Anti-Indigenous Thanksgiving Message Painted On SoCal Freeway Billboard Near Tribal Land

HIGHLAND, CA — A billboard belonging to the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation was vandalized with a message critical of Indigenous people in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

A large-scale text and an American flag were draped over a billboard promoting Yaamava’ Resort & Casino along Interstate 10, about a half mile past County Line Road. The message, scrawled in large yellow capital letters, reads: "America is not on stolen land. Your ancestors were conquered. Happy Thanksgiving."

Patch contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to determine whether deputies had responded to the incident or received a call for service. Public Information Officer Jenny Smith said she was not aware of the defaced billboard or any call for service. As for any potential charges, Smith said if there were damage to the property, vandalism charges could be applied if a suspect is discovered.

"Based on the investigation other charges could apply," she added.

In an emailed statement, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation told Patch the vandalism stands in stark contrast to the values the Tribe has shared with the region for generations.

“Since time immemorial, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation and other clans of Serrano Indians have called the sacred lands of Southern California home,” the statement read. “We have endeavored to exist peacefully and cooperatively even while a young and growing country expanded westward. We believed then as we do now that we all have a right to exist with and through our unique cultures endowed by the Creator.”

The Tribe called the graffiti “deeply disappointing,” citing the “culturally offensive language used by those who choose not to reflect the values shared by most in our large Southern California community.”

“Such actions stand in stark contrast to the values of respect and unity that have allowed not only the Yuhaaviatam, but local cities, counties, and communities of Americans, to grow and enjoy the blessings of America,” the Tribe said.

The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation added that it welcomes dialogue about the region’s shared and complex history.

“We are happy to engage in discussions about our shared history that has made our region a strong and forward-looking part of California,” the statement continued. “We invite you to join us as neighbors to strengthen our unity and elevate an expanded awareness of our shared history. This should be our way forward.”

Locals may remember the casino as San Manuel, but in 2021 the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians gave it a true Serrano-language name: Yaamava’, meaning “spring.” The new name was chosen to evoke rebirth and renewal, reflecting the property’s extensive renovation.The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation is a federally recognized Serrano tribe based in San Bernardino County.

In 2021, the Tribe’s San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority purchased the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas for about $650 million, becoming the first tribal operation to fully own and operate a resort in the city’s gaming industry. That history is why Yaamava’ is often dubbed the region’s “California to Vegas Connection.”