, rich jewel-tones, crystal chandeliers and bespoke furniture set the scene for an unforgettable evening.

“It’s our ultra-exclusive VIP-only lounge and it boasts unmatched views of the San Bernardino mountains,” said Linchul Shin, Director of Food and Beverage. “But the Y Lounge also is a comfortable space where guests can enjoy themselves and be provided whatever they may need by our very best service team.”

Perhaps the most exciting addition to the dining and nightlife scene is The Pines Modern Steakhouse, a popular destination for celebrations among friends and family as well as celebrities.

“The Pines will be the new premier steakhouse

Y Lounge Venture to the 17 th floor and discover the new VIP-only bar and lounge where guests can enjoy a fine cigar outdoors while watching the sun set dramatically over the mountains. Exclusive but welcoming and warm, this space will play host to 120 total guests and features private dining for a group of 10.

in the country, offering the very best for all of our guests,” Shin said. “While the food and beverage offerings will shine on their own, what we really pride ourselves on is our service. We want to connect with guests, while providing a very highlevel product with curated experience and service. Our goal is to evoke a positive emotional response for every guest, every table, every time.”

On the gaming floor – designed by world-class gaming and hospitality architects Klai Juba Wald, Las Vegas – players will find new delights at every turn, from two new floors of expanded gaming space to 40 new table games and 1,500 slots. The Enclave – with eight table games, 46 slots and lounge – joins Lotus 8 Palace, The Vault Gaming and Provisions, High Limit Tables and High Limit Slots on the roster of Yaamava’s high-limit rooms. The premium gaming areas allow VIP players to enjoy exclusive gaming salons, enter through private entrances and, thanks to a new credit program, refrain from carrying valuables or cash.

“While the food and beverage offerings will shine on their own, what we really pride ourselves on is our service. We want to connect with guests, while providing a very high-level product with curated experience and service.”

The sweeping pool and cabana area will offer dining experiences at Helix Bar and Radiance Café, which will feature Southern California’s hottest brunch with rotating themes served on the pool deck for the ultimate al fresco brunch experience.

86

In the resort’s dining spaces, guests can order a bottle or taste from Collection 86. Deemed one of the finest and rarest collections in the world, the portfolio features special cognacs, like the Hardy Cognac collection, and iconic bourbons as well as one of only two bottles in the United States of a certain scotch.

Pool

The

Collection

“Time is of the essence, and we want to maximize players’ time for enjoyment,” said Heather Jerrytone, Director of VIP Services. Jerrytone’s team goes the extra mile to create “wow” moments: getting tickets to a Lakers game or primetime reservations at The Pines Modern Steakhouse; setting the stage for a romantic proposal at The Overlook Bar; or using specific décor for a bachelorette party or anniversary. “But what we’re most excited about is being able to provide luxurious overnight accommodations and unmatched spa experiences for all our guests, so they can come back refreshed and play on their own time.”

Slots fans will love that Yaamava’ Resort & Casino boasts the “Most Slots in the West,” adding more than 1,500 machines during the renovation, bringing the grand total to more than 6,500. They’ll also appreciate that Yaamava’ Resort & Casino is an early adopter of new games such as Aristocrat’s Dollar Storm and Buffalo Cash and, with the popularity of the Buffalo theme, Yaamava’ has the most Buffalo units in the U.S.

“Every time we’ve expanded our gaming spaces, our guests have said, ‘We want more, and we want to be the first to try these games,’” said Kenji Hall, Chief Operating Officer, Casino. “We have more than sixty player-development team members who have a lot of one-on-one interactions with our players and our slot team is the best in the country: they review data analytics, sit down with our guests and find out what’s working so we can constantly improve. It speaks to our strategy of providing the best and the newest for our guests.”

When it’s time to reap the rewards, guests won’t have to leave the casino floor to shop. Three new retail shops cater to men’s luxury, women’s luxury as well as travel and tech. Cache & Carry offers the latest in carryalls and suitcases, as well as phone and tech accessories; HIS – with its dressing room decked out with playful wallpaper featuring hand mirrors, two handsome Atelier de Troupe modular industrialinspired chandeliers and rich walnut veneer – begs guests to try on the latest in fine menswear and, if it’s during a VIP event, even sip a fine whiskey.

“We offer personalized service and a cool, modern, sexy feel for our gentlemen. At HIS, he can get a nice cigar, pick out his silhouette and get a shoeshine – all without being rushed,” said Tonya Oatman, Vice

President of Retail and Spa. At HERS, the discerning female customer will find favorite designer handbags and accessories as well as crystal by Lalique.

Oatman added that HIS and HERS will add more VIP events and activations throughout the year, each with a different look and feel. In the spa shop, guests will be able to indulge in high-end skincare, wellness jewelry, candles, swimwear, kimonos and activewear.

Throughout the resort, from the impressive shops to the convivial gaming floor to the glittering pools and upscale restaurants, there’s a feeling of family amongst the guests and team members. As Hall strolls through Yaamava’, he compliments a regular on his wins while a team member greets him with a warm smile.

“When you walk through our resort, you feel that sense of family, belonging and welcoming,” said Dorothy Diaz-Gouzy, Director of Hotel Operations. “It’s absolutely amazing. I’ve been in the hospitality industry a long time, so I know this experience is unique. It starts at the top with the Tribe.”

David Kopasz, Chief Operating Officer of Hospitality, agreed. “We’ve worked hard to generate a culture of family,” he said. “We hire the right fit, not on paper, but someone who will help advance our team, its perspective and its values.”

In finding the right people to advance the culture at Yaamava’, the resort and casino will boost local job economies, employing more than 6,000 team members by the end of 2021, making it one of the top 10 private employers in San Bernardino County.

Ushering in a new era of success in the Inland Empire – along with glamour, luxury and entertainment – Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel will welcome guests with a best-in-class standard of service that will make them want to call it home, time and again.

A NIGHT TO Remember

The new home for immersive entertainment: Yaamava’ Theater

Come early 2022, a new era of entertainment will dawn in the Inland Empire. Fans will flock to the Yaamava’ Theater, Southern California’s all-new, best-in-class venue built for maximum guest comfort and personalized show experiences. Here they will be able to catch national tours with some of the biggest-name acts to cross modern stages, all in an intimate, customizable theater experience.

Six distinct sections and nine private suites will acoustically encompass guests in stateof-the-art sound powered by internationally renowned L-Acoustics. The visual experience will be an additional focal point to the room as three large video walls enhance the immersive experience, bringing fans even closer to their favorite artists.

Each private suite will cater to those who desire a more exclusive evening and will be outfitted with luxurious seating, private restrooms, wet bars, direct-feed televisions and acoustic systems. Guests can pre-order their concert dining for the suite boxes, or nosh on casual bites on the house floor. And even when they go for a snack, they won’t miss a thing thanks to the large-capacity bars that will serve crowds quickly, as well as the downstage and side stage video walls.

Experience the best the state with a menu of housemade, signature dishes using produced sourced from local farms and organic grass-fed beef from California ranches. Take your dining experience to the next level with our beverage menu that will compliment any celebration, both large or small. Or enjoy a taste of California in a glass with our extensive menu of the state’s best wines. Plan your visit today by visiting yaamava.com/dining

THE KING OF KINGS

In 1984, the National Hockey League (NHL) Los Angeles Kings used a late-round draft pick on a teenager from Montreal named Luc Robitaille. Nearly four decades and one Hall of Fame playing career later, that teenager is an L.A. icon – and the man calling the shots for his beloved franchise.

BY MATT JACOB

Growing up in Montreal, Luc Robitaille dreamt – as many boys from Canada often do – of playing in the NHL. Less than four months after his 18th birthday, Robitaille took a big step toward realizing that dream when the Los Angeles Kings selected him in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

Robitaille’s draft position wasn’t ideal – not only were future Hockey Hall of Famers Mario Lemieux, Patrick Roy and Brett Hull taken before Robitaille, but so was eventual Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, whom the Kings drafted five rounds and 102 picks ahead of Robitaille. More importantly, ninthround picks rarely enjoy lengthy NHL careers.

Still, there was plenty of reason for Robitaille to celebrate on that late spring night, so after taking the subway back from the Montreal Forum (site of the 1984 draft), he and his father stopped for ice cream.

“I’m enjoying my ice cream cone,” Robitaille said, “and this guy comes up to me and says, ‘Hey, I heard you got drafted! But … ninth round?’ and shook his head. And I remember saying, ‘Well, my name’s on the list, so they’ve got to look at me now!’”

So euphoric was Robitaille about the fact an NHL team wanted him, that he didn’t initially understand what it meant to be a member of the Kings – the Los Angeles Kings. “When I woke up the next day, I had to look at a map to see where Los Angeles was,” he said. “And it was so far away from Montreal.”

Little did he know at the time, but the land that was far, far away would become Robitaille’s home two years later when the left-winger made his NHL debut with the Kings – and would remain his home for the better part of 35 years, including 14 as a Kings player during a prolific 19-season Hall of Fame career and another 14 years (and counting) as a Kings executive, most recently as the team’s president.

That’s right: the 18-year-old Canadian whose draft position was mocked by a passerby at a Montreal ice cream shop, and who needed to consult an oldfashioned map to locate Southern California, turned into a bonafide Los Angeles sports icon – an icon who is now the boss of the very franchise that took a chance on him nearly four decades ago.

If you think the story seems far-fetched, even by Hollywood standards, well, you’re not alone.

Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“If somebody had told me the night I was drafted that this is how my career would’ve ended up,” Robitaille said, “I never would’ve believed them in a million years.”

