The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (SMBMI) in Highland, California, has announced 228 grants totaling more than $12.6 million in support of initiatives in the Inland Empire and across Indian Country.
Half the grants were awarded to programs benefiting Native American communities, including $100,000 to the Native American Land Conservancy (NALC) in Southern California, which will support the maintenance of two sacred sites, Mamapukaiv and Coyote Hole, and increase the accessibility of Morongo Canyon. Other grant recipients include Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Time for Change Foundation, and Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire. Since 2003, SMBMI has awarded more than $400 million in grants.
“The Spirit of Yawa’—acting on one’s beliefs—is at the heart of everything we do and has guided us since the days of our ancestors to serve those in need,” said SMBMI chair Lynn Valbuena. “It is our honor to make a difference for communities across the region and Native people across the nation.”…