Highland, Calif. (July 25, 2018) - The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians today held a ceremony to officially begin its major expansion project through Yaamava', a celebratory event and groundbreaking ceremony. The expansion is set to include San Manuel Casino’s first onsite hotel, a world-class entertainment venue, and an array of state-of-the-art amenities, including new dining experiences, retail and event spaces, and more. This project is a major step forward for the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the surrounding community that brings employment opportunities as well as enhanced entertainment experiences to our casino guests.

"We couldn't be more humbled and proud to start this new project, one that embodies the new growth and revitalization of Yaamava', meaning spring, a season that brings new life and boundless potential. This time of renewal is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to the words of our ancestors to ‘'never forget who we are or where we came from,'" said Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. "In keeping with our core value of Unity, this project gains its success through the collaboration, dedication and commitment of all the San Manuel team members, patrons, community supporters, and construction partners."

"From construction to completion, this project will add a high volume of employment opportunities," said Jerry Paresa, Chief Executive Officer of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. "Breaking ground today provides us with the opportunity to create more jobs that benefit the region." Yaamava', a groundbreaking ceremony, demonstrated how the casino plans to leverage its history of innovation and growth through the following:

• Modern Luxury – Casino patrons will now have the added option of staying at the destination itself at the casino’s first onsite, luxury hotel.
• Regional Economic Growth – San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is among the top 10 private employers in San Bernardino County, currently supporting more than 4,900 employees and generating more than $1 billion in annual economic activity in the San Bernardino region; the San Manuel Casino expansion is set to add even more employment opportunities for the region
• Elevated Entertainment – Visitors and guests will enjoy some of the world's best entertainment that rivals top destinations such as Las Vegas at San Manuel Casino’s new world-class entertainment venue.
• Added Amenities – Upping the ante on its existing list of award-winning dining options and amenities, the expansion will provide enhanced experiences through its new dining venues, retail spaces and spa.

"Today we are taking 'all thrill' to the next level," said Loren Gill, General Manager, San Manuel Casino. "We are grateful that our guests have made San Manuel Casino a top entertainment destination in the region, and our team looks forward to providing a world-class experience as we continue to grow."

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The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District has entered into a partnership with The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to assist with the cost of replacing two fire stations located within the City of San Bernardino. Beginning on July 1, 2018, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will donate a total of $7 million to provide a reciprocal exchange of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services from the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District over a 10-year period. Payment from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will be provided in two $3.5 million deposits; one payment in the 2018-2019 fiscal year and an additional payment in the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

"Many of the fire stations in the City of San Bernardino were built as modular construction over 50 years ago with the intent to physically move the fire stations and reposition them to provide the best service possible," explains San Bernardino County Fire Assistant Chief Dan Munsey. "Over time, the modular fire stations were placed on permanent foundations leading to infrastructure problems, including subfloor failure, asbestos and black mold issues. This agreement will provide for two new replacement stations and will allow the district to avoid budgeting the millions of dollars that are required for the significant modifications that these stations need to ensure the safety of our firefighters."

As part of the agreement, the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District will provide apparatus, repairs of engines and equipment, aerial truck response, fuel reduction, and joint training opportunities to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The agreement will better protect the public in both agency jurisdictions by expediting response times during emergency situations. Munsey continues, "If the reservation is impacted by any kind of emergency, the fire district will provide as much aid as it possibly can to mitigate the emergency. For example, if there is a vegetation fire transitioning from the National Forest down into tribal lands, the fire district would assist with incident command, as well as provide resources such as bulldozers, fire engines, and hand-crews without cost to the tribe."

Both agencies are pleased to work together to better protect the public by providing expedited response to day-to-day emergencies, as well as guard against the increasing emergency incidents within San Bernardino City.

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San Manuel Indian Reservation (Near Highland, Calif.), June 18, 2018As of today, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Laurens Vosloo to the post of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Tribe. Mr. Vosloo, who served as CFO for San Manuel Casino since 2014, will serve as the top Financial Executive for all Tribal enterprises, including the casino.

"It is a tremendous advantage when we are able to fill the enterprise-wide CFO position with a professional who has a demonstrated record of success with the Tribe’s government gaming enterprise," said Jerry Paresa, Chief Executive Officer of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

Over the past 4 years, Laurens has contributed significantly to the growth and development projects at the casino and will help guide the Tribe and its businesses to even greater heights. He brings a proven and highly successful record of leading multiple operational groups and engagement teams in the gaming, entertainment, hospitality, and audit industries.

"Laurens has been instrumental in helping me shepherd in a season of exponential growth for San Manuel Casino," said Loren Gill, General Manager of San Manuel Casino. "His financial acumen and strategic vision are invaluable, and I look forward to our continued partnership on future endeavors."

Prior to joining San Manuel Casino, Laurens Vosloo was executive director of finance for the Las Vegas Sands Corp., in Las Vegas, NV. He earned dual Bachelor of Science Degrees from the University of Nevada – Las Vegas in Accounting and Management and his Certified Public Accountant license in Nevada.