Before embarking on his 15th season in the Kings’ front office, Robitaille chatted with Hamiinat about his early days with the Kings, playing alongside the greatest hockey player of all time, transitioning to an executive role and why he believes his beloved franchise is on the verge of once again becoming a Stanley Cup contender.

It has been fifteen years since you hung up the skates. Do you miss playing and competing at the highest level?

I actually don’t miss it, probably because the role I’m in with the club allows me to still be competitive and get the rush of winning. Plus, I’m fortunate that I get to move around STAPLES Center during games, and sometimes I’ll go down and sit by the boards. When I do, I quickly think, Man, that would hurt. I don’t miss that part.

Honestly, I think I squeezed the juice out of my career as much as I could. But, if I had a time machine and was twenty years old again, I’d go back on the ice in a heartbeat.

You played nineteen seasons, including fourteen in L.A., and you remain the team’s all-time leader in goals scored. What’s your fondest memory as a Kings player?

My first game. I’ll never forget that morning skate, getting on the ice and looking up at the ceiling of The Forum [the Kings’ home arena at the time] and thinking, This is it. This is my chance. I’m in the NHL . There’s no feeling like it. And right away, I got nervous and started thinking, OK, I’ve got to work hard because I’ve got to stay here! But I’ll never forget that day.

In the summer of 1988, after your second NHL season, your owner Bruce McNall pulled off the historic trade for Edmonton Oilers superstar Wayne Gretzky. Did you know ahead of time that the trade was coming?

I had talked to Mr. McNall earlier in the summer, and he was adamant that he was going to get Gretzky. In fact, he told me in February of the previous year that he thought he had a good shot at getting him. I didn’t believe him. But I clearly remember the day the trade happened, because I was in Montreal and the Kings’ public relations guy called me and said, “Do you mind doing a few interviews because Wayne’s got to get on a plane and go from Edmonton to L.A.?” He gave me a list of about a dozen people I had to call, and that’s what I did all day. It was like a blur.

Describe the experience of playing alongside the greatest of all time for multiple seasons.

It was intimidating because Wayne was my idol. I was nervous and didn’t treat him like a normal teammate, and it took me a few years to get used to being around him. In a way, I made it hard on myself. Then after a few years, I told myself, “Ah, he’s just a human being. Just go play hockey.”

But the day we got Wayne, it flipped the whole organization upside down –in a good way.

You helped lead the franchise to its first Stanley Cup Final back in 1993. What are your memories from that season, when L.A. truly turned into a hockey town?

Funny enough, that was the year Wayne got hurt, and everyone thought, Oh man, this organization is going the other way again. But we kept things afloat until Wayne got back, and by the time he did, we were playing as well as I’d seen since I joined the club. It was incredible to be part of that.

Even though we didn’t win it all, I don’t think I paid for a single meal anywhere in the city that summer. It was pretty special.

You just began your fifteenth season as an executive with the Kings, meaning you’ve now spent more time with the franchise in the front office than you did on the ice. Looking back, what were your initial goals when you retired and decided to move upstairs?

I was fortunate when I returned to the organization that we had a dedicated company like AEG as our owner, and I knew with [former team president and general manager] Dean Lombardi rebuilding the hockey side of things that we had a plan and direction. But I also quickly realized there wasn’t anyone speaking to our fans,

LUC ROBITAILLE

AGE: 56

DRAFTED: 1984, 9 th round (171 st pick)

JERSEY NUMBER: 20 (retired)

especially the group that had been so loyal to us for so long. When you stop playing and join the business side, you begin to understand how much passion there is behind the scenes, how many people buy season tickets. It was important to me to improve the communication between the organization and our fans, and at the same time change the culture. Dean was going to change the culture and attitude inside the locker room, but I wanted to do the same thing with our fan base.

NHL DEBUT: 1986-87 season (45 goals, 39 assists in 79 games)

NHL TEAMS: Los Angeles Kings (1986-94; 1997-2001; 2003-06); Pittsburgh Penguins (1994); New York Rangers (1995-97); Detroit Red Wings 2001-03)

NHL STATISTICS: 668 goals (second most by a left-winger in NHL history), 726 assists, 1,394 points (most by a left-winger in NHL history)

KINGS RANKINGS: 1 st in goals scored (557), 5 th in assists (597), 2 nd in points (1,154), 4 th in games played (1,077)

CAREER HONORS & ACHIEVEMENTS: NHL Rookie of the Year and NHL All-Rookie Team (1986); Stanley Cup champion (2001-02 with Detroit); Hockey Hall of Fame inductee (2009); named one of 100 Greatest NHL Players (2017)

CURRENT ROLE WITH KINGS: Team President and Alternate Governor

As you grew into that role, what did you learn about yourself?

How to have patience! When you’re a player and you have a bad game, you get up the next morning, go to the rink, practice hard and try to get better. And if you win the next game, you’re right back on track. In business, if you screw something up, it might take six months to fix it. So the importance of planning and having patience were important skills I had to learn.

As a player, yes, you plan as a team, but you also live every day in the moment. It’s important to live in the moment in business, too, but you also have to view things long term – what are we going to look like in two or three years? You have to think that way to achieve and sustain success.

Now that you’ve spent so much time in the front office, do you have a greater appreciation for how difficult it is to build and maintain a championshipcaliber club that maybe you didn’t have as a player?

Sports is a lot harder than people think. You’re dealing with human beings, so you can have the greatest plan in the world, but if you have an injury or illness at the wrong time, it can impact your entire organiza-

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT

Reliving the L.A. Kings’ march to their first Stanley Cup championship

It took 44 years and 26 trips to the postseason, but on June 11, 2012, the Los Angeles Kings finally reached the National Hockey League’s mountaintop. A 6-1 blowout of the New Jersey Devils meant the Kings captured the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

With this season marking the 10th anniversary of that long-awaited championship, here’s a look back at the road the organization traveled on its way to becoming “Kings” of the hockey world:

The Kings got off to a fast start in the 2011-12 campaign, winning four of their first six and six of their first nine games. However, following a 3-7-1 slump from late November to midDecember, Los Angeles was at 14-14-4. The Kings would win their next game in a shootout and remain above .500 for the rest of the season.

Starting on February 25, Los Angeles went on a 13-5-3 tear to close out the regular season. The hot streak allowed the team to barely squeak into the postseason with a 40-27-15 record (95 points), grabbing the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference. The Kings began their run to glory on April 11, 2012, when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 in Canada in Game 1 of a best-of-7 first-round series. Los Angeles needed just five games to dispatch the Canucks, who finished the regular season with the NHL’s best record.

The Kings went on to knock out the St. Louis Blues and Phoenix Coyotes in their next two series, going 9-1 on the way to reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for just the second time in franchise history. Goaltender Jonathan Quick stole the show, allowing just 14 goals in those 10 games. Quick would eventually win the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the MVP of the playoffs.

After eliminating the Coyotes with an overtime victory in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, the Kings opened the Cup Finals with a pair of 2-1 overtime victories against the Devils in New Jersey, then came home and rolled 4-0 in Game 3. At that point, Los Angeles was 15-2 in the playoffs, including 4-0 in overtime games.

The Devils got back into the best-of-7 series, winning Game 4 at STAPLES Center and Game 5 at home. However, in Game 6 back in Los Angeles, the Kings scored three goals less than four minutes apart in the first period and cruised to the title-clinching 6-1 victory. Not only did the Kings make franchise history, but they made NHL history, becoming the first No. 8 seed to ever hoist the Stanley Cup.

Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images

tion to the point where your great plan is now meaningless.

That’s why a lot of great businesspeople who buy sports franchises struggle to succeed. They think they can run their teams like they run their companies, but it’s not the same.

As a player, I never looked at who was drafted or the young kids coming up. But when you’re in management, you’re constantly monitoring your young kids’ development and trying to project what they’re going to look like in two years. It’s totally different than when you’re playing.

No player in Kings’ history tried harder than you to deliver the franchise its first Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but you were part of the front office for those two championships in 2012 and 2014. How much did it mean to experience those titles? Oh, it meant everything. Whether you’re on the ice or upstairs in the front office, you wake up every morning with the same goal: try to make the organization better. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing like winning when you’re a player, because you’re the one who sacrifices your body to block shots and you’re the one who plays with a separated shoulder. But when you’re part of an organization and you win a Stanley Cup, there’s nothing like it. It was absolutely incredible.

What drives your continued loyalty to – and passion for – the Los Angeles Kings?

This was the team that wanted me, had faith in me and gave me an opportunity to play professional hockey at the highest level. And now, having been here so long, I understand and appreciate the passion of our fans. Also, I love and understand this city, which is unlike any other city in the world. I’ve basically been here since I was twenty years old, so I can honestly say: this organization is a part of me.

San Manuel Casino is a Founding Partner of STAPLES Center (home of the Los Angeles Kings) and has been a sponsor of the Kings since 2008.

BWE ARE ALL

lake Bolden was in first grade when she discovered ice hockey through her stepfather, who at the time worked security for the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League. It didn’t take but a few tag-along trips to the arena for Bolden to befriend players, become infatuated with the game and inform her parents she wanted to give the sport a try.

KINGS

welcomed 30 boys and girls ages five and up for five days of on-ice skating and hockey drills, games and an off-ice Q&A. The free camp was sponsored by Blue Shield of California and supported by various community partners and youth hockey stakeholders, including the Power Project, Hawthorne Force and YMCA.

After purchasing some used hockey equipment and taking a few skating lessons, Bolden joined her first youth league team. It’s a moment she’ll always remember – but not necessarily for the reasons you might think.

“I was a little scared because I didn’t have any friends on the team, but also because there weren’t any girls of color,” she said. “That was a bit of a challenge, but I was one of those kids who didn’t mind challenges – obviously, or I would’ve quit.”

