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| Viejas Enterprises, Audrey
Martinez honored with Warrior Award
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| Posted: November 27,
2006 |
| by: Babette Herrmann / Today
correspondent |
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Photo by Babette
Herrmann -- Dallin Maybee (second from left)
and Leanne Tortez were two of five $1,500
scholarship award recipients of the American
Indian Chamber of Commerce of California Native
American Heritage Month Luncheon and Warrior
Awards presentations at the Twin Palms Restaurant
Nov. 8. |
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PASADENA, Calif. - The American
Heritage Dictionary defines a warrior as ''one who is
engaged in or experienced in battle.'' Even though
American Indians no longer flock to battles on horseback
to protect their sacred lands, the warrior spirit
prevails within individuals who are willing to stand up
for Native causes on all levels in the contemporary
world.
In honor of those who embody the warrior
spirit by advocating for Native-owned businesses, more
than 300 people gathered for the American Indian Chamber
of Commerce of California Native American Heritage Month
Luncheon and Warrior Awards presentations at the Twin
Palms Restaurant Nov. 8.
It was an unseasonably
warm and muggy day at the elegant outdoor affair. But
the weather didn't discourage chamber members from
networking with each other and enjoying the nearly
three-hour event. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians
owns the swanky restaurant, located in the heart of
old-town Pasadena.
Since 2000, the chamber has
honored a Native corporation and individual with the
Warrior Award.
On the corporate level, Milton
''Charlie'' Brown, tribal enterprise business
development officer for the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay
Indians, accepted the award on behalf of Viejas
Enterprises. Brown said the chamber recognized Viejas
for its utilization and support of Native-owned
businesses.
''We're always interested in what
[Native businesses] have to offer and we're very honored
to have received this award,'' he said.
Viejas
Enterprises, based in San Diego County, consists of the
Viejas Casino, Viejas Outlet Center, Viejas
Entertainment, Borrego Springs Bank, three radio
stations, two RV parks, and two partnerships that have
developed hotels in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento.
Brown, a lifetime resident of Alpine, has worked
for the tribe since January 2004. He also serves on the
finance, economic, senior and fire department
committees. And as a member of the Viejas lobbyist
group, he tackles issues that affect Natives on a local,
state and federal level.
''I was fireman for 30
years, and now I work harder than I ever have before,''
he said.
The individual award went to Audrey
Martinez, treasurer of the San Manuel Band of Mission
Indians, for her contribution to an array of tribal
committees and dedication to the community of Highland,
where she's resided her entire life and the location of
the tribe's flourishing casino.
Martinez, a
mother of three and grandmother of seven, serves as the
tribe's official representative for the National
Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Gaming
Association, Indian Child and Family Services, the
National Indian Welfare Association and the Tribal
Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations.
''Receiving this award shows me that all of the
hard work that you do just doesn't go by the wayside,''
she said.
''It's the support of my family that
keeps me going.''
Chamber President Tracy
Stanhoff, Potawatomi/Choctaw, said the board takes the
suggestions of past Warrior Award recipients when
selecting winners. She added that San Manuel was the
first tribe to join the chamber and has remained active
since its induction more than eight years ago.
''It's really wonderful to have support from
Indian gaming corporations,'' she said.
The
chamber formed 11 years ago and has more than 200
members throughout California, including 20 Indian
tribes.
Notwithstanding, the chamber recognized
this year's scholarship recipients. The $10,000 in funds
was divided among six students. One student was awarded
$2,500 and five students were each awarded $1,500.
Two of the $1,500 recipients were present at the
awards ceremony.
Dallin Maybee, Northern
Arapaho/Seneca, a master's student at the University of
California, Los Angeles' American Indian Studies Center,
is focusing on Indian law. He hopes to channel his
Indian law studies into action by entering the
university's law school, where he'll focus on
sovereignty and economic law issues.
''A lot of
different tribes are fighting an uphill battle,'' Maybee
said, referring to why he's passionate about studying
law.
Maybee, 32, spoke humbly of his scholarship
award, but outside of his studies he's an intertribal
and Hoop dancer who has traveled with dance ensembles
across the globe. For the past four years he's toured
with the American Indian Dance Theater. Performances
include the Kennedy Center of Performing Arts and two
Public Broadcasting Service specials.
Leanne
Tortez, Kumeyaay, also present, is a student at the
University of California, Riverside.
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