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San Manuel Indian Reservation (Near Highland, Calif.), June 12, 2018Newly elected Business Committee Member, Johnny Hernandez Jr., was sworn into office today by Chief Judge Claudette C. White, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Court.

Entering his first term as a member on the Business Committee, Hernandez has been contributing his time and talents to his Tribe for many years now. From lending his voice as a bird singer at numerous Native events, to coordinating the yearly Tribal Unity Retreat, Hernandez plays a vital role to the San Manuel community helping establish new efforts including the Cultural Awareness Working Group (CAWG) that works to perpetuate and share Serrano culture to tribal citizens, team members and the public at large.

"I recognize that the sacrifices and persistence of our elders who struggled to preserve our tribal sovereignty and culture make it possible for our tribal nation and government to exist today. I'm honored to help continue in this tradition by working with the San Manuel General Council and Business Committee to preserve what is precious to our people: our way of life, unique form of government and the culture within which all of these things are rooted," said Hernandez.

Among the priorities of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is establishing and maintaining strong, mutually-beneficial relationships with other governments and with partners across its aboriginal lands, which encompass the majority of present-day San Bernardino County. The Tribe is focused on positively affecting the greater community with its contributions to social and economic development for jobs and support for local businesses through the Tribe’s purchasing of goods and services.

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San Manuel Indian Reservation (Near Highland, Calif.), April 17, 2018 Newly elected Business Committee members were sworn in by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians as the new tribal officers began their new, two-year terms this week. Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena was elected by acclamation while Latisha Casas was elected to the office of Treasurer for the Tribe.

Entering her third consecutive term, Chairwoman Valbuena has been in tribal politics more than 40 years. She remains active in state and national Native American affairs over a career that began in 1974 with her first role as San Manuel Housing Commissioner providing oversight for the housing program on the reservation. Over the past 26 years, Lynn has held the positions of Chairwoman, Vice Chairwoman, and Secretary/Treasurer of the San Manuel Business Committee.

"I am humbled and honored that the people of San Manuel re-elected me as Chairwoman," said San Manuel Chairwoman Valbuena. "Our tribal government continues to move forward in positive directions while meeting the needs of our tribal citizens and providing good jobs and benefits for our 4,600 employees. Our Business Committee members are united in looking out for the best interests of the Tribe and working with the General Council to strengthen our government, community and economic developments that are essential to fulfilling the promise of self-reliance and sustainability for our Tribe well into the future."

In 2015, Valbuena was inducted into the Gaming Hall of Fame by the American Gaming Association (AGA). She has served as Chairwoman of the Tribal Alliance of Sovereign Indian Nations (TASIN), a regional tribal organization in southern California established in 1995, since its inception 23 years ago. She is also a former trustee of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington, DC.

Lynn currently serves as a trustee for the Autry National Center based in Los Angeles, California, and is serving in her 23rd year as a delegate to the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and her 18th year as a member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce California, Advisory Council. San Manuel was the first Tribe to join the Chamber and has maintained its membership since then. She is also on the Board of Directors for the Northern Arizona University Foundation, Flagstaff, Arizona. Valbuena served as secretary of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) for 14 years before retiring from the office in 2011. She also served as an officer for the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.

Latisha Casas was first elected to the office of Treasurer on the Business Committee in 2012 and served two, two-year terms. She has served on the Tribe's Investment Board since it was created in 2008. A graduate of University of Redlands, Treasurer Casas will begin her third term as Treasurer to work on aligning the Tribe's long term investment goals and ongoing revenue generation to sustain San Manuel Tribal Government for generations to come.

"It is a high honor to be elected to the office of Treasurer by San Manuel Tribal Citizens. I made a promise to my grandmother when I was young that I would honor not only her sacrifices but also all those who came before. I made a commitment to be a contributing member of the San Manuel community," said San Manuel Treasurer Latisha Casas. "Therefore, I dedicated myself to furthering my education so I could contribute to my family and Tribe. I am here to serve the Tribe and aid in promoting and protecting our sovereignty and self-reliance. I look forward to working with the Business Committee and General Council on finalizing a plan that will protect the Tribe in perpetuity."

Among the priorities of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is establishing and maintaining strong, mutually-beneficial relationships with other governments and with partners across its aboriginal lands, which encompass the majority of present-day San Bernardino County. The Tribe is also focused on positively impacting the greater community with its contributions to social and economic development for jobs and support for local businesses through the Tribe's purchasing of goods and services.

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San Manuel Indian Reservation, Calif. (March 15, 2018) The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians today announced its full support and endorsement of the Tribe’s former tribal chairman James Ramos in his bid for the 40th Assembly District. If elected, Ramos would be the first Native American from a California Indian tribe elected to the State Legislature.

Ramos will focus his campaign on economic development, education and public safety -- issues critical to the residents in the 40th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands and San Bernardino, as well as most of Rancho Cucamonga and unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County.

Ramos, a Democrat, is in his second term serving the County’s Third District on the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. A community leader and business owner, Ramos is also a tribal cultural leader who maintains close ties and commitments to the Serrano tribal culture. James served two terms as San Manuel tribal chairman from 2008 to 2012.