Not only did Bolden stick it out, but she would go on to become a highly skilled player, ultimately becoming the first black woman to play professional hockey, doing so in the National Women’s Hockey League from 2015-2019. Then in January 2020, Bolden slashed through another barrier when the Los Angeles Kings made her the first black female scout in National Hockey League history.

Throughout her pioneering hockey journey, Bolden never forgot what it was like to feel like an outsider. Now Bolden, who in addition to her scouting duties serves as the Kings’ Growth & Inclusion Specialist, is making it her mission to ensure that hockey is accessible to all children and that none of them ever experience the same feeling she did.

At the forefront of that mission is the “We Are All Kings” marketing campaign, a series of organization-sponsored diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives highlighted by a week long youth summer camp co-hosted by Bolden and members of the Kings’ hockey development team.

The inaugural camp was held in early August at the Toyota Sports Performance Center in El Segundo, and

“The statement ‘We Are All Kings’ induces a sense of inclusivity that we have been talking about since I first joined the Kings in January 2020,” Bolden said. “There is so much diversity in the greater Los Angeles area – it’s one of the most diverse cities in the world. The hope is that ‘We Are All Kings’ will lead to more diversity of thought, of background and of gender, with that diversity being reflected in the kids who play ice hockey throughout Southern California. Because as we grow our game, it’s important that our fan base reflects the population we serve.”

In addition to the summer camp, the “We Are All Kings” theme is being incorporated into the Kings’ “Learn to Skate” and “Learn to Play” youth programs designed to inspire interest in and passion for the sport of hockey. The campaign, which Bolden helped develop along with Kings COO Kelly Cheeseman and Vice President of Community Relations Jennifer Pope, is part of a larger organizational initiative designed to educate Kings’ fans and the entire hockey community about the importance of acceptance and inclusion.

It’s a message Bolden emphasized during the summer camp through a simple, but potentially impactful, rallying cry.

“When I was on the ice with the kids, rather than chanting ‘Go Kings, Go!’ I would yell, ‘Who are we?’ and they would shout back in unison, ‘We Are All Kings!’” she said. “The idea was to instill in their minds and hearts a sense of togetherness. We opened the doors and said, ‘Whatever background you come from, we’re happy that you’re here and we want you to love this game as much as we do.’”

Photo provided by the LA Kings

Partnering to Transform Lives

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians gifts $4 million to Goodwill Southern California to expand job training and placement.

BY RICHARD ARLIN WALKER

Goodwill’s name has long been synonymous with “second-hand.” But the nonprofit is more about second chances. And now San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is bolstering Goodwill Southern California’s work with a $4 million grant.

The grant – the largest in Goodwill Southern California’s 105-year history – will be used by the nonprofit to expand job training and placement services provided by its 12 WorkSource and Career Resource Centers. These centers provide no-cost career counseling, resume workshops, interview coaching, access to job search tools, referrals to advanced education courses and job training and placement.

The $4 million grant is the second major gift from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to Goodwill Southern California. In 2017, The Tribe awarded the nonprofit a three-year grant of $3.38 million.

“The Inland Empire faces significant economic

challenges that have weighed heavily on many of our neighbors in the region,” said San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman Ken Ramirez. “We have had a very productive partnership with Goodwill over the years. They have a strong record of serving their clients, particularly those who face challenges finding jobs. Goodwill’s successful track record was the reason we established this partnership.”

The expansion of Goodwill’s job training and placement services is as timely for the region as it is for those seeking to overcome barriers to employment. The pre-pandemic jobless rate in San Bernardino County was 4.4 percent in March 2020. By the following month, the unemployment rate

was 14.2 percent. The jobless rate steadily declined through May 2021, to 7.2 percent, but inched up to 7.6 percent in August as businesses, workers and consumers continued to adjust to changes in job needs and uncertainty in the economy.

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, with more than 5,000 employees, is one of the top 10 private employers in the Inland Empire – and Ramirez is familiar with how the pandemic has impacted the workplace. Many people who were laid off or terminated because of COVID-19 are having a difficult time getting back into the work force due to changing needs of businesses. Those effects, he said, “continue to be a concern for many who were employed before the pandemic. Even today, employers across the country are facing difficulties filling jobs.”

Among those expected to benefit most from Goodwill’s services are displaced workers, firsttime job seekers and those with varying degrees of

challenges. Some of those who have received a hand up shared their stories in a video series produced by Goodwill Southern California:

Mikey, a former special-education student who was bullied in school, didn’t believe in himself. “Goodwill never stopped believing in me,” he said. “They told me eventually I was going to step up, and ever since then I’ve been stepping up.” He’s now working at Ralphs Supermarket.

Vanessa, a former Army sergeant and a divorced mom with two children, lost her civilian job to cutbacks and was eventually evicted from her home. When she visited Goodwill, she said, “Someone took me by the arm and said, ‘Come with me. We’re going to help you.’”

Vanessa is now a veteran employment representative for the State of California.

Bobby grew up in an abusive household, became an emancipated teen and ended up on the streets. He didn’t have a Social Security number or clothing suitable for employment, but Goodwill changed that. He’s now employed by the nonprofit as a recruiter, connecting people on the streets with jobs – and doing so with compassion and hope. He tells the people he recruits, “You are special, you just don’t know it yet.”

Calvin, a former foster kid, dropped out of school. After an internship with Goodwill, he’s developing the skills necessary for long-term employment. “I didn’t have a career. Now I have a plan and steps to getting there,” he said.

There are thousands more stories like this. “Everyone in our community has value and is deserving of our time and effort,” Goodwill Southern California CEO Patrick McClenahan told Hamiinat magazine. “That’s at the heart of our mission at Goodwill.”

It’s a mission that mirrors the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ spirit of Yawa’ – to act on one’s beliefs – and has led the Tribe to donate millions of dollars throughout its ancestral territory to bolster business, education, healthcare, public safety and recreation.

“Our philanthropy began as a natural extension of our values and the way the Yuhaaviatam lived for thousands of years,” Ramirez said. “We welcomed visitors into our ancestral territory. We offered resources and assistance in their journeys. Today, our philanthropy continues to be an expression of Yawa’. We recognize that people in our ancestral territory face social and economic challenges and that we can help by supporting the wonderful, hard-working nonprofits dedicated to giving a hand up to them.”

McClenahan and Ramirez said they expect the greatest jobs gain in the region to be in logistics because of the steady, large-scale growth in e-commerce. Logistics – the backbone of the nation’s supply chain and trade network – “seems to be

the wave of the future for the Inland Empire,” Ramirez said. In fact, the Tribe recently broke ground for a new warehouse project at the former Norton Air Force Base property.

By October 2021, nearly 1,000 jobs in the Inland Empire were listed on Glassdoor.com: coordinators, schedulers, drivers, route managers, parts and purchasing managers and inventory planners. Salaries ranged from $32,000 to $72,000 a year. One company listed a warehouse manager position at $90,000 to $110,000 – with a signing bonus.

McClenahan said, “As a result of the pandemic, a lot of sectors were hurt in the Inland Empire: manufacturing, construction, healthcare, retail, restaurants. But there’s been an almost twenty percent growth in logistics because of the transition to e-commerce. It’s an area that will continue to grow, but like many jobs of the future, it will require more computer training, so we’ll need to prepare people with those skills,” McClenahan said.

Factors that slowed many workers’ return to the labor force are gone: children are back in school and supplemental income provided by the federal CARES Act ended September 6. The result could mean a flood of job seekers.

“We have to be ready to adapt, to arm people with the necessary skills and training, to have business partners ready to go with apprenticeships and

internships that will help workers transition to new industries and occupations,” McClenahan said. “We’re in this for the long haul.”

For more than 100 years, Goodwill Southern California has trained and employed people for jobs in the nonprofit’s stores and in the community; today, there are nearly 3,000 employees at more than 130 locations. But Goodwill is so much more than the stores.

Goodwill Southern California’s custodial and landscaping services serve business and government agency clients. The Print Shop at Goodwill Southern California trains and employs craftspeople, artists, printers, software developers and engineers. The Goodwill Art Gallery and Studio markets art made by Goodwill employees and clients, many of whom benefit from the tutelage of noted Chicano artist David Flury, artist in residence. Art by Maisie Lee, who works in the Print Shop, adorns T-shirts, greeting cards, posters, pin-back buttons, mugs and bookmarks.

“The Tribe is an incredible investor in the community,” McClenahan said. “And what makes it so effective and so inspirational for other community leaders is that the citizens lead with their hearts. That’s Yawa’. That’s why we make such great partners; that’s where Goodwill is coming from too. Everyone in our community has talent and, if we’re thoughtful and creative, together we can put that talent to work and transform lives in a special way.”

Empowering

Their People

How San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is equipping the next generation to helm their prosperous enterprises.

By Matt Jacob

It started with tribal bingo parlors in California that survived legal challenges all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. For San Manuel, it continued – following decade-long legal and political fights –with the launch of a modest Las Vegas-style casino at the turn of the century.

Today, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel is a world-class destination that welcomes millions of guests annually and employs thousands of team members. That resort, however, is much more than a place to play and work.

It’s the economic lifeblood of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, allowing the Tribe’s government to provide for its citizens in ways that once was impossible: caring for elders; giving children access to better education; building roads, schools, hospitals and clinics; giving back to the broader community through employment

opportunities; and generous philanthropy – thanks to its casino enterprise.

In fact, it’s the casino that has allowed the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to enjoy two decades of building economic security (and independence) that generations past never could’ve dreamed of.

