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Commission holds first meeting on tribal land at Pechanga; tribal leaders and staff urge 'meet tribes where they are'
Summary
At its first meeting held on Pechanga tribal land, the California State Athletic Commission accepted a gubernatorial declaration, heard tribal partnership recommendations from Jacob Mejia, and discussed training and government-to-government outreach to California's 109 federally recognized tribes.
The California State Athletic Commission convened for the first time on tribal land at the Pechanga Band of Indians, where a gubernatorial declaration dated 09/09/2024 was read and presented to the commission.
Jacob Mejia, identified as vice president of public affairs for Pechanga and executive director of a tribal coalition, told commissioners the commission should "meet the tribes where they are" and urged participation at tribal association meetings. Mejia cited statewide figures for tribal gaming’s economic footprint, stating tribal gaming had an economic impact of about $17.2 billion, employed more than 85,000 Californians, and generated roughly $3.4 billion in federal, state and local taxes. He invited the commission to coordinate training and educational outreach with tribal nations and statewide associations.
Commissioners responded with support for more cultural briefings and recommended that commissioners and staff receive orienting materials before arriving on tribal properties to respect cultural nuances and operational practices. One commissioner noted the recent elevation of the governor’s Tribal Affairs Secretary to a cabinet-level position and said that coordination at that level had been productive.
The meeting included public remarks from a professional referee, Ray Corona, who thanked the commission and praised the Pechanga host. Commissioners also heard reports from sanctioning bodies and officials while on tribal land, and several commissioners praised the collaboration as a milestone in government-to-government relations.
The governor’s declaration read at the meeting emphasized the long history of collaboration between the commission and Pechanga and noted that the commission had regulated events on Pechanga tribal lands since 1999. Commissioners said they plan further engagement and training and that staff will follow up on invitations to speak at tribal association meetings and related educational forums.