Ramos holds leadership roles with several local, county and state organizations, including the Inland Valley Development Agency, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, the Con Fire Agency, the Local Agency Formation Commission, the California State Association of Counties, the National Association of Counties, Omnitrans, and the Native American Heritage Commission.

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San Manuel Indian Reservation, (Near Highland, Calif.), January 25, 2018 The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians announced today that Judge Claudette C. White was sworn in and began her service as the San Manuel Tribal Court Chief Judge. Judge White is an enrolled member of the Quechan Indian Tribe of Winterhaven, Calif., where she served as chief judge for 11 years. During this period, she also served the trial and appellate courts as judge pro tem for a number of tribal nations in Arizona, including Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Tonto Apache Tribe, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

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  The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is supporting three non-profits to directly address the needs of displaced people and animals following storm flooding in the wake of Hurricane Harvey that continues to impact the Texas gulf region.

 

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Tribe to work with the cities of Highland and San Bernardino on needed renovations

Motorists driving on Victoria Avenue in Highland and San Bernardino will soon be seeing several street improvements as part of a $10.7 million road and storm drain improvement project funded by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.
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  City of San Bernardino Mayor, R. Carey Davis, honored Tribe for job growth and contribution to San Bernardino economy

 

Over 2016, an analysis found that San Manuel produced an overall economic impact of $750 million for San Bernardino County. In 2016, San Manuel solidified their status as one of the largest employers in the Inland Empire by crossing the 4,000-employee threshold, with a majority of their employees coming from San Bernardino County.
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  San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Will Light-Up the Iconic Landmark for 14 Days To Memorialize Those Lives Lost a Year Ago

 

For the first time, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will light up The Arrowhead in memory and tribute to the 14 lives lost in the December 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino one year ago. The iconic Arrowhead is a natural formation on the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains that can be seen for miles throughout the valley. The brilliant lighting of the Arrowhead formation will stand as a memorial to each life lost on December 2 and a symbol of solidarity and hope for this proud and strong community.
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Saturday, August 27 Game Begins with Recognition of Tribe as Community Leader

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians will be inducted into the Inland Empire 66ers Hall of Fame on August 27 at 6:55 p.m. preceding the start of the 7:15 p.m. game.The Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to honor individuals and organizations making positive contributions to the Inland Empire through philanthropy, volunteerism and community leadership and includes notable professional baseball players with connections to the region such as Ken Hubbs and Alvin Davis.
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In recent years, the tribe has assisted LifeStream with the purchase of its newest, largest bloodmobile

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena has been named LifeStream blood bank’s Inland Empire Humanitarian of the Year for 2015.The award will be presented Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Riverside Convention Center during LifeStream’s 2016 Gift of Life Tribute, 10-Gallon Donor Celebration.“On behalf of San Manuel, I am proud and humbled to accept this honor,” said San Manuel Chairwoman Valbuena. “San Manuel takes great pride in its concern for overall community wellness and LifeStream is a natural partner for us to further those goals.”
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Alva Johnson to Serve as Legislative Director

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is pleased to announce that Mr. Alva Johnson, a veteran California legislative and policy staffer with more than a decade of experience in Indian affairs and policy has joined the tribe as legislative director.
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$10 Million in Donations Support 60th Anniversary Capital Campaign

A theater, band room, rehearsal space, scene shop, and state-of-the-art lighting and sound are just some of what students at Aquinas High School will experience in a new Performing Arts Center funded through generous grants from Shea Family Charities and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.In conjunction with its 60th Anniversary this year. Aquinas High School has initiated an Anniversary Capital Campaign to support the construction of the new music and theater facility. The campaign for the new performing arts center has been bolstered by contributions totaling $10 million from Shea Family Charities, the J F Shea Company and San Manuel.
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San Manuel and Morongo Tribes Stand in Support of San Bernardino with Donation to Achieve Arrowhead United Way Fundraising Goal

The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and Morongo Band of Mission Indians have committed to contribute a combined $600,000 to aid victims and families impacted by the San Bernardino terrorist attack, Arrowhead United Way announced Monday.With the contribution by the two tribes, $1 million has been donated to the San Bernardino United Relief Fund created by the Arrowhead United Way to provide support for those affected by the Dec. 2 tragedy at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino.
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A celebration of generations at Cal State San Bernardino

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians invites the public to experience traditional music and dances from around California at a free family-friendly celebration at 6 p.m., Friday, September. 25th at Cal State San Bernardino.Attending children will make their own Clapper Sticks, rhythmic instruments that are traditional to central California tribes, and learn songs with the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians of the central Sierra Nevada region. Favorite foods such as fry bread will be available for purchase along with craft items from onsite vendors.
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Adam Torres to serve as Executive Director

San Manuel Indian Reservation (Highland, Calif.) August 26, 2015 — The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is pleased to announce that Mr. Adam Torres has accepted the position of Executive Director of the San Manuel Gaming Commission.
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