But here’s the thing: Native Americans are a forward-thinking people who take seriously the responsibility of making sure future generations enjoy an even better life. And so, as the casino business blossomed, tribal leadership realized there was a missing piece to the long-term socioeconomic puzzle: paving the way and securing the future for the next seven generations.

And finding it was essential to fulfilling a sacred mission.

“Today, tribal governments operate more than

five hundred gaming properties on Indian lands across the United States,” said Ken Ramirez, Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. “It’s safe to say that the vast majority of these tribal gaming operations are managed at the highest levels by non-Native gaming and hospitality executives and professionals. And those same challenges exist in the field of gaming law.

“However, as much as we would like to have our own people managing our properties and giving legal guidance, the fact is there aren’t many Native Americans who have the training, education and experience to manage our gaming enterprises, or provide legal advice.”

and initiatives intended to prepare young Native American students – as well as non-Natives –for careers in all aspects of tribal gaming and hospitality, law and governance.

To address this glaring need, San Manuel tribal leaders looked east to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), an institution that has graduated nearly two dozen men and women who are now team members at San Manuel (and one that sits on land that once belonged to the Southern Paiute tribes). They connected with the leadership of University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ William F. Harrah College of Hospitality – widely recognized as an international leader in hospitality education – and the William S. Boyd School of Law, which is renowned for its work in gaming law, among other disciplines.

“Our vision with this project is to provide Indian tribes and our people with abilities to control their own future, their own destiny.”

The gift, which is shared between the College of Hospitality ($6 million) and Boyd School of Law ($3 million), was the largest the Tribe had ever bestowed to an education or healthcare institution outside of California.

It didn’t take long for the three entities to realize that a long-term partnership would be mutually beneficial. Then it didn’t take long for tribal leaders to pick up the checkbook: In February 2020, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians presented a $9 million gift to UNLV to create a series of courses

“This came together quickly because we knew we had the right partner in UNLV,” said Ramirez, who has a position on the UNLV Foundation board. “We knew their capabilities and capacity for turning out outstanding professionals who have become leaders in gaming, hospitality and gaming law. Through this partnership, we now have an opportunity to prepare our own people to be gaming and hospitality executives, managers and gaming law specialists.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic halted momentum mere weeks after the donation was announced, courses and programs are nonetheless in various stages of development. For instance, the hospitality

college is interviewing candidates for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Endowed Chair, who will be tasked with fostering relationships with tribal nations across the country and hiring faculty to develop and teach tribal-specific courses.

The college also is conducting an extensive survey with tribal members and stakeholders that will determine what those courses (and related initiatives) will entail.

“As we began to think about educational opportunities for Native Americans, it became very important to me that we didn’t dictate strategy by saying, ‘Oh, we know what you need because we’ve been doing this forever,’” said Stowe Shoemaker, longtime Dean of UNLV’s College of Hospitality. “We really wanted to take the approach of, ‘What are the needs of Native Americans, whether it be the tribal colleges around the country, tribal nations around the country or individual Native Americans themselves? What are the learnings you want us to develop to help you be better in what you do?”

The law school, meanwhile, has expanded existing offerings in tribal gaming and governance law with the creation of the Indian Gaming and Governance Program. Plans also are in place for a series of public-facing workshops and conferences that focus on issues ranging from gaming to court development.

Additionally, Addie Rolnick, a nationally recognized expert in Indian law, has assumed the title of San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Professor of Law. Rolnick soon will welcome two colleagues to campus: University of North Dakota professors Kathryn Rand and Steven Light, who

will serve as professors in residence during the spring semester. Regarded internationally for their work and research in tribal gaming and law, Rand and Light will teach a total of three courses during their stay: Indian Gaming Law, Contemporary Issues in Tribal Governance and Tribal Gaming: Guided Research and Writing.

Thanks to this gift, the law school will be able to foster and host nuanced conversations on potential relationships between tribes and states around emerging gaming technologies and opportunities,” said Sara Gordon, Interim Dean of the UNLV Boyd School of Law. “Also, we’ll be able to develop a more knowledgeable and sophisticated group of lawyers and technical-assistance providers to Indian gaming businesses. Lastly, we now are able to better highlight and describe the interconnections between gaming, governance, economic development and sovereignty in Native communities.”

To say the university’s administration is grateful to San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for its generosity and trust would be an understatement.

Of course, as UNLV President Keith Whitfield acknowledged, with great gifts come great responsibilities. However, Whitfield says the sheer enormity of the donation provides the hospitality college and law school the power to fulfill those obligations through educational programs that are impactful, sustainable and can lead to life-changing career opportunities – for Native Americans and non-Natives alike.

that even though the $9 million gift has the Tribe’s name attached to it, it’s truly a gift for all Indian Country.

“We now are able to better highlight and describe the interconnections between gaming, governance, economic development and sovereignty in Native communities.”

“I want UNLV to be the premier site for tribal hospitality and tribal law education,” Whitfield said. “Hopefully, we can eventually expand this in terms of making connections and having collaborations with other tribal institutions. This is just a seedling of something that’s going to grow into a mighty tree.”

Echoing Whitfield’s sentiment, Ramirez stressed

“Our vision with this project is to provide Indian tribes and our people with abilities to control their own future, their own destiny,” Chairman Ramirez said. “This partnership with UNLV will help to establish the education portion of the journey. Now it’s up to Native Americans and their tribal governments to take advantage of the opportunities this project will create. This is a winning outcome for Indian Country if we are willing to make the commitments that benefit our people and our tribal nations.”

Here from the

START

Mark Gallegos recently celebrated 35 years as a San Manuel team member. Now he shares some of his thoughts on his more than three-decade career and what he’s excited about for the Tribe’s future.

By Lissa Townsend Rodgers

Mark Gallegos remembers when San Manuel Casino was just a bingo parlor – a bingo parlor with a devoted clientele and a big future.

“

For our special events, the line was out the door and way down the street by six o’clock in the morning,” he recalled.

Thirty-five years later, Gallegos has moved from part-time bingo clerk and then full-time guest services team member to Entertainment Manager, booking acts such as local tribute bands and DJs and hosting comedy nights in the lounge.

What has it been like seeing Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel change and evolve over the years?

From the little bingo hall to where we’re at now, it is just amazing. When you walk into the casino, it gives you that Vegas feel. The growth is tremendous and we always try to impress.

What is it like working with the San Manuel team? Everyone is supportive and understanding of one another. We always help each other out. We talk to each other. And there have been so many opportunities – not only for me, but for new team members who are coming aboard, too. They can

expect a good job with an employer who cares, an employer who reaches out, an employer who believes in culture… and, of course, benefits.

Does that warmth and camaraderie extend beyond the staff?

We have a lot of regulars who support our casino and keep on coming. You get to know them, their personalities; you get to know their family, you get to know their relatives. That’s one of the greatest things in the world – they know you, you know them and they come back time and time again.

After so many years of working with entertainment, do you have a favorite memory of a performer or event?

The entertainers are great but my favorite part of the show is the audience. I love watching their reactions:

to me, they are the show. If they’re up, jumping, having a great time, moving to the music, that’s what I love. To go to an oldies show and see people in their 70s and 80s dressed up like they’re going out, back in those days, that’s what I look forward to.

San Manuel has a history of community engagement. How does that impact the team members?

The Tribe has always been a big supporter of the community. When we had the big fire right by the casino, they helped a tremendous amount of people. Our own tribal fire department helped out, everybody pitched in. We had to help certain areas and we did. It’s fantastic to see how San Manuel gives back to the communities, especially as they’ve grown. That is probably one of the best things about working here.

A Hand Up

San Manuel lends a helping hand to 50 small, local businesses devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY PATRICIA KIRK

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians’ (SMBMI) spirit of giving is inherent in their culture, principles and values, which call for respect, humility and Yawa’ – acting on one’s beliefs.

Today, the Tribe, which operates the largest tribal casino-resort in California, demonstrates dedication to its ancestral lands by being a good steward and sharing what it has with the community. San Manuel does this through its support for local organizations focused on creating a better tomorrow through education, healthcare and other social programs. One example is the $4 million gift to Goodwill to ensure that workforce and career development for residents of the Inland Empire continue.

When the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the survival of the community’s Mom-and-Pop

businesses, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians came to their rescue by creating a $1 million Small Business Relief Fund that provided $20,000 grants to 50 small businesses to keep them afloat.

“I had to lay off my employees and shut down for almost a year. I’d accumulated a lot of debt and run through all our cash and reserves when we first got the news that we were a recipient of a grant,” said Will Mossontte, owner of Empire Bowl, in Redlands, CA. “It was very uplifting. We didn’t qualify for any government assistance, so for an organization like San Manuel to step up to the plate to give us a grant really gave us a lot of hope for the coming year.”

Each of the businesses selected were within the hardest-hit business sector, those deemed “nonessential” like restaurants, entertainment and personal-care services, “but essential to the local

economy,” noted San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman Ken Ramirez.

“The small business sector is the backbone of our economy,” added Audrey Martinez, San Manuel Tribal Secretary, which is why the Tribe teamed up with the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) to distribute the funds to the region’s small businesses.

“They are the ones that create the jobs, they’re the innovators, they’re the ones that really make the economy work,” Martinez continued. “And when the pandemic hit, it affected them more directly and more severely than some of the larger enterprises, and so we felt we had an obligation to help them weather the storm – get back on their feet and back on the path to profitability,” she explained.

According to Chairman Ramirez, the selection of businesses to receive the grants was based in part on the owner’s commitment to communities within the Tribe’s 7.4 million acres of ancestral lands, stretching east from Los Angeles to Twentynine Palms and north from San Bernardino Valley past Barstow.

“Our San Manuel team contacted each of these fifty business owners to learn more about their hardships

and find the best way to provide assistance,” Chairman Ramirez explained.

