Sad news from the Pechanga Reservation tonight. Lawrence Madariaga, who has resided on the Pechanga Reservation for over 60 years, has died of cancer. Lawrence was the elder of the Hunter family, which was terminated from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians by the Mark Macarro led tribal council.
The Hunter Family was profiled in the KNBC News Special, "Without A Tribe" which was so highly rated, they showed it in its entirety the very next day. In that newspiece, presented by Colleen Williams, Pechanga Chairman Macarro was caught lying in the first 15 seconds of his presentation.
We'll embed a video of a similar story done on local news. The Hunters were the second family terminated en masse by the Pechanga Enrollment Committee. By removing tribal members, the tribal council could control votes and power.
Lawrence helped feed and clothe the very same people who would later terminate him from the tribe. He helped to bring the health clinic to the Pechanga Reservation. His family served on Pechanga Commissions and were an integral part of the tribal system. Sadly, Lawrence joins his wife Sophie, in death. See them both in the video
22 comments:
I'd say signing the petition that OP has up on the left would be a good way to honor Mr. Madariaga.
much love and many blessings to the madariaga family tonight...may creator comfort them in the loss of their beloved warrior lawrence...may he rest in peace with honor in the spirit world, as he so truly deserved in this life but was denied so cruelly in his later years by those in power at pechanga...
for ALL nations...for ALL chukchansi people
The Pechanga Tribe shamed themselves by what they have done to the Hunters and this elder.
Lawrence and Sophie, together again.
Thank You Pechanga, for awarding him for being your elder of the year.
Shame on the Masiel Crime family for destroying part of the legacy of the Pechanga People.
Yesterday afternoon I prayed at his, Lawrence's, bedside and talked to him hoping that he would hear me,the way we used to have conversations.
Lawrence Madariaga was an uncle, friend and my mentor, a man that deserved the utmost respect and honor,that ultimately was denied to him by the Corrupt Pechanga Tribal Ledership.
My condolences to the family.
Mark Lucero.
Mark,
Thank you for honoring Lawrence and for all you do. Too bad all your Hunter Family doesn't join you in your fight.
Tata, as we called him is still fighting perhaps stronger now.
Rest, although I know he will not rest in peace until he see's Justice in his Tribe.
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend and family. With every generation that goes we lose something, so remember his words of love and wisdom and carry it with you.
Very sad,,,,I send my blessings to the Hunter family.
He was a very good man I remember him well. Sad hes not there, people die every day on and off the reservation, its a way of life...by adding the hate towards others for the reservation shows more disrespect than you know in his honor. Love him like he loved others even he knows where he is at that there is no point to drag hate and disrespect around. People need to move on and stop dreading it already. Cherish your family and loved ones and be grateful for what you have. Love towards all your family.
Very sad news to hear Lawrence has left us as he was a good man who fought the good fight all of his life.
He cared about people and was always lending a helping hand and I can't think of a better legacy for someone to leave to those of us who are still on this earth.
You know by pointing out the tribe wronged him is not being hateful but truthful and I can think of no better way to honor his memory than to continue working to end the wrongs that have been done to him and us.
My hopes and prayers go out to the Madariaga's at this time.
I wounder if the people of pechanga feel any shame of the disrespect and dishoner that pechanga has done to Lawrence. Up till the end he would still ask if pechanga relooked at the documantion. Is this pechangas legacy of how pechanga takes care of its elders.
They could care less.
Many are the days that pass us by when we think of ourselves as part of the world, and it is this thought that allows us to live our lives of accomplishments and failures until our end. For some life's passage goes unnoticed and soon forgotten in the expanse of time.
Although I did not know your relation in a significant manor, I am very familiar with the type of man he was for he lived in a time simpler and more forgiving when family stood by one another and the worth of a person was seen in the actions of their work. I offer my condolences to all of the family of Lawrence Madariaga. I understand your loss for this day July 31 is the same day that my own father died 4 years. Your elder will be remembered as long as I live for I will respect and honor his spirit as do for my own family that have crossed the river to the other side.
Those thieving MEXICANS IN THE TRIBE CAN CARE LESS ABOUT MR MADAiaga, as long as they get their per caps their happy. Im surprised they can even count! Mr Maccaro dont lose any sleep over this brave warrior, Hes more of a person than youll ever be
WARRIOR Madariaga will be remembered as a good decent person for what he has acomplished for the true tribe not the hateful pechanga who talks of us hateing them pechanga people who claim they are the tribe will never care as they strip culture and good deeds from true descendents including land homes and heritage for generations to come we speak truth about you pechanga where will you be in eyes of the creator denying the true temecula indians once proud what say you NO excuse for your corrupt actions you all will be held accountable! GOD bless and prayers be with the family POLYSQWALIS
with over 60 years on the rez, Lawrence live the life of a Pechanga person longer than most of the people now in the tribe.
Do any of the current tribal council live on the rez?
It's amazing how Pechanga can not even acknowledge a man who has done so much and had been such a big part of the reservation.
Even if he were just a white man who lived on the rez for 63 years, he should at least be acknowledged.
Just good manners, tribal council, nothing more than that.
Yes, it would be good manners if the council acknowledges Lawrence's passing but the truth, and all those who know the facts know this, is that he was a true blood descendant of the tribe.
Why do some well intentioned people even think that he wasn't?
As, in the words of Dr. John Johnson the tribe's own hired expert on the ancestry of the Hunters, there is no credible evidence that he was not and we are not true blood members.
I know the last poster didn't mean any harm but the post was a little insensitive.
And the way to keep part of Lawrence's legacy alive is to post the facts as long as it takes to reverse this injustice.
these socalled indians, or should i say mexican criminals dont care what we say about anything! as long as they get their monthly checks their happy! i dought if any of them can even read! except for a food menu, you cant live forever! buy a treadmil!
Questions should continually be asked of the Tribal council as to WHY they chose this path.
WHY?
For a cornfield?
I signed the petition in honor of Lawrence.
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