Here's Why Nov. 15 Is So Personal In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — Since 2012, the city of Temecula has observed "Pechanga Pu'éska Mountain Day" on November 15. Proclaimed a local holiday in the city, Pechanga Pu'éska Mountain Day reminds the community of the native culture of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians.

It also gives pause to remember a tumultuous, more-than-seven-years-long battle that brought together thousands of residents, tribal members and outsiders from all walks of life.

The city and the Pechanga Tribe invite residents and patrons of Temecula Valley to join at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at City Hall (41000 Main Street) for a short ceremony that will recite the annual holiday proclamation that was drafted in 2012 by the city and Tribal Councils. It affirms Pechanga Pu'éska Mountain Day as a city holiday and shares the Pu'éska Mountain story.

Attendees can also gather for food, drinks and a viewing of the award-winning documentary film, "The Mountain That Weeps." Created by Brad Munoa, a member of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and a writer, director, and producer for the Pechanga Creative Studios, the film chronicles the monumental fight that began in the mid-2000s to save Pu'éska Mountain from an open-pit mining proposal known as the Liberty Quarry project.

The much-contested mining proposal was planned adjacent to the Temecula city boundary and would have been among the largest aggregate mining quarries in the United States, with up to 1,600 daily gravel truck trips, boulder blasts, lights, noise and dust in the trajectory of the prevailing winds overlooking the city.

For the tribe, the proposal was personal: Pu'éska Mountain is the place of the Sacred Creation Area for all Luiseño Indian People.

Despite being rejected by the Riverside County Planning Commission, the mining proposal was ultimately fast-tracked for approval by the then Board of Supervisors after years of opposition by thousands of residents and businesses, the Pechanga Tribe, the city of Temecula, Save our Southwest Hills, and San Diego State University.

The battle officially ended Nov. 15, 2012, when Pechanga Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro announced during an impromptu news conference that the tribe closed escrow on 365 acres of land that was the proposed quarry site.

Temecula Mayor Zak Schwank stressed the importance of Pechanga Pu'éska Mountain Day to the city.

"On this day, we cordially invite our community to gather at City Hall to remember, respect, and honor the rich heritage of Pechanga, and share the powerful story that is celebrated annually and continues to bring our governments and residents together. We are grateful to Pechanga every day of the year, and November 15th gives us pause to ceremoniously show our gratitude to the traditional land caretakers of Temecula [and beyond] since time immemorial."

For those who cannot attend the Nov. 15 event but want to view "The Mountain That Weeps," visit http://www.mountainthatweeps.com/.