The 50 business owners were invited to a virtual event where Paul Granillo, President and CEO of the IEEP, set the stage for the announcement of the grants by sharing the devastating effects the pandemic had on the Inland Empire economy. He noted that almost 50 percent of small businesses in the Inland Empire reported a large negative effect from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Jovi’s Diner had to lay off employees and close our doors for most of our operating hours,” said Jovanna Rodriquez, owner of Jovi’s Diner in downtown San Bernardino, CA. “I thought I was going to have to close my doors for good.”

The grant recipients learned that San Manuel

The small business sector is the backbone of our economy.

was lending them a helping hand at this event when Chairman Ramirez made the surprise announcement that each of them would receive $20,000.

“We are looking forward to the day when you can fully reopen your doors for good and welcome your customers back. Until then, you have a hand up from San Manuel to cover expenses and keep your employees on the payroll,” he said.

The grants were awarded at a ceremony where Chairman Ramirez appealed to other charitable organizations to support their local business community, saying, “I hope that what we do here today prompts others to do the same: support your local small businesses, give as much as you can and do your part to keep our communities and economy thriving.”

Breaking Ground

New investment frontiers for the Tribe’s longevity.

By Heather Jackson

In July, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate San Manuel Landing – a state-ofthe-art commercial center, supply and logistics facility that will further the Tribe’s commitment to long-term investment in the region’s economic development.

Located off East 3rd Street and Victoria Avenue in San Bernardino, San Manuel Landing is one of the Tribe’s latest investments in urban renewal and community revitalization. It places San Manuel Band of Mission Indians as a leader in the growing logistics industry market.

According to a recent study by Cushman & Wakefield, the Inland Empire is seen as Southern California’s largest supply and logistics markets, totaling almost 600 million square feet of industrial facilities. With online retail increasing over the recent years, this has positioned the Tribe to have a stake in a growing industry slated

to be robust for the long term.

“Today, we are walking in the footprints of our ancestors. The interstate system is built along the same trails that our ancestors forged during their travels, and we are continuing their journey by establishing San Manuel Landing,” said San Manuel Chairman Ken Ramirez.

San Manuel Landing will bring in 1,000 new, recurring jobs as well as temporary construction, design and consulting jobs. In addition to creating jobs, the development will add an estimated $6 million financial impact to the region, help eliminate blight and increase business activity in the area.

“We are building something by everyone for everyone, where the large focus is on community.”

With sustainability in mind, the 1.1 millionsquare-foot complex is thoughtfully designed to meet both CALGreen Certifications and Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED) specifications while incorporating a green space heralded at its entrance by the iconic Norton Air Force Base water tower.

The water tower was constructed for the Air Force in 1959 and was relocated approximately 700 feet from its original location. A mural on a prominent wall of San Manuel Landing will illustrate the inter-connected history shared by the Tribe and the former Norton Air Force Base.

“This is an example of us building something greater together; this took a team of people to make this happen,” said Pete Mateo, Director of Tribal Planning & Development. “We are building something by everyone for everyone, where the large focus is on community.”

TEEING

for a Good Cause UP

A thriving tournament gives new meaning to the old adage that charity begins at home.

By Adam Shupak

This past August, the 22nd Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel Golf Tournament – held in partnership with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians – raised a record $350,000, benefitting seven worthy charities.

Audrey Martinez, San Manuel Tribal Secretary and chair of the golf committee, has played in the tournament every year, beginning when it was a one-day fundraiser (that didn’t sell out) to its present iteration: a four-day gathering (with a waiting list) played over multiple golf courses and venues.

Martinez is usually the first one to sign up and has made it an annual affair with three partners from other tribal bands who call themselves “four nations, one team.”

Not even Martinez could imagine the charity golf tournament would become what it is today. “Twenty years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that we’d still be doing this… or that it would grow to be so popular,” she said. But grow it has. Six years ago, the top tournament

sponsors were asked, “How can we improve the golf tournament experience?” Their response was, “You could raise more money for charities if you found a golf course where you could raise the bar and create a unique experience on the golf course.” Peter Arceo, General Manager of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, encouraged the golf committee to think outside the box. “There are opportunities where we can both improve the experience and raise more money for charity.”

The golf committee turned a perceived negative – that Yaamava’ Resort & Casino doesn’t own a golf course – into a positive by moving the event to one of the most highly regarded courses in California, Pelican Hill Golf Club, and then expanding the tournament to include a second day to account for the demand from sponsors to participate.

“The first question everyone asks when you invite them to participate in your charity tournament is, ‘What course do we get to play?” Martinez said.

Today, players participate in a best-in-class event spread over multiple days, beginning with a visit to Pelican Hill Golf Club – a 36-hole Tom Fazio course that occupies a coastal setting along the clifftops between Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, an hour’s drive south of downtown Los Angeles.

“It’s breathtaking,” Arceo said. “Some of the best views in the state. There are very few courses that compare to it, so it brings the wow factor.”

Pelican Hill instantly set the tournament apart from the rest. Word spread that sponsors and participants received an amazing tee gift package with Amazon gift cards and high-end swag bags, were treated to the finest delicacies at every hole and made to feel like casino VIPs, all while rubbing shoulders with industry executives, celebrities and athletes.

“We’ve taken it to a new level,” Arceo said. “It’s now one of, if not the, most attended events in the casino industry.”

This year also included a new openingnight event entitled Wine and Nine, which included 72 golfers and six wineries – and not just any wineries, but the likes of Duckhorn and Justin pouring their best stuff.

It also brings the tribal community together and has become one of the highest participation events among the tribal citizens. After having to cancel the event in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the demand to return to the links this year was higher than ever.

We’ve taken it to a new level. It’s now one of, if not the, most attended events in the casino industry. ‘‘ ‘‘

Organizers added a third course on a third day – Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point – to handle the 792 golfers who tried to go low, and with a waiting list more than 200-people strong, it could expand yet again.

“I have tribal citizens waiting outside my office door eight months in advance trying to make sure they don’t miss out on it,” said Kevin Shaw, San Manuel’s Director of Executive Program Management. Shaw has spearheaded the golf tournament in recent years and remarked, “It has

turned into the event of the summer for the gaming industry.”

In all, 1,500 people from 18 states participated. And, as the tournament has grown, so have the charitable dollars. Over the last 22 years the San Manuel Tribe has distributed funds totaling $1.8 million to more than 35 nonprofit organizations. The funds raised support healthcare and educational services alongside Native American causes in both Arizona and New Mexico.

“This can make or break a charity. They might have to close their doors without the donations from organizations such as ours,”

Martinez said. “There have been times when a charity was expecting a thousand-dollar donation and we’ve been able to give them ten thousand. It’s a game-changer for them.”

San Manuel’s Strategic Philanthropy team and tribal leadership usually cull a list of charities down to four or five, but this time the committee gave to seven charities that applied, granting $50,000 to each; the $350,000 in total giving marked an increase of $75,000 from the last tournament in 2019.

This year’s recipients were Million Kids, Hopi Education Endowment Fund, Mountain Meals on Wheels, Foothill Family Shelter, BLU Educational Foundation, Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation and the Cruz Chacon Foundation. Each charity was given a window of time to speak, with some even bringing beneficiaries of the tournament’s goodwill.

“San Manuel has been instrumental in directing its resources to amazing nonprofits for more than twenty years,” said Begay – the first Native

‘‘

San Manuel has been instrumental in directing its resources to amazing nonprofits for more than twenty years.

‘‘

American to play and win on the PGA Tour, a current commentator for NBC Sports and Golf Channel and a regular attendee of the event.

“In that span, millions of dollars have been used to positively impact change in the Native American and Inland Empire communities,” Begay explained. “I’m grateful for their support of the NB3 Foundation as we work to provide positive pathways for Native American children to achieve their full potential.”

The driving force goes back to San Manuel’s mantra: Tribe First, Tribe Led. The community always lent a hand to the Tribe when it was in need. Now, the Tribe is positioned to return the favor.

“It has always been a priority to give back to the community that stepped up to help our ancestors when we needed it,” Martinez said. “That’s why I don’t want people to lose sight of the purpose of the tournament. I let people know what it represents. I want them to understand they are representing us, but they are also raising funds for these charities.”

Discover schedule, venues and sponsorship opportunities for the 2022 San Manuel Golf Tournament at sanmanuel.com/golf.

(muh-chish-chk)

FAVORITES

Müčisck: your favorite things. A word to acknowledge all those things in life you find yourself drawn toward.

This section explores all the things we can’t get enough of. Meet the chef bringing a taste of Chinese culture to the guests of the celebrated Asian restaurant Hong Bao; get a primer on what makes this spirit-and-wine collection the most exclusive on the West coast; feast your eyes on a craveable dessert and get the recipe for yourself; and find a few items to add to your gift-giving (or gift-getting) list.

collected COOL

Each issue we gather a few things that stand out from the rest. This time we found skincare for men, super-indulgent sweets and a few things to cleanse your spirit and your space, plus a few more gems to put a smile on your face.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME BIONDO

Good Vibrations

You want to neutralize negative energy and infuse your space with positivity –but have no idea where to start. We’ve found a few things to get you there.

Serene Reflections Jade Buddha Red String Wrap, Spirit Guardian Pyrite Red String Hamsa Charm Bracelet and Success Feng Shui Jade Stone Tree by Karma and Luck available at Serrano Spa at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

VitaJuwel Via Five Elements Water Bottle by VitaJuwel available at Serrano Spa at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

Balance Oil and Sacred Smoke Candle by Tarot & Tea available at 1891 Boutique.

Heritage Healer Hand Salve by Caswell-Massey available at HIS Store.

Have Gear Will Travel

Whether it’s a boys’ weekend or a romantic getaway, here’s everything you need to travel in style – and look good when you get there.

Metro Backpack by TravelOn available at Cache & Carry.

Regents Shave Soap, Heritage Almond Pre-Shave Oil, Woodgrain Sandalwood Shave Cream, Chrome Shave Brush, Gold Cap Newport Fragrance by Caswell-Massey available at HIS Store.

Wireless Over the Ear Headphones available at Cache & Carry.

The Sweet Spot

Sometimes life can get you down. And sometimes all you need is a sweet treat to pick you back up. Extra credit for fancy crystal boxes to hold your stash.

Chocolates and candies by Candy Club available at Decadence at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino.

Louxor Vide-Poche by Baccarat available at HERS Shop.

Lalique Enfants Box available at HERS Shop.

Culture Cuisjne Through Sharing

With big expectations for Hong Bao Kitchen, the Inland Empire’s most beloved upscale Asian restaurant, one might think Chef de Cuisine Jun Tao would be a little nervous. But this battle-tested chef knows his mission is bigger than serving great food – and he’s hungry for the challenge.

BY DANNY PALUMBO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME BIONDO

Hong Bao Kitchen began with great momentum and quickly gained many loyal guests. And with the highly anticipated reopening, those guests are now returning. There to meet them are Jun Tao and his team, bringing creative and exceptional concepts to guests who expect the best in class.

Jun Tao is calm and relaxed as he sits down to talk about his life, food and position as Chef de Cuisine at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel’s Hong Bao Kitchen. There’s a smoothness to his movement, to the way he speaks. He takes a few seconds to ponder each question before speaking, like he knows how important it is to get things right the first time.

That’s because Chef Tao understands the importance of a single moment – in particular, this one before him now. He made it clear that helming Hong Bao Kitchen is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – and he wants to do right by not only his guests, but also his peers and Chinese cuisine as a whole.

“I want people to have an experience,” he said thoughtfully, “I want them to have the Chinese cultural experience.”

At Hong Bao Kitchen, delivering that cultural experience lies squarely on his shoulders, and he is more than up to the task. Chef Tao grew up in Shanghai, along the central coast of China. As a cultural epicenter for both food and art, it’s fitting that he combined both of those disciplines when he discovered his passion for cooking, which was sparked at a young age in his family’s kitchen.

“My mother was a dim sum chef,” he said, before recalling the specific fragrance of her Shanghai-braised pork belly – a deeply aromatic and flavorful dish, dark and sedimentary. Its consistency was enough to have a lasting influence on Tao, and at 19 he started cooking professionally. “I loved eating my mom’s food. That’s how I started.”

Only the Best

Chef Tao prides himself on simple yet exciting dishes, so a great deal of effort involves procuring the freshest ingredients from around the world. The duck is flown in from Long Island because the salty shore weather results in thicker skin and tender meat. The lobster hails from New England – and comes in live four days a week. South American abalone is firm to touch and soft to bite, so the chef sources the large gastropod mollusks from a vendor south of the border. The spicy, umami-rich XO sauce comes directly from a specialty Chinese vendor. And for special chef menus, Hong Bao Kitchen serves Kiwami from Australia and Wagyu beef from Japan.

What followed those humble beginnings was nothing short of miraculous. In 2011, he won the Hot Dish Award from the International Exchange Association of Renowned Chinese Cuisine Chefs. He also won cooking competitions in Taiwan and Malaysia, including the Type A World Championship cooking contest, and another competition in Shanghai that translates loosely to the “Food God” Award.

Competing not only helped Tao hone his craft and deepen his knowledge of Asian cuisine, it also allowed him to work with some of the best chefs in the world – at the highest levels. Esteemed chefs from across the globe flocked to these events, and Tao, a ceaseless student, transformed the opportunity to compete into a chance to learn from his competitors.

“I started experiencing other cuisines and techniques. So many non-Asian cuisines have such delicate preparations,” he said. “That got me interested in eternal learning. I just want to keep learning.”

The drive to learn is what makes Tao so focused. He’s acutely aware that there’s always something he can absorb that will improve his game. It’s what makes him such an asset on the Yaamava’ team, which is guided by a willingness to embrace innovation and creativity.

all eight regions of the country – regions he has studied extensively. But alongside classic Chinese fare are standout dishes from Korea, Japan and Vietnam. There’s also an added personal influence, one that comes directly from Tao’s world travels.

Peking Duck, a classic from Beijing, is prepared with the utmost care thanks to the specialty drying racks that ensure succulent meat and crispy skin. “Cantonese style is more heavily flavored,” Tao explained. “But northern style is about the duck. It’s more delicate and less seasoned.”

Tao directs his focus towards the duck’s simplicity to honor one of China’s greatest, and oldest, culinary traditions. The bird, carved tableside, is accompanied by thinly sliced cucumber, spring onion and a super-secret, dark, umami-laden sauce. The decision to serve the duck with crepes in lieu of steamed buns is, as Tao said, more old-school.

“It’s more traditional to have crepes instead of buns,” he said. Even as the duck is wrapped inside the crepe, you can still see the mouthwatering dark meat through the thin veil of the pastry. The crepe highlights the duck in a way that a weighty bun does not by serving as a simple vessel for this crispy, juicy bird.

I want people to have an experience. I want them to have the Chinese cultural experience.

Chef Oliver Wolf, Vice President of Culinary Operations, laughed and said, “My job is easy. The best part is when Jun calls me in to try something he’s created.”

Tao chimed in, “He’s given me a lot of freedom to try a lot of different things.”

The chefs at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino have a wonderful and collaborative working relationship. They all share the same desire to explore the boundaries of what a dining experience can be, and Tao, although he won’t say it, is driven to be the best. Behind his measured demeanor is a relentless drive bursting with creativity and passion.

“We’re committed to the integrity of the product,” Tao said. One way they keep that commitment is by sourcing the freshest ingredients from all over the world. “If something isn’t fresh, we don’t serve it,” Wolf explained. And so now, with an enthusiastic team in place and a commitment to only serving choice ingredients, Tao has the reins at one of Yaamava’s most exciting operations. Hong Bao Kitchen celebrates Chinese cooking by drawing from

Then there’s the truffle Xialongbao, a type of Chinesestyle bun from the Jiangsu province. China is well-known for their steamed buns, but there’s something rather magical about Xialongbao in particular. Made by hand, a fact which Tao is immensely proud of, the buns are filled with a gelatinous, protein-rich stock. Once steamed, the gelatin turns to warm, satisfying broth. Biting into a delicate steamed bun and experiencing an explosion of flavor is pure, unadulterated delight. The truffle also adds a decadent and elevated earthiness to the Xialongbao, and is reminiscent of Tao’s days spent competing with some of the top chefs in the world.

Another standout dish is the authentic Cantonese-style Abalone. The large gastropod mollusk takes almost a week to prepare, as it’s soaked for three days and then braised for another two. That’s right – the abalone is braised for two full days with high-protein, cartilage-rich ingredients such as chicken feet.

As it simmers, the mollusk absorbs the flavors of the braising liquid, swelling with flavor. The sauce itself consists of the abalone’s natural juices, aged soy sauce

and oyster sauce, creating a rich gravy. It is, as Tao said, “one of the most gourmet dishes in China.” The texture is full and the flavor is complex, but there also is a comforting quality to it. In fact, most of Tao’s dishes, while elevated to extravagant heights, maintain their humble characteristics.

Tao calls the Shanghai style Walnut Shrimp “a crowd pleaser,” and one that will no doubt be familiar to fans of Chinese-American takeout. Most cultures have some version of fried shrimp, but what he has achieved here is otherworldly. The breading is both delicate and intensely crunchy, and when you order Walnut Shrimp for the table, you’ll no doubt hear a symphony of the crispy cracklings as everyone eats in satisfied silence.

The secret to that perfect texture lies not only with the talent in the kitchen but also the tools found within. And when it comes time to propose an exciting new concept, dish or piece of kitchen equipment to executives, well...

“I haven’t heard ‘no’ yet,” Wolf said with a smile.

One such tool is the Ultrafryer, which Chef Wolf describes as so efficient and methodical, the temperature of the oil never drops – no matter how much food you put in. Woks also are integral to the success of Hong Bao Kitchen and, as the chefs explain, when something touches the wok, it’s almost as if it has been kissed with magical flavor.

Just sample one bite of the sweet, sour and spicy Vietnamese-style lobster – prepared with aromatics such as basil, peppercorn and jalapeño – and experience the wondrous caramelization that could only be achieved with a cast-iron wok.

So critical are the woks in fact, they are shipped directly from Hong Kong. “It’s like a jet engine,” Wolf said as he played a video of the woks being seasoned first thing in the morning. “The pan literally glows.”

Moving from savory to sweet, you’ll want to order Hong Bao Kitchen’s dessert sampler – an assortment of Chinese sweets hailing from various regions. You’ll find a chocolate date dish that’s simplistic and delicious; a mint blueberry sago that’s floral and light; and a mango pudding with blueberry and basil that’s refreshingly cool. The dessert at Hong Bao Kitchen won’t overwhelm you with sugar; instead, it balances a decadent meal with a refreshing finish.

The food is not only a reflection of Tao’s abilities but also Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s commitment to service. From top to bottom, the staff at Yaamava’ has hospitality and food service coursing through their veins. They understand the importance and sanctity of not just service, but of also providing an unforgettable guest experience.

“This was always my dream. Everyone operates at such a high level. It’s just a pure pleasure to work with such professionals,” said Wolf. Jun Tao agreed, saying, “I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

When there’s a commitment to excellence, people will flock – and Yaamava’ will no doubt attract people from all over. As for Chef Tao, he has read the moment and understands the importance of making Hong Bao Kitchen a destination in its own right.

A key element to Yaamava’ Resort & Casino’s success is the talented team, paired with space for creativity. When combined with the elevated guest experience and topquality equipment and ingredients, Hong Bao Kitchen truly represents a unique experience with best-in-class service every time.

We’re committed to the integrity of the product. If something isn’t fresh, we don’t serve it.

Matching a coveted spirit or rare wine with everyday cuisine is simpler than it seems. At The Pines Modern Steakhouse guests can get direction on pairing top-notch steaks and seafood with a fine spirit, cocktail or special bottle of red or white – just look at the Cult and Rare wine section of the menu – from Collection 86. Servers and bartenders are trained to pair spirits, wine and beer with certain proteins, preparations or sauces. And with hundred of types of food served throughout Yaamava’, there are thousands of possible variations.

ACollection 86 is an exclusive selection of spirits and fine wines. And now you can try it right here at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

by Maren Fritz

When beverage masters Joey Gottesman and Chris Rosano were tasked with gathering the most unique and rarest spirits and fine wines, they jumped at the chance.

“Our General Manager Peter Arceo challenged us to build a highend drink menu that complemented our high-end guest experience,” Joey said.

The duo went to work researching, networking and developing relationships with private collectors and spirit brokers around the world. And Collection 86 – named for the year San Manuel Casino, now Yaamava’, opened – was born.

It’s these relationships that have helped the bar team amass nearly 300 bottles of exceptional bourbon, scotch, whiskey, cognac, tequila, rum and wines. And, more impressively, score the rare and recently released bottles – before anyone else.

But why create such an extraordinary collection?

“Because the sky’s the limit and we get to craft a surprising, whimsical VIP experience for our guests,” Joey said.

Collection 86 adds merit and pedigree to the bar program at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, and while the menu does include some of the most expensive pours around – the Macallan 52 Year whisky goes for $3,100 for a one-ounce taste – the emphasis is not on price, but on exclusivity.

“It’s not just the price tag that defines the list. It’s the rarity,” Ryan Sharpe, Director of Beverage Operations at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino said.

“We have some items that aren’t extremely expensive…but this is the only property where our guests can try them.”

With a list this impressive, it may be a little intimidating for guests who are unsure about taking the leap. This is where the stellar Yaamava’ guest service comes in. To get the most out of the Collection 86 experience, Joey said it’s as easy as asking him, Chris or wine steward Robert Rodriguez for a step-by-step walkthrough of a tasting.

“The collection is under lock and key, but we have a beautiful bottle display on the back bar that is intriguing and that always helps us strike up a conversation…and each conversation is an opportunity to talk about a different spirit,” Joey said. “After explaining the provenance of a wine or spirit to our guest, if they’re still unsure, I just say, ‘On that next jackpot, you’re trying it,’” he explained and laughed. “Usually, they end up having one for themselves and one for a friend.”

While the Collection 86 menu and bottle display can be seen – in all its glory – at The Vault Gaming & Provisions high limit room, selections are sold in the newly reopened Pines Modern Steakhouse and Premier rooms. And Turquoise members of Club Serrano Player’s Club have exclusive access to the Collection 86 list anywhere in the casino or hotel.

With the ever-growing catalog, one thing is certain. “The expanse and rarity of our list means guests will have to make several visits to try all of the offerings within their favorite category,” Joey said.

We say: lucky them.

WhatDreamsAre Made Of

Joey and Ryan share the bottles at the top of their dream list

My dream isn’t a particular bottle, as much as our program getting to the level that we have to visit, say, Scotland or France to acquire the bottles. These are the kind of exclusive spirits or wine that you have to purchase in another country and then ship back to the States because they’re only sold in person.

—Ryan Sharpe, Director, Beverage Operations

The first-edition Yamazaki 55-year Single Malt Whisky. Only 100 bottles have been released and, most recently, this whisky was only available via lottery to Japanese citizens. One sold for almost $800,000 at auction. You know what they say, ‘You don’t buy a Rolex Presidential to tell time.’ This bottle would certainly be a wonderful acquisition for our collection.

—Joey Gottesman, Assistant Manager, Beverage

THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN-OWNED RESORT CASINO IN LAS VEGAS IS HIRING. We’re accepting applications for 1000+ positions at our soon to open resort casino. If you’ve always wanted to be part of something bigger, we want to hear from you. Let’s make history together. Apply to become part of our family at GreatCasinoCareers.com.

Cold-Weather COMFORT

The sweet or savory galette can be found in patisseries all over France. A free-form tart with a rustic touch, the galette is the perfectly imperfect cool-weather treat. This one pairs a flaky crust with sweet cream and fruit and is best enjoyed fresh from the oven. Looking at the ingredients, it may seem like a labor of love. But enjoying the look on your guests’ face as they taste the first forkful will make it all worthwhile.

Makes four individual tarts

Pastry Cream

1 pint whole milk

3 ½ tsp vanilla extract

½ cup granulated sugar

1 pinch of salt

4 egg yolks

3 tablespoons cornstarch

5 tbsp cold butter (cubed)

Crostata Crust

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ cup granulated sugar

½ pound cold butter (cubed)

1 egg yolks

1 pinch of cinnamon

Topping

Handful of dried cranberries

30 ounces of canned apricot halves

For the Pastry Cream

In saucepan, bring milk, vanilla extract, ¼ cup sugar and salt to a boil

In separate bowl, combine ¼ cup sugar with cornstarch; whisk egg yolks into mixture

Temper ¹⁄� of hot milk into egg yolk mixture

Combine egg yolk mixture with rest of hot milk in saucepan and boil for 2 minutes, whisking continuously

Remove from heat; whisk butter into mixture and cool immediately

For the Crostata Crust

In a mixer, combine flour, sugar and cinnamon

Add butter at slow speed until flour mixture is crumbly, then add egg yolks and mix until dough is well formed; do not over mix

Place dough in bowl, dust lightly with flour and refrigerate for 2 hours

For individual tart, roll 6 ounces of dough in a circle and crimp edges; place dough on baking sheet

Spread 3 tbsps of pastry cream on dough

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon dried cranberries

Slice 8 apricot halves to desired thickness, arrange on dough, then brush with melted butter

Bake at 335˚ for 20-25 minutes, or until the dough is light golden brown Dust tart with powdered sugar and serve

APRICOT GALETTE

AND -

BEYOND Above -

Unapologetically and forever enchanted by Las Vegas, Cynthia Kiser Murphey shares how she got her start, what she loves most about the hospitality industry and what she can’t wait to bring to Palms Casino Resort.

By Melinda Sheckells | Photography by Robert John Kley

Cynthia Kiser Murphey is obsessed with Las Vegas and, it goes without argument, she is one of the most qualified people to talk about the city: her career has made her both an expert in the subject matter and a pioneer in the casino industry.

Kiser Murphey’s resume is punctuated by a long list of capital Cs, from a recent role as Chief Executive Officer of a large benefits fund to her landmark appointment in 2008 as President and Chief Operating Officer of New York-New York Hotel & Casino, where she led until 2020 as one of the first female presidents on the Las Vegas Strip.

She has not only created game-changing entertainment experiences that define Las Vegas but she also has affected the lives of thousands of resort industry professionals by championing diversity, equality and inclusion and mentoring and guiding her team into executive roles.

Even before Kiser Murphey stepped foot in the desert, she was hooked on the hospitality business. She knew from her first trip to Disneyland Hotel at age 12 that it was a hotelier’s life for her.

“I was raised by a single mom and she, for a couple years, saved up enough money to take her two children to Disneyland,” Kiser Murphey said. “We got on a plane from Kansas City to Southern California and we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. It’s bigger than life. It’s not just staying at a hotel, riding on the monorail, going out to dinner and seeing shows. It’s the whole experience that you never forget. And it was those three or four days, from that moment on, I knew. I can’t remember a minute that I wasn’t fascinated by hotels.”

When it came time to leave the nest, Kiser Murphey moved to Las Vegas to study hotel management and earned a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and a master’s degree in Hotel Administration, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Now comes time for a new first. Kiser Murphy is set to assume the role of General Manager of Palms Casino Resort, upon closing of the acquisition of the Palms by SMGHA Nevada, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority (SMGHA), from Red Rock Resorts, Inc. She will build a team to strengthen the Palms’ connection to the Las Vegas community and customers, creating an experience that exemplifies the SMGHA’s values and culture as it becomes the first Native American tribal entity to wholly own and operate a Las Vegas casino resort.

Kiser Murphey shared insights on her journey, inspirations and motivations that keep her showing up every day.

Do you remember the first hotel casino you went to and what that moment was like?

I do, because we were living in the dorm and after a little while, dorm food can get slightly repetitive. We could get two-forone buffet passes, which is a big deal when you’re in college. The old Marina Hotel on The Strip, which ultimately became a tower of MGM Grand, had two-for-one buffet passes. We went from the dorm up to The Strip and ate at the buffet. It was great.

What is the advice you give to people who are considering a career in hospitality or who are just starting their professional journey?

If you’re in hospitality, it’s important you know that you’re here to serve others. That is what our industry is about. And, to do it for a living, it’s most important that you want to serve others and you want to create experiences for people.

What are some of the things you’ve seen happen in Las Vegas that you never thought would happen?

You mean like having a hockey team? A WNBA team? Pro football, and every kind of concert venue on the planet, and a neon museum, and a brilliant show, all in the same city? You mean like that?

How are you going to preserve the Palms’ icon status?

We’re going to write the next chapter –excellent restaurants, beautiful facilities, clean, safe and vibrant environment. We’re going to preserve all of that, while creating affinity for locals as well as for Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel’s loyal customers. What is most important for my team is to engage with the Las Vegas community and be the bridge for the people coming from the Inland Empire. We’ll bring the familiar high-quality service, gaming experiences and hospitality to the iconic Palms environment.

Whose opinion matters to you the most? The men and women who work for us. The people on our team. Because, if the team that’s serving the customer is happy –genuinely happy and feeling supported and inspired, then the guests are going to have that too.

What keeps you showing up for work every day?

I am literally obsessed with the hospitality industry. I love creating experiences. I love the dynamic, energetic, enthusiastic nature of our business. There are some days that aren’t as good as others. There are things that happen that are challenging. Every day is different. But there’s so much potential. Every time you walk into a hotel casino, something new can happen. So, it’s that possibility, it’s all the people you’re serving, all the people you’re going to meet. I always think: what can we do so those people never forget this moment of their vacation? I even sit at stoplights and watch the people walking down The Strip and think: How many of them have come to the hotel? How can I get all of them to my hotel for the next party?

Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel

Directory

STAY

Yaamava’ Resort

Immerse yourself and experience our iconic first-class resort. Where traditional meets modern luxurious comfort, Yaamava’ Hotel warmly welcomes guests who seek a place for the Adventurer, Thrillist and Night Owl. 1-833-YAAMAVA (922-6282)

DINING

Big Mo’ Café

Quick Bites

Refuel with quick treats and refreshments at Big Mo’ Café – your 24/7 one-stop destination to satisfy those cravings and get you back to your favorite slots and table games. The desserts and pastries are some of the most popular and photographed items on property! 800-359-2464

Chingon Kitchen

Casual Dining

Authentic Mexican cuisine is served up daily at the original George Lopez’s Chingon Kitchen. Create your ultimate flavor combination from our extensive menu of tacos and taquitos, fresh guacamole, frijoles negros, elote (street corn) and much more! 909-864-5050

Hong Bao Kitchen

Fine Dining

Asian Cuisine with a modern twist. Enjoy specialty-made dishes prepared by our award-winning culinary team such as Shanghai Braised Pork or Kung Pao Chicken. Limited cocktails, wines and spirits curated by a team of award-winning mixologists, including our Matcha Matcha Cocktail. 800-359-2464

Just Barbeque

Casual Dining

JBQ is dedicated to nothing but deliciously mouthwatering, off-the-chain-good BBQ. In fact, it’s so good, it’s probably the best pulled pork on the planet. 800-359-2464

The Pines Modern Steakhouse

Fine Dining

Enjoy an extensive menu of fresh and delicious cuts of meat and seafood in the exquisite setting of The Pines Modern Steakhouse. Discover exclusive cuts of premium USDA beef, rack of lamb and the freshest, high-quality seafood delivered daily, all complemented by locally sourced, organic produce. 909-425-4889

Radiance Café

Casual Dining

Radiance Café has a specially curated menu of poolside classics with a California twist that can be enjoyed on the terrace overlooking the pool. It also features one of the hottest weekend brunches around with rotating themes that feature the very best produce and ingredients of each season. Brunch takes over our entire pool deck for a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

1-833-YAAMAVA (922-6282)

Rock & Brews

Casual Dining

Add a bit of rock ‘n’ roll to your Yaamava’ Resort & Casino experience at Rock & Brews Restaurant. Curate your own “playlist” of rockin’ dishes – from appetizers to juicy hand-crafted burgers – seven days a week, all while classic and current hits play in the background. 909-425-4838

Serrano Vista Cafe

Casual Dining

Serrano Vista Café is a welcoming, casual, yet upscale setting inspired by the citrus groves of Southern California. Serrano Vista will offer classic American comfort food with a California twist, including healthy options 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 800-359-2464

TuTu’s Food Court

Quick Bites

TuTu’s Food Court has you covered with a wide variety of eats and desserts available daily to fit your appetite. 909-864-5050

BARS & LOUNGES

ACES

First rule of Blackjack: always split your aces. Luckily, you never have to split time between entertainment and value at Aces, where you’ll find the perfect balance of craft beers and crowd favorites on tap. 800-359-2464

BAR BAR BAR

Grab a drink or conversation with our friendly barkeeps at BAR BAR BAR, where you’ll find a bevy of cocktails and ice-cold bottled or on-tap brews in a relaxing setting. 800-359-2464

DEUCES

Drop into Deuces for ice cold-drinks, your favorite beers on tap and the best in live sports entertainment on the big screen. 800-359-2464

Finish Line Bar

Whether you’re winding down after a night of hitting jackpots or just getting things started, The Finish Line Bar has you covered with a drink menu for everyone, including cocktails from around the globe. 800-359-2464

Helix Bar

The Helix Bar is the premier pool destination to indulge in a variety of handcrafted cocktails that range from classic tiki to modern tropics. Our team of mixologists have thoughtfully curated a menu centered around fresh squeezed juices, exotic fruits and whimsical twists on poolside classics to provide the most thrilling poolside bar experience. 1-833-YAAMAVA (922-6282)

The Overlook Bar

Specialty cocktails and a chance to sample something from the exclusive Collection 86 liquor menu make The Overlook Bar a destination fit for royalty. Enjoy a glass of private stock wine or a neat pour of the rarest bourbon while taking in views from the balcony. 800-359-2464

Round Up Bar

Serving up a large selection of bottled and on-tap brews and an assortment of refreshing cocktails and mixes daily. 800-359-2464

Tropical Storm Bar

Whether you’re craving a Hurricane or a Tropical Storm Mojito, our drink list invites you to take a relaxing vacation without leaving the casino. 800-359-2464

Tukut Lounge

Enjoy bar-top video poker or take a seat as you watch themed nightly entertainment. The recently revamped space near the center of the casino on the first floor includes a stage, state-of-the-art sound system and several HD screens. 800-359-2464

RETAIL

1891 Boutique

Find a huge selection of high-end designer brands for both men and women – from sunglasses and handbags to suits and dresses – as well as fine jewelry, including designs by Native American artists. 909-863-5756

Cache & Carry

Level up your audio experience or simply replace a phone charger at Cache & Carry, where you’ll find cutting-edge electronics and accessories from the brands you love. 800-359-2464

HIS & HERS Boutique Shops

Two high-end shops located next to each other on the first floor of the casino. HIS carries men’s apparel, cigars, luxury lifestyle jewelry, sunglasses, watches and wallets. HERS features home décor, art, high-end fragrances, designer bags and much more! 800-359-2464

PUUHIA’T Roadrunner Gift Shop

Pick up Yaamava’ Resort & Casino logo wear, official sports gear from our professionalteam partners, snacks, cigarettes, cold beverages and more. 909-863-5755

R&B Authentic Merch Shop

Add some rockin’ to your shoppin’ like officially licensed rock merchandise, limited-edition photos and much more. 909-425-4814

SPA

Serrano Spa

Enjoy the serenity of Serrano Spa with our thoughtfully curated menu of wellness rituals. Offering signature massage, facials, body treatments, nail and hair services, the spa embodies our Serrano strength and resilience. Embrace your wellness journey at Serrano Spa. 1-833-YAAMAVA (922-6282)

GAMING

High Limit Slots and Tables

VIP Gaming

The High Limit Slots and High Limit Tables gaming rooms are a best-in-class experience for players who want to bet higher denominations. The space includes an array of amenities including the Collection 86 menu, boasting the finest wines and spirits in the world. 800-359-2464

Lotus 8 Palace

VIP Gaming

Create your own luck and find your Zen in our Lotus 8 Palace gaming room. This space creates an East-meets-West vibe with Asian-inspired décor, slot machines and classic casino table games like EZ Baccarat and Buster Blackjack. 800-359-2464

SoCal’s Best Slots

Play 1000s of slots across two stories of mechanical reels, video reels, video keno, in-house progressive jackpots, wide-area and mystery jackpots and wide-area progressive (multi-casino) jackpots. 800-359-2464

Table Games & Progressives

Enjoy a wide variety of Vegas-style table games 24/7 on both levels of the casino such as Blackjack, EZ Baccarat and Pai Gow. Yaamava’ Resort & Casino also features the most table game progressive jackpots in California! 800-359-2464

The Vault Gaming & Provisions

VIP Gaming

Enter a world of mystery, intrigue and big jackpots at The Vault Gaming and Provisions, the ultimate high limit gaming room located on the second floor of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. This exclusive room features close to 190 high limit slot machines, eight table games and a bar brimming with top-shelf spirits. 800-359-2464

A SWEET THRILL

Take a walk on the sweet side with fine chocolates and mouthwatering treats at Decadence, a new candy boutique by Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel.

Go ahead and indulge a little with an exquisite selection of treats found under one roof from brands like Candy Club, “Dude, Sweet” Chocolate and Norman Love Confections. Find your favorites or discover a few toothsome surprises along the way each time you visit.

Stock up for yourself, or find the perfect gift for a friend or a loved one. Only at Decadence. Learn more at yaamava.com/shopping

Guiding future generations

Guiding future generations

For generations, ourTribe has called the Inland Empire region our home, and we take pride in supporting our neighbors and the world around us.

For generations, our Tribe has called the Inland Empire region our home, and we take pride in supporting our neighbors and the world around us.

Throughout today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities, our Tribe will always be here for this community. Honoring our history. Celebrating ourculture. Building a brighter future for us all.

Throughout today’s challenges and tomorrow’s possibilities, our Tribe will always be here for this community. Honoring our history. Celebrating our culture. Building a brighter future for us all. www.sanmanuel-nsn